The Best Way to See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

My dad wanted to see the changing of the guard. It was on his travel bucket list. I heard that it’s held every day at 11 am, so I planned on going any of the week. However, our taxi driver had another recommendation. He said to go Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday because the band will be playing those days. He also recommended standing on the steps of the Victoria Memorial. Originally, I planned to take the kids and my parents on Friday, but it would have been quieter and with less fanfare.

We changed our plan to see the changing of the guard to Sunday at 11 am. But the processional starts at 10:45 am from the Guards Museum. So I read. To be honest, it was all confusing.

At about 10 am, we got out of the train station along with hundreds of other tourists. In a herd, we walked in exodus towards the Victoria Memorial. People were already situated by the gates at Buckingham Palace.

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We continued on to the Victoria Memorial, but the steps were all packed.

TRAVEL TIP: We marched behind them and stood to the left of the memorial and found a decent spot above ground level.

The left side of the Victoria Memorial past the steps would be the perfect spot. You can see the processional and marching band, which is all the fanfare that you could ever ask for.

If you need a detailed timeline, you can check out Rick Steve’s Timeline, shared by a fellow tourist standing next to me during our experience.

TRAVEL TIP: The police are helpful to remind you to watch your belongings, since pickpocketers like to prey on tourists viewing the changing of the guard. I noticed a guard telling a tourist to place his backpack in front of him.

We left the top of the Victoria Memorial around 11:15-11:20 am. The guards were inside the gates of Buckingham Palace, so we couldn’t see that part. We took photos in front of the memorial for my parents and then headed out. You can catch some of the guards on the way back if you stay along the street of The Mall.

Have you gone to see the changing of the guard? What tips would you recommend to get the best view? Share in the comments below.