Full Royal Tour: Royal London & Buckingham Palace Tour

Buckingham Palace is the prize here: after a lively walk through royal London, you get inside the palace to see 19 state rooms, royal art, grand furniture, and the gardens. I like the small group of no more than 15 and the way guides such as Will, Greg, Ari, Kris, and Brandon bring royal stories to the streets. The route also gives first-time visitors a useful sweep of Westminster.

The main catch is the split between the walking tour and the palace visit. Your guide does not enter Buckingham Palace with you, and the palace section may place you in a much larger crowd. You will also walk for about three hours, with reports of roughly 19,000 steps and few places to sit.

Key points to know

• Buckingham Palace entry is included: See 19 state rooms, the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.
• The walking route covers major sights: Green Park, the Mall, Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey.
• The first part is small and personal: The walking group is limited to 15 people.
• Changing of the Guard can be included: On suitable days, your guide chooses a viewing point near the ceremony.
• Expect a long walk: The route lasts about three hours before the palace visit, with limited benches along the way.
• The palace visit is self-guided: You receive directions and a multilingual audio guide after the walking portion.

From The Ritz to Buckingham Palace

The tour begins at The Ritz London on Piccadilly at 10:00 a.m. That is a handy starting point for a royal-themed walk, placing you near Green Park and Buckingham Palace rather than asking you to cross half of London first.

You walk through Green Park toward the palace. This opening stretch gives your guide room to set the scene, explain royal customs, and point out details that are easy to miss when you hurry toward the palace gates.

Buckingham Palace is the official London home of the King, and the first stop lasts about an hour. You see the palace from outside while your guide explains British royal history. On selected days, the route can also include the Changing of the Guard.

The ceremony draws huge crowds, so the guide’s choice of viewing spot matters. Ari and Kris are specifically noted for finding useful positions around major events, while one guide, Will, explained the difference between the Queen’s Clock Tower and Big Ben. That sort of correction is useful because London’s royal sights come with plenty of names that sound similar.

After the palace, you walk along the Mall. This broad ceremonial avenue links the royal quarter with Trafalgar Square and makes a natural bridge between the monarchy and the political heart of London.

Trafalgar Square and the Royal Route

Trafalgar Square receives about 20 minutes. You see Nelson’s Column, the fountains, the National Gallery, and the grand buildings around the square.

This is a quick visit rather than a museum stop. Your guide can give you the setting and the main stories, but you will not have time to explore the National Gallery itself. If art is your main interest, plan a separate visit.

The square is also a practical orientation point. From here, the route takes you through several layers of British public life: royal ceremony, military tradition, government, Parliament, and the church where monarchs are crowned.

Horse Guards Parade comes next, with another 20-minute stop. The famous arch and clock make good photographs, and the location beside St. James’s Park gives the route a change of pace after the open space of Trafalgar Square.

You should think of these stops as guided snapshots. The value is not in spending a long time at one monument. It is in seeing how the sights fit together while someone explains what you are looking at.

Whitehall, Downing Street, and Westminster

The walk continues along Whitehall, the ceremonial government street. You pass grand buildings and monuments before reaching the area associated with Downing Street, where British prime ministers have lived and worked since 1735.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. Access inside Downing Street is not part of the experience, so you should expect an exterior view and an explanation rather than a house tour.

From there, the route reaches Parliament Square. You get close views of the Palace of Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, and the clock tower commonly called Big Ben. The stop also includes views of the London Eye and the Churchill statue.

This is one of the strongest parts of the walk for first-time visitors. Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye sit close together, yet a first visit can make the area feel confusing. A guide helps you connect the buildings and understand why the square matters.

The Parliament Square stop lasts about 40 minutes, longer than several earlier stops. That gives you time for photographs and a proper look at the buildings, though it is still not an interior visit to Parliament.

Westminster Abbey follows for about 20 minutes. You see one of London’s most important churches from the outside and learn about its role in royal coronations over more than 1,000 years.

The tour does not include admission inside Westminster Abbey. That distinction matters. If you want to see the coronation chair, royal tombs, chapels, and interior memorials, you need a separate ticket and more time.

The walking pace and physical effort

The walking portion is sold as a short city tour, but you should prepare for a serious half-day on foot. The listed stops add up to around three hours before the palace visit, and one account describes reaching roughly 19,000 steps during the full experience.

There are also few benches along the route. If you need regular rest breaks, this may feel demanding. Most people can participate, but the practical question is not simply fitness. It is how comfortably you handle standing, city pavements, and several hours without much sitting.

Wear comfortable shoes and avoid scheduling another strenuous activity immediately afterward. Snacks are not included, so carry something to eat and drink if you need fuel during the walk. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not provided.

The small group helps here. With no more than 15 people, the guide can usually keep the walk conversational and answer questions. The guide quality appears to be one of the strongest parts of the experience. Will is described as witty and clear, Greg as engaging and especially strong on royal history, and Ari, Kris, and Brandon as friendly, lively, and good at involving the group.

Guides can vary, of course. Still, the format gives the person leading your walk a better chance to speak with you than a large coach tour would.

Entering Buckingham Palace

At the end of the walk, you receive your Buckingham Palace ticket and directions. Your walking guide does not accompany you inside. You make your way to the palace on your own and use the supplied multilingual audio guide.

The palace visit lasts about two hours. You tour 19 magnificent state rooms filled with royal furniture and art from the Royal Collection. This is the experience’s biggest draw, and it adds something a standard royal-sights walk cannot provide.

The state rooms give you a look at the ceremonial side of the monarchy, while the audio guide provides structure as you move through the rooms. You are not relying only on a guide’s spoken commentary in a crowded street. You can listen at your own pace and pause to study objects that catch your eye.

The palace gardens are included as well. The garden visit gives you open space after the interior rooms, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition adds another layer to the visit.

One point deserves clear attention: this is not a continuous small-group tour from start to finish. The walking tour is limited to 15 people, but the palace entrance operates separately and may involve a group of around 60 or more people. The supplied directions and ticket timing also need attention. One visitor reached the palace expecting a different entry time and had to wait 45 minutes.

Read the ticket instructions carefully before leaving the walking group. Do not assume the palace entry begins the moment the street tour ends. The guide gives you the ticket and directions, but the palace section is your responsibility.

Is the $103 price good value?

At about $103.07 per person, this is not a cheap walking tour. The price makes more sense when you split it into two parts: a guided royal London route and admission to Buckingham Palace.

The walking section includes a local guide, a small group, and more than 15 major royal and political sights. You are also paying for the chance to see the Changing of the Guard from a position chosen by someone familiar with the crowd patterns.

The palace ticket is the costly and less flexible part to replace. You get the state rooms, gardens, Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition, and a multilingual audio guide. For a first visit to London, combining those elements can be efficient.

The value drops if you already know central London well or prefer to explore at your own pace. You may find the walking commentary too brief at some stops, and you cannot use the tour as a substitute for entering Westminster Abbey or Parliament.

The price is strongest for a first-time visitor who wants a ready-made route and does not want to work out how Buckingham Palace fits with Trafalgar Square and Westminster. It is weaker for someone who dislikes group timing, long walks, or a separate self-guided palace visit.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for a first London visit, especially if you want royal history without spending a full day on museums. It gives you the city’s famous symbols quickly, with enough explanation to make the sights more meaningful.

It also suits history fans who like stories about royal ceremonies, prime ministers, coronations, and public monuments. The guides bring the most value here, so a lively guide can make the route far better than a silent walk between photo stops.

Families and mixed-age groups should consider the pace carefully. The route includes plenty of open-air sights, but three hours of walking and standing can be tiring, especially for anyone who needs frequent seating.

You should also book with the palace timing in mind. The experience is normally booked well ahead, about 69 days in advance on average, and the tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the long route remains the key practical issue.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. After that point, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

My verdict on the Full Royal Tour

Book it if you want an efficient introduction to royal London and you value having a guide connect the sights. The best parts are the small walking group, the chance to get useful Changing of the Guard advice, and the included entry to Buckingham Palace.

Skip it if you want a quiet palace visit, a leisurely walking pace, or one guide to stay with you throughout the entire experience. In that case, a separate palace ticket and your own walking route may suit you better.

For most first-time visitors who can handle the distance, this is a well-packed day. Just treat it as two linked experiences, not one continuous tour: a guided walk through royal London, followed by an independent palace visit.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

Where does the experience end?

The experience ends at Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about five hours. The walking portion takes roughly three hours, followed by about two hours inside Buckingham Palace.

Is Buckingham Palace admission included?

Yes. The Buckingham Palace entrance ticket is included.

What can I see inside Buckingham Palace?

You can visit 19 state rooms, the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. A multilingual audio guide is available inside.

Does the walking guide enter Buckingham Palace?

No. The walking guide does not join you inside. You receive your ticket and directions at the end of the walking tour and continue to the palace independently.

Is the Changing of the Guard included?

On certain days, the walking route can include the Changing of the Guard. The guide chooses a viewing location when the ceremony is taking place.

How large is the walking group?

The walking tour has a maximum of 15 people. The palace portion may be much larger and can include around 60 or more people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.