- Changing of the Guard
- Buckingham Palace
- St James's Park
For the best experience, we recommend starting the tour at 10:15am so you can synchronize your walk with the ceremonial movements.
Starting outside St. James‘ Park, you‘ll see the iconic guards in their bright red jackets and black bearskin helmets, supported by their regimental bands which provide a tuneful backdrop to your walk. As you witness the ceremony, you’ll learn to identify the different guards, by looking at the feathers in their caps and the buttons on their jackets. You‘ll also walk in the footsteps of Charles I on his way to being executed, and see a statue of the famous French General, Charles De Gaulle, in the very square where he set up his government while in exile during World War II. The London audio tour ends with a visit to the Household Cavalry where you‘ll be able to get up close to the guards and their stunning black horses. You’ll also find out what the requirements are for a horse to join the cavalry!
Along the way, you‘ll:
• Hear about the centuries of history that unfolded in the heart of London
• View the movements of the royal guards up close
• Learn to spot and decipher differences between the uniforms
• Find out the best times to view the emblematic ceremony
• Stand on the Mall, where the world comes to get a grandstand view of royal events like weddings, coronations, and funerals
• Listen to the stories behind the George VI, Duke of York and National Police memorials
• Take in the impressive Buckingham Palace and St James‘s Palace
By the end of this hour-long London audio tour, you‘ll have witnessed the Changing of the Guard from a different perspective and gained a new appreciation for the ceremony.
Since leaving university in 1982, Sean has lived and worked across the globe in a nearly 30-year career as a senior executive in financial services. He put his skills and knowledge to work in the Charity Sector in the UK for 7 years but decided life was too short to not focus entirely on his passions for people, history, art and architecture. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things royal both contemporary and historical; Sean lives in London and Wiltshire. When in London, Sean can often be found on his hands and knees in the British Museum absorbing the detail and the artistic magnificence of our ancestors. When in Wiltshire, He has a particular love for his local ancient landmark, the Stone Age cathedral that is Stonehenge. Sean is a freeman of the City of London and a liveryman of the City Livery company of Clockmakers. He lectures at Sea, on art, history and all things Royal. He spends the English winter on travels overseas and he expects the best from his guides, so is focussed on giving clients the very best experience.
- Install VoiceMap from the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Create an account
- Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
- Enter your Voucher Code
- Select Download Now
How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
