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2.5-Hour Westminster Abbey Tour + Changing of the Guard / Horse Guards Parade**UNESCO World Heritage**

2.5-Hour Westminster Abbey Tour + Changing of the Guard / Horse Guards ParadeUNESCO World Heritage

4.7 (6 reviews)

Tour Code: 82945

Live ~~per person~~

Departure City

London

End City

London

Duration

2 hours

Language

English Live

Tour Themes

Cultural & Historical

Highlights

• Westminster Abbey interior tour • Whitehall • Changing of the Guard or the Horse Guards Parade, depending on the weather • St James Park • Buckingham Palace exterior tour • Audio headsets available

Itinerary

Westminster Abbey is one of the world’s great churches, and for 1000 years has been the site of royal coronations. This incredible 700 year old building is a must-see for any visitor to London and a significant structure in British history. It has welcomed Kings, Queens and statesmen, royal weddings (most recently Prince William and Kate Middleton) and state funerals. You may not have been invited to the Royal Wedding, but you can feel like royalty as you enjoy a tour led by an expert local guide, who will point out the most important and fascinating aspects of this great monument. Every British monarch since William the Conqueror in 1066 has been crowned in Westminster Abbey, the most recent being Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. You’ll see the Coronation Chair, commissioned in 1296 by Edward the Confessor, as well as his shrine. It is also the burial place of 17 British monarchs, the Unknown Soldier (buried in French soil and covered by a slab of Belgian marble) and many of Britain’s greatest poets who lie in Poet’s Corner. After your visit to the Abbey, your guide will lead you to the Changing of the Guards. This world-famous ceremony takes place either at Buckingham Palace or at Horse Guards Parade, depending on the day. Your guide will make sure you are in a prime position to enjoy the best views at this crowded event. Enjoy commentary regarding the history and pageantry behind the ceremony - see the Queen’s Foot Guards, with their red tunics and unmistakable bearskin hats, march to Buckingham Palace together with the military band or the Household Cavalry, complete with plumed silver helmets, ride in on their magnificent horses. End your tour at Buckingham Palace, the residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. See the famous balcony where the royal family appears during major events, and hear stories of intruders and princes scaling the walls to get both inside and out!

Tips

Sites Visited Inside: - Westminster Abbey Sites Visited Outside: - Whitehall - Horse Guards Parade - St James’s Park - Buckingham Palace The tour ends outside Buckingham Palace around 11:45am.

Visiting Attractions

Buckingham Palace

Westminster Abbey

St. James's Park

Whitehall's Mounted Horse Guards

Meeting & Transfer Info

Meeting Point

09:15 AM | London

20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom Westminster Abbey

What’s Included

Includes

Westminster Abbey entrance fee and Skip-the-Line access

English-speaking tour guide

Small groups of 25 people or fewer

Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide

Excludes

Tips for tour guide

Hotel pick-up, drop-off

Food and drinks

Special Notes

Please note that Westminster Abbey is subject to last minute, unforeseen closures.

Canceling a booking can result in cancellation fees being applied by local operator, as outlined below:
-All cancellations are subject to a cancellation fee of 5% of the total charged per person.
-Cancellation request must be sent no less than 72 hours before departure time in order to receive a refund.
-No partial refunds will be given for cancellations made within 72 hours of a tour.
-No partial refunds are available once a tour has commenced.

Extra measures may be implemented at some venues due to heightened global security. As a result, we may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues. Westminster Abbey does not permit large or bulky items of luggage. To avoid disruptions or possible denied entry, we strongly suggest that you avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour. There are no cloakroom facilities at the Abbey in which such luggage can be stored.

Admission to Westminster Abbey requires a modest dress code. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. We cannot be held responsible for refused entry due to improper dress.

Depending on the day you will see either the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace or the Horse Guards Parade. The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before 11am. When this occurs, customers will still see a 'wet change' during which the guards march but without the usual music or parade.

It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.

This tour involves a fair amount of walking and much of the Abbey floor and steps are uneven. We recommend comfortable shoes for all guests.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.

Photography is not permitted in Westminster Abbey.

We will do everything within our power to ensure timings and itineraries are respected; however, due to issues beyond our control, timings and sites are subject to last minute changes on rare occasions.

The time we mentioned in the itinerary is for reference only. Please refer to your guide on tour for the actual arrangement. The visiting order and duration might be changed according to actual and practical situation for better service.
This tour/activity is overseen by a select local operator in the region. Upon booking your tour or activity and after receiving confirmation, you will be issued an e-ticket detailing the local operator's name and contact information. If you require assistance finding a specific tour, please contact us for more information.

Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirement: If you have traveled to or transited through yellow fever-endemic regions including East African countries (excluding Tanzania) or South American countries, either before or after your trip, you may be required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This requirement can apply not only for joining tours but also for certain flights or entry into specific countries. For more details, please refer to the official site: : Yellow Fever Risk Areas - Fit for Travel

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