Full Royal Tour: Royal London & Buckingham Palace Tour

Buckingham Palace is the prize here: after a guided walk through royal London, you enter the King’s official residence and tour 19 state rooms, the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. The morning also brings you past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, and Trafalgar Square.

I like the small walking group, capped at 15 people, and the way guides such as Will, Greg, Ari, Brandon, and Kris have brought humor, history, and good viewing advice to the route. I also like the practical format: you see central London on foot, then explore the palace at your own pace with an audio guide.

The main catch is the long walk, which can approach three hours and nearly 19,000 steps for some people. The palace portion is not another small-group tour, and one person found the indoor visit crowded, with roughly 60 or more people.

Key points to know before booking

• Buckingham Palace entry is the main value: You tour 19 state rooms, the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.
• The walking group is limited to 15: That makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• Changing of the Guard may be included: On selected days, the guide takes you to a useful viewing place.
• The route covers major royal sights: You pass Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
• The palace visit is self-guided: Your walking guide gives you tickets and directions, then a multilingual audio guide leads you through the rooms.
• Bring stamina, not snacks: Food is not included, and the route involves a great deal of walking with few places to sit.

Why this tour works as a first look at royal London

This experience gives you two different ways to see London. The first is a guided walk through the city’s ceremonial center, where royal tradition, government, monuments, and public squares all sit close together. The second is an indoor visit to Buckingham Palace, where you can spend time with the rooms and artwork instead of simply taking a photograph outside the gates.

I especially like that the route connects the sights. Trafalgar Square is not treated as an isolated stop, and Parliament is not just a quick Big Ben photo. Your guide can explain how the royal palace, government buildings, parks, military ceremonies, and Westminster fit together.

The walk is also a good choice if you are new to London and want to get your bearings quickly. It avoids parking worries and keeps you in the heart of the city. The group limit of 15 is helpful in crowded streets, where a large party could easily become scattered.

Still, do not mistake this for a gentle stroll. The walking portion has several stops, but the total distance can be demanding. One person reported roughly 19,000 steps, with too few benches for regular rests. I would wear comfortable shoes, check the weather, and think carefully about your energy for the palace visit afterward.

Starting at The Ritz and crossing Green Park

The tour begins at The Ritz London, at 150 Piccadilly, at 10:00 a.m. From there, you walk through Green Park toward Buckingham Palace. This opening is pleasant because you approach the palace through a park rather than arriving beside a busy road.

At Buckingham Palace, the guide sets the scene with stories of British royal history and points out the building’s exterior details. The stop is listed at about one hour, including the walk toward the palace and the royal area around it.

On selected days, you may see the Changing of the Guard. This is one of the most popular sights in London, and the guide’s main practical contribution is knowing where to position the group. Ari and Kris were especially praised for finding useful viewing places during crowded ceremonies.

The guide cannot promise a ceremony every day, and crowd conditions can affect what you see. If this event matters most to you, check the expected schedule before booking and understand that the palace visit remains the fixed centerpiece.

After Buckingham Palace, the route continues along The Mall. This broad ceremonial avenue links the palace with central London and gives you a sense of how royal processions use the city. It is a better introduction than simply arriving at the palace gate by taxi.

Trafalgar Square and the heart of central London

Trafalgar Square is the next major stop, with about 20 minutes to see Nelson’s Column, the fountains, and the buildings around the square. The National Gallery is here too, though admission is not part of this experience.

This stop works well in a guided walk because the square can feel like a jumble of statues, traffic, steps, and grand facades when you first arrive. A guide can point out the main features quickly and help you understand why this is one of London’s key public spaces.

You should not expect time for a full museum visit. The stop is for orientation, photographs, and context. If you want to visit the National Gallery, plan that for another time.

Horse Guards Parade and St. James’s Park

The walk then reaches Horse Guards Parade, on the edge of St. James’s Park. The stop lasts about 20 minutes and centers on the famous arch and its clock, both good subjects for photographs.

This part of the route adds a military and ceremonial layer to the royal story. It also gives you a change of pace after the open space of Trafalgar Square. Your guide can explain the setting while you look across the parade ground and toward St. James’s Park.

The stop is short, so think of it as a focused visit rather than a full exploration of the park. If you hoped to linger among the park paths, you will need to return on your own.

Whitehall, Downing Street, and the business of government

From Horse Guards Parade, you continue to Whitehall for roughly 20 minutes. This broad government district contains grand buildings and monuments, with Downing Street nearby. British prime ministers have lived and worked at Number 10 since 1735.

Whitehall gives the tour a useful contrast. Buckingham Palace represents the monarchy, while Whitehall brings you into the machinery of government. Seeing both in one walk helps explain why this central part of London is packed with ceremonial buildings and guarded entrances.

You will not be visiting Downing Street’s interior. The value is the setting and the explanation, plus the chance to see a famous political address as part of a larger route rather than as a disconnected photo stop.

Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey

The tour continues to Parliament Square, with about 40 minutes for the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, the London Eye views, and the Churchill statue. This is likely the most rewarding stretch for first-time visitors because several instantly recognizable sights gather in one place.

Your guide can also clear up a common confusion about Big Ben. Big Ben is the great bell inside the clock tower, while the tower itself has a different official identity. One guide used this distinction as part of the tour, which is exactly the kind of small detail that helps the view stick in your memory.

The Palace of Westminster is home to the Houses of Parliament, and its Gothic exterior is best appreciated from the square and nearby approaches. The London Eye appears across the river, giving you a strong photo view without adding another ticket or detour.

Next comes Westminster Abbey, about 20 minutes away in the schedule. The building has more than 1,000 years of history and is where British kings and queens are crowned. This is an exterior-focused stop, not an interior abbey tour, so do not book this experience expecting entry inside Westminster Abbey.

That distinction matters. If your main goal is to see the Abbey’s interior, tombs, chapels, and memorials, you need a separate visit. Here, the guide provides context and a look at the building as part of the royal route.

Entering Buckingham Palace after the walking tour

After the walking portion, you receive your Buckingham Palace ticket and directions. The walking guide does not accompany you inside, so you should pay close attention to the instructions and the assigned entry timing.

Inside, a multilingual audio guide takes over. You visit 19 state rooms filled with royal furniture and artwork from the Royal Collection. This is the part that makes the experience more than a standard sightseeing walk. You are not only seeing the palace from outside, you are entering rooms used for official royal occasions.

The audio guide lets you move at your own pace, at least within the flow of the palace visit. You can stop to study furniture, paintings, and room details without needing to stay beside your morning guide.

The palace portion lasts about two hours. It also includes the royal gardens and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. Since this is a substantial visit, the full experience can occupy most of your day once you include the walk, transitions, waiting, and time inside.

One important expectation: the palace entry is not limited to the 15-person walking group. A separate palace crowd can be much larger. One person chose not to continue inside after finding a group of roughly 60 or more people, concerned about how crowded it would feel. That is a fair caution, especially if you prefer quiet, closely managed tours.

Even so, the scale of the palace visit is normal for a major London attraction, and the audio guide gives you a clear way to proceed without needing the walking guide beside you. If you want the palace itself, this is still a useful way to combine it with a central London orientation.

How much value do you get for $103.07?

At $103.07 per person, the price makes the most sense if you want both the guided walk and Buckingham Palace entry. You are paying for a small group during the city walk, a local guide, palace admission, and the audio guide experience inside.

If you only want to see the outdoor sights, the price will feel high because Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament Square, and Westminster Abbey are free to view from outside. The paid part is Buckingham Palace, along with the convenience of placing the palace after a prepared route through royal London.

I see the value in the combination. A first-time visitor can cover a large number of major sights without planning a complicated route, and a strong guide can add details that are easy to miss. The best guides named in the feedback, including Will, Greg, Ari, Brandon, and Kris, were described as engaging, witty, friendly, and good at involving the group.

Guide quality can vary from one departure to another, so I would treat those names as examples rather than a promise that one particular guide will lead your tour. The small group size gives the experience a better chance of feeling personal than a large city coach tour.

The biggest cost is physical rather than financial. If you are not comfortable walking for several hours, the value drops quickly. You may prefer to visit Buckingham Palace separately and arrange shorter sightseeing stops around it.

Timing, meeting point, and practical details

Meet at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, and arrive ready to start at 10:00 a.m. The tour ends at Buckingham Palace, not back at The Ritz.

The total duration is about five hours. The walking section includes several stops and transitions, while the palace visit takes about two hours. A few people found the palace entry time unclear, with one person reaching the palace and discovering a 45-minute wait before entry. Pay close attention to the time and directions you receive at the end of the walk.

Snacks are not included, so bring water and food if you need them. The route passes public areas, but one person found very few benches, so I would not count on frequent seating.

The experience is offered in English for the walking section, with a multilingual audio guide at the palace. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. Most people can take part, but the walking distance deserves more attention than the general participation note suggests.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this royal London experience?

I would recommend it to a first-time London visitor who wants a strong introduction to the city’s royal and political center. It suits history fans, people who want a guide to connect the sights, and anyone eager to enter Buckingham Palace without arranging the palace visit alone.

It also suits you if you enjoy walking and want a compact route through central London. The small walking group is a real advantage, especially when the guide is as lively and informed as Will, Greg, Ari, Brandon, or Kris.

I would pause before booking if your priority is a slow pace, frequent seating, or a quiet palace visit. The route is long, the palace crowd can be much larger than the walking group, and the walking guide leaves you before you enter the palace.

Should you book the Full Royal Tour?

Book this tour if you want the broad royal London experience in one half-day: Buckingham Palace outside and inside, Changing of the Guard on selected days, Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey.

Skip it if you mainly want an indoor Westminster Abbey visit, a short walk, or a tightly controlled small group inside Buckingham Palace. For most first-time visitors with good walking shoes and realistic expectations, the combination offers solid value and an efficient look at London’s most famous royal sights.

FAQ

How long does the Full Royal Tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours, including the guided walking portion and the Buckingham Palace visit.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, at 10:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.

Is Buckingham Palace admission included?

Yes. The ticket includes entry to Buckingham Palace, including the 19 state rooms, royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.

Is the Buckingham Palace visit guided in person?

No. The walking guide does not join you inside the palace. You receive your ticket and directions, then use a multilingual audio guide during the palace visit.

How large is the walking group?

The walking tour has a maximum of 15 people. The palace portion can involve a much larger general visiting crowd.

Can I see the Changing of the Guard?

You can see the ceremony on certain days. The guide will choose a viewing spot when the ceremony is taking place.

Is Westminster Abbey admission included?

No. The tour stops outside Westminster Abbey and provides about 20 minutes to see the building and learn about its royal role.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.