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Buckingham Palace, London

Changing of the Guard - London
Changing of the Guard
by Zanzibargirl
Buckingham Palace tips and photos posted by real travelers and London locals.

The Mall, SW1
• 620 Photos
• 406 Reviews

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Buckingham Palace: Not what I expected.
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  • Mairo21
  • Updated By Mairo21 on May 9, 2005
  • London Page by Mairo21
  • Buckingham Palace gate - London
    Buckingham Palace gate
    by Mairo21, 3 more photos
    You're in London right? So you wanna see Buckingham Palace, home of the Queen of England. I definitely recommend seeing it, but it wasn't what I had envisioned. Kind of reminded me of something equivalent to the White House in Washington D.C.
    I guess I was expecting something like a castle.
    If you want to see changing of the guard, they only do that at certain times. So you might want to find out when they do that before you head out.

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  • Directions: Green Park tube
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    Buckingham Palace: Changing of the guard at the Buckingham Palace
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  • MedioLatino
  • By MedioLatino on March 20, 2005
  • London Page by MedioLatino
  • Oh when the guards...are marching out...:) - London
    Oh when the guards...are
    marching out...:)
    by MedioLatino
    Changing of the guard is a must see in London, even though you have to be lucky to get close to the fence and actually see something, because every time an amazing crowd gets together for this event.

    Try to settle yourself at the statue in front of the main entrance and then you can see the guards marching out.

    'The schedule of the changing is supposed to be like this:
    - Daily at 11.30am from April - July
    - Odd days during August & November (1, 3, 5 etc)
    - Even days during September & October (2, 4, 6 etc)
    Alternate days for the rest of the year.

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  • Directions: Green Park tube
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    Buckingham Palace: The changing of the guards
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  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on June 5, 2006
  • London Page by Jenniflower
  • Guards - London
    Guards
    by Jenniflower
    This is one tradition that is so inherently Bristish, and definately a must-do if possible.

    In times past, much of the British Army was kitted out in redcoats but now its use is much more limited. (I am not sure that the red coats and camouflage went too well together!).

    The 5 regiments of foot guards (Coldstream, Grenadier, Welsh, Scots & Irish) wear red ceremonial tunics.

    They usually form the guard at Buckingham Palace and a changing the guard ceremony takes place 11:30 - 12:15 (on odd days in winter).

    Get there a little earlier to secure a good vantage point to take those ever-necessary photos to take back home.

    If you stand close enough you can also hear what they are saying, which is always very interesting!

    If you miss this 'changing of the guard' here, remember there is one at the Tower of London too.. much smaller in size, but just as 'pompous' and enjoyable :)

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  • Directions: Green Park tube
  • Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
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    Buckingham Palace: Royal Residence
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  • thecatsmeow
  • By thecatsmeow on October 1, 2005
  • London Page by thecatsmeow
  • Buckingham Palace - London
    Buckingham Palace
    by thecatsmeow, 4 more photos
    Buckingham Palace is only open to the public in the summer monthes. We visited the day after it was closed to the public.This is one very breathtaking place from the outside. The Palace has been the home of the British Monarchy since Quenn Victoria decided to reside here in 1837. If you see a raised flag it means the Queen is in residence. The palace was rebuilt in 1825 and redone in 1913. The gates outside are something to see and all the ornamental statues.

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  • Phone: 020/7839-1377 9:30am-5:30pm
  • Directions: Green Park tube and walk south through the park or St. James Park tube then walk north along Queen Anne's Gate west on Birdcage Walk to the gate.
  • Other Contact: 020/7799-2331 recorded msg
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    Buckingham Palace: The Queen Hates Living Here!
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  • bryINpoland
  • Updated By bryINpoland on March 8, 2005
  • London Page by bryINpoland
  • Me and Genius Jackie - London
    Me and Genius Jackie
    by bryINpoland
    Anyone can say they saw the changing of the guards, but has everyone seen a guard trip and fall. I have! But i didnt get a picture of it. I know its mean, but it was pretty cool and funny. He was ok though.

    The palace wasnt all i expected it to be, but it still is pretty neato.

    If you are going to see the changing of the gaurd. Be aware that its not always daily, except during the summer. On some months its every even day, and some its odd days. To enter the palace it will cost 13.50 (pounds). For more info on visiting the palace check the following link to their homepage. Buckingham Palace

    Have a good time!

    * Please feel free to rate this tip, or any of my other tips,. I am always looking to make improvements. Thank you...

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  • Phone: +44 20 7321 2233
  • Directions: Nearest tube is Green Park or Victory station. Tube Map. The palace is located at the end of the road called "The Mall". Its also between Green Park and St. James Park.
  • Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/
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    Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace - the Queen's residence
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  • SLLiew
  • Updated By SLLiew on September 20, 2006
  • London Page by SLLiew
  • Buckingham Palace - London
    by SLLiew
    This is like the number one place of must-see in London for any first timer. To start outside the gates like pilgrims to see the change of guards and then finally catching the sight of the Queen in the flesh as she drives off in her horse carriage waving to all citizens and tourists from all over the world.

    As you need to be there at the right time for this daily event, I find that the nearby St. James Park is a nice place to spend waiting time. There are ponds, trees and ducks to feed.

    The Changing of Guards ceremony is at 11:30am daily during summer (April tp July) and every other day during winter. Last for 45 minutes.

    The Guards are drawn from the British Army: the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards.

    If the Queen is staying at Buckingham Palace, there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she is away there are two.

    The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during August and September through organized tours.

  • Phone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300
  • Directions: Green Park tube
  • Website: www.royal.gov.uk
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    Buckingham Palace: Changing of the guard at the Buckingham Palace
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  • MedioLatino
  • By MedioLatino on March 20, 2005
  • London Page by MedioLatino
  • Crowd outside, at the statue - London
    Crowd outside, at the statue
    by MedioLatino
    Changing of the guard is a must see in London, even though you have to be lucky to get close to the fence and actually see something, because every time an amazing crowd gets together for this event.

    It's supposed to happen on these days, but check in advance for exact dates:
    - Daily at 11.30am from April - July
    - Odd days during August & November (1, 3, 5 etc)
    - Even days during September & October (2, 4, 6 etc)
    Alternate days for the rest of the year.

    Actually to stand/sit at the statue in front of the main entrance is not better either...you will miss (or see from distance only) the changing, but to compensate you will see them marching out at least...:)

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  • Directions: Green Park tube
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    Buckingham Palace: Pomp and Circumstance
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  • CoAir13
  • By CoAir13 on April 21, 2004
  • London Page by CoAir13
  • Buckingham Palace - London
    by CoAir13
    We stumbled upon the changing of the guard...which, apparently takes place at 11.30 every morning. No trip to London is complete without a look at Buckingham Palace. If anything, the changing of the guard was worth us seing because we don't have that kind of thing in the US. It was good for Ethan to experience the pomp and circumstance that goes hand in hand with royalty! The crowds are almost unbearable and full of people willing to push children out of the way for a photo!

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  • Directions: Green Park tube
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    Buckingham Palace: The parade goes on.
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  • breughel
  • By breughel on July 14, 2009
  • London Page by breughel
  • When I arrived in London, the media were reporting the dead of 15 British soldiers in one week in Afghanistan mainly by roadside bombs.
    The political row was strong: not enough troops on the ground, critical shortage of helicopters and armoured vehicles not resisting the IEDs.

    The public at the change of guard is not always aware that the soldiers parading with great skill are also often on operations abroad. In that week the Welsh Guards had lost in Afghanistan their colonel and a guardsman killed in the explosion of their armoured vehicle.
    At Buckingham the parade went on as usual.

  • Directions: Green Park tube
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    Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace
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  • gugi66
  • By gugi66 on December 17, 2008
  • London Page by gugi66
  • Buckingham Palace - London
    Buckingham Palace
    by gugi66, 3 more photos
    Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837.

    It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham. Today it is The Queen's official residence, with 775 rooms.

    DONT MISS MY VIDEOS OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE

  • Directions: Underground stations. Victoria station, Green Park station
  • Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page555.asp
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