I really don't want to do this, seeing we only have 2 days in London, but my hubby really wants to. I see that it is daily through July, and then only on even days starting in August. But, someone told me it is every Saturday, which is the 1st? Anyone know for sure if there is/is not a changing of the guard on saturday, august 1st?

I had already planned to tour the Tower of London first thing friday morning making it impossible to see the changing of the guard then.

If his heart is SET on this (he doesn't usually ask for much) we can always do the Tower of London first thing Saturday morning.

Any suggestions on the route to Buckingham Palace? This will be our first morning in London, so I am trying to plan that morning. Our hotel is near Primose Hill (Swiss Cottage line). Any recommendations on something do do first thing Friday morning before the changing of the guard? I have been researching alternative places to stand to catch the changing of the guard w/o having to arrive so early.

I swear, one point in the itinerary causes a string of questions!

Is it better to see the changing of the guard on one of the walking tours? Both the Original Tour Bus and the Big Bus offer a free walking tour of the changing of the guard. For those who have done this, which walking tour is better of the guard? We have already planned to buy a hop on/hop off bus pass for this day.

According to this website below they will be changing the guard on 1st August but it advises that you have to double check with the army and gives a link. Despite these fancy outfits these men go and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/de...article&ID=492

To get to Buckingham Palace on your own you can take the underground from Swiss Cottage to Green Park and it is 15-20 minutes walk through Green Park.

If you are early birds you could take the underground straight through to Westminster and do Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey first then walk via Birdcage Walk to Buckingham Palace which also takes you past the Wellington Barracks.

oh - I wouldn't think even close to 15-20 mins to walk across from Green Park tube station to B'ham Palace. It is just barely over 1/4 mile - definitely less than 1/3 mile

I have much respect for all military. I am married to one who fought in Iraq.

Thanks for the routes. Anyhow recommend the walking tours for the changing of the guard, or are we better off doing it on our own?

I don't understand why anyone would need a walking tour to the Guard change. Walking tours don't get better view points or anything - they end up watching like everyone else.

That was what I was wondering. If they have a "preferred" area to get a better view, or if they are along with everyone else.

Is this possible:

If we booked ahead for the Verger's tour of Westminster for 10 am, we would be done around 11:30 am. Any area that we can sneak into from the side to catch the changing of the guard (I know it will have already started.) I am trying to make the best use of our time for the morning.

Actually wherever you can find a place towards the front. Now, IF you get there early enough to get a post up on the Victoria Memorial "island" - that is best.

But you'd have to be early and then stand around for quite along while. If you aren't there early enough - the next best place is on Spur Road. This is a little connector between the circle in front of the Palace and Birdcage Walk. If you are standing looking at the Palace - this Spur Road is just to the left.

The reason this is a good viewpoint is the guard will walk right by you as they arrive/leave - w/i just a few feet of where you can stand.

didn't see your last post -- if you go to the Abbey - you won't get to the Palace until about noon or later. At that point the ONLY place you could see anything would be there on Spur Road and wait for them to march off. Normally there is space there but on a weekend even that area may be really jammed.

This is what I am having a hard time with. Timing of everything. Back to the drawing board....

we had a great walking tour with 'the original tour' open top bus tour company. a very lively and entertaining gentleman 'marched' us to st. james palace on marlbourough rd. where the marching guards emerged, we followed them down on 'double time' on the mall and around to the left through st. james park to the front of the gate of the barracks (?) where the other guards emerged on the left side of the victoria memorial to the left of Buckingham palace as you face it from the front (sorry if all my exact location names aren't right) . anyway we caught lot's of marching, band playing and guard changing though not directly in front of buckingham. then we walked slightly up the mall from the victoria and there was an elaborate small guard changing there - stable yard rd?

we did it with kids and we all loved it! well worth a guided walk.
try this map link and try the original tour for the well worth it walking tour for the American visitor who isn't exactly sure what is going on and where! good luck.

http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour_.../page_139.html

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st.+james+pal ace&sll=51.50527,-0.130978&sspn=0.008682,0.01929&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=51 .503387,-0.135891&spn=0.008682,0.01929&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A>

I did one of the London Walks in May and they positioned themselves along the roadway so that once the changing was over, the soldiers marched right by the group, 5' away with no crowds.
So...you don't see the changing (which depending on where you are you may not anyways), but some nice photo ops.

Michael_Paris - yes that is along the Spur Rd I mentioned or just around the corner on Birdcage Walk.