The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a free military ceremony that starts at about 11:00 on set days, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and lasts around 45 minutes. The dates change every month and the ceremony can be cancelled at short notice, so always check the official calendar the day before you go.
The idea is simple. A group of soldiers, the Old Guard, has been guarding the monarch's London palaces. A fresh group, the New Guard, marches in from nearby Wellington Barracks with a military band, and the two groups carry out a formal handover in the palace forecourt. Afterwards the Old Guard marches away. It is a real change of duty, performed with drill, music and ceremony that go back centuries.
The soldiers usually come from the five regiments of Foot Guards in the Household Division, the ones in red tunics and tall black bearskin caps. You can watch everything from the pavements and parks around the palace without a ticket. What decides your experience is where you stand and when you arrive.
Changing the Guard: quick reference
- Where
- Forecourt of Buckingham Palace, with marches along The Mall, Birdcage Walk and from St James's Palace
- Usual days
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday (not every one; check the calendar)
- Time
- New Guard enters the forecourt at about 11:00; first marching band from 10:43
- Length
- About 45 minutes
- Price
- Free, no ticket
- Official schedule
- Household Division "Changing the Guard" calendar
- Nearest stations
- St James's Park, Green Park, Victoria
Checking the official schedule before you go
The Household Division, which provides the soldiers, publishes a monthly schedule on its Changing the Guard calendar. Use this and nothing else: some older guides say the ceremony happens every day in summer, and that is not how the current schedule works.
In September 2026, for example, the Guard Change at Buckingham Palace is listed at 11:00 on 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30 September. These are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but not all of them: no ceremony is listed for Friday 25 September. On most other days the schedule shows a much smaller "Captain's Inspection" at 15:00, and on some Sundays a Sunday Parade at 10:00.
Rain can cancel the parade as late as 10:45. The Household Division says ceremonial activity can be changed or cancelled at very short notice, especially in wet weather. Check the calendar on the morning itself, and have a back-up plan for the rest of your day if the sky looks grey.
What the other ceremonies on the calendar are
The guard must be inspected every day. On days without a guard change, the Captain inspects the soldiers at 15:00. This is short and much less dramatic, but it is also far less crowded. On Sundays the regimental flag, called the Colour, is included in the inspection at Buckingham Palace at 10:00. After the Sunday Parade, the Colour is marched back to St James's Palace and lodged in Friary Court.
How the ceremony unfolds, step by step
The ceremony is not one event in one place but several marches that meet at the palace. The official timings from the Household Division look like this:
| Time | What happens | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | A detachment of the Old Guard forms up and is inspected | Friary Court, St James's Palace (Marlborough Road) |
| About 10:40 | The New Guard and band are inspected; the band plays in a circle | Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk |
| 10:43 | The St James's Palace detachment marches down The Mall and enters the palace forecourt | The Mall and the palace railings |
| About 11:00 | The New Guard marches in through the North Centre Gate | Palace railings, Victoria Memorial |
| 11:00-11:35 | Salutes, symbolic handing over of the palace key, new sentries posted, band plays in the forecourt | Palace railings |
| About 11:35-11:40 | The Old Guard re-forms and marches back to Wellington Barracks | Forecourt gates, Birdcage Walk |
| About 11:45 | The St James's Palace guard leaves along The Mall | The Mall |
During the half hour in the forecourt, much of the action is quiet and slow: officers exchange salutes, sentries are replaced one by one and the band moves to the centre of the forecourt and plays a programme of music. If you are far back in the crowd, the music is often the part you enjoy most.
The best places to stand
There is no single perfect spot. Each place shows you a different part of the ceremony, and you will not see everything from any of them. Choose one and arrive early, rather than trying to move around once the crowds have formed.
At the palace railings
The railings in front of the forecourt are the only place where you can see the handover itself. The front row fills up long before 11:00, especially in summer and during school holidays. We would aim to be there by 10:00 at the latest on a busy day. If you leave your place for a coffee or a toilet, expect to lose it.
On the Victoria Memorial
The steps of the white marble memorial in front of the palace give you height, so you can see the bands arrive and the columns march in. You see the forecourt from further away. The police sometimes control access to the memorial and the roads around it during the ceremony, so follow their instructions.
Along The Mall and at St James's Palace
If you want to see soldiers close up without a long wait, go to Friary Court at St James's Palace for the 10:30 inspection, then walk alongside the detachment as it marches down The Mall with its band. This is the best choice for families with small children, who often find the crowd at the railings too much.
On Birdcage Walk by Wellington Barracks
From about 10:40 you can watch the New Guard form up and the band play inside the barracks through the railings, and then see them march out towards the palace. It is usually calmer than the palace front, and the park is next to you if you need space.
Worth it if...
- You arrive early and choose one spot
- You enjoy military music and precise drill
- You combine it with a walk in St James's Park
Think twice if...
- You hate crowds or have a pushchair
- You only have a few hours in London
- Rain is forecast (it may be cancelled)
Crowds, pickpockets and visiting with children
This is one of the most crowded free events in London on a summer morning. Police officers are always present. The Household Division itself warns that pickpockets have been known to operate in the area, so keep phones and wallets in front pockets or closed bags and be careful when someone bumps into you. Our guide to staying safe in London describes the common tricks.
With children, think about height and patience. A child at the back of the crowd sees nothing for 45 minutes. The Mall and Birdcage Walk give them a clear view of the marching soldiers and bands for a few minutes, which is often enough. Our tips on London with children have more ideas for the same area. Bring water and a hat in summer, and check the London weather forecast before you set off.
The 15:00 inspection is the calm alternative. If you cannot face the morning crowds, come back at 15:00 on a day without a guard change. The Captain's Inspection is much shorter and smaller, but you can see the guards up close without fighting for space.
The mounted guard at Horse Guards Parade
A second, separate ceremony takes place a short walk away, on the far side of St James's Park. The King's Life Guard is mounted by the Household Cavalry, soldiers on horseback in shining helmets: the Life Guards wear red tunics and white plumes, and the Blues and Royals blue tunics and red plumes. They guard the entrance to Horse Guards on Whitehall.
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: the new guard leaves Hyde Park Barracks at 10:28 and rides via Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill and The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where the change takes place at 11:00.
- Tuesday and Thursday: a patrol between 10:30 and 11:15.
- Saturday and Sunday: the duty officer inspects the guard at 11:00.
- Every day: two mounted sentries at the Whitehall entrance from 10:00 to 16:00, changed every hour, and a dismounted inspection at 16:00.
Horse Guards is usually much less crowded than Buckingham Palace, and the horses are close to the public. The mounted guard rides along The Mall shortly before 11:00, so if you stand on The Mall you can see the cavalry pass and still reach a view of the palace, although not the railings. The Household Division's page on the King's Life Guard has the current details.
Guard changes at Windsor Castle and the Tower
The same Foot Guards also mount a guard at Windsor Castle. The Household Division's page says Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but its September 2026 schedule lists guard changes at 11:00 only on Thursdays and Saturdays, so check the Windsor section of the calendar if you are planning a day trip to Windsor Castle.
At the Tower of London the guard takes part in three small ceremonies every day: the ceremonial opening at 09:00, the collection of the daily password at 15:00 and the Ceremony of the Keys at seven minutes to 22:00. The last one needs a ticket from Historic Royal Palaces.
How to tell the Foot Guards regiments apart
The Household Division says you can recognise the five Foot Guards regiments by the number and spacing of the buttons on their tunics and by the plume on their bearskin caps. This is a fun game while you wait:
| Regiment | Buttons | Plume |
|---|---|---|
| Grenadier Guards | Evenly spaced | White, on the left |
| Coldstream Guards | In pairs | Red, on the right |
| Scots Guards | In threes | None |
| Irish Guards | In fours | Blue, on the right |
| Welsh Guards | In fives | White-green-white, on the left |
Other units sometimes take a turn. In September 2026 the calendar lists 26 Engineer Regiment for several guard changes, so do not be surprised if the uniforms look different on your day. The bands also vary, and the calendar names the band for each date.
Getting there and what to do afterwards
St James's Park station (District and Circle lines) is the closest to Wellington Barracks and Birdcage Walk. Green Park (Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines) is a ten-minute walk through the park to the palace, and Victoria is also within walking distance. The Tube is busy at this time of the morning, and walking between central sights is often just as quick.
After the ceremony, the crowds disperse fast. Walk into St James's Park to see the pelicans and the lake, follow The Mall to Trafalgar Square, or head south-east to Westminster and the Churchill War Rooms. If it is summer, the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace itself may be open to visitors. The ceremony fits well into our one-day London itinerary, and it is one of many free things to do in the city.
For a much bigger military parade, the Household Division also stages Trooping the Colour for the King's official birthday in June.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace?
The New Guard enters the palace forecourt at about 11:00, and the ceremony lasts about 45 minutes. Soldiers and bands start marching from St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks from about 10:30, so arrive well before 11:00 if you want a good view.
Does the Changing of the Guard happen every day?
No. At Buckingham Palace it usually takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but not on every one of those days, and dates can change. The Household Division publishes the official monthly schedule on its website, and wet weather can cancel the ceremony at short notice.
Where is the best place to watch the Changing of the Guard?
The palace railings are the only place to see the handover itself, but you need to arrive very early. The Victoria Memorial steps give height, and The Mall and Birdcage Walk give close views of the marching bands with smaller crowds.
Is the Changing of the Guard free?
Yes. It takes place in public view around Buckingham Palace and you do not need a ticket. Be wary of anyone selling "tickets" or "reserved places" for the ceremony; the official calendar is published free by the Household Division.
What is the difference between the Changing of the Guard and Horse Guards?
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is carried out by Foot Guards in bearskin caps. At Horse Guards Parade the Household Cavalry, on horseback, change the King's Life Guard at 11:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, usually with smaller crowds.
Sources
- The Household Division - Changing the Guard schedule (checked September 2026)
- The Household Division - Changing the Guard overview (checked September 2026)
- The Household Division - The ceremony in detail (checked September 2026)
- The Household Division - Troop movements (checked September 2026)
- The Household Division - The King's Life Guard (checked September 2026)
- The Household Division - Guard at the Tower of London (checked September 2026)