Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace – Changing the Guard

Bearskin hats and a marching band, for free

⚠ Mon, Wed, Fri 11am; check

Hours

Palace outside any time. Changing the Guard 11am (Mon, Wed, Fri in October 2026); can change for weather or events

Tickets

Ceremony free; State Rooms summer-only, paid (book officially)

Address

At the end of The Mall between Green Park and St James's Park; the Victoria Memorial stands in front of the gates

Guards in red tunics and black bearskins march into the palace forecourt behind a military band and take over the watch. The ceremony runs about 45 minutes behind the railings, and if you're not near the front you'll mostly see heads and raised phones. The trick is picking one spot early: the front gates, the steps of the Victoria Memorial, or the roadside along The Mall where the guards march past. It doesn't happen every day, so check the date.