Best of IgoUgoChanging of the Guard
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London has many years of history and many long standing traditions are still very much alive - one of these is the ceremonial Changing of the Guard. It takes place daily from April to July and on alternate days the rest of the year at 11:30am. Dates and information are available on the website. It is free and is not ticketed so if you want to see the ceremony properly, you will need to get there early.The ceremony lasts 45 minutes and takes place inside the railings of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. If you want a good view, you need to be there at least 1 hour early and position yourself near the railings. If you are not firmly anchored here you will miss most of the proceedings.We arrived about 11:15am - we did not think it would be...
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From journal A Weekend in London
Best of IgoUgoChanging of the Guard
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It is impossible to make any kind of trip to London with out watching the Changing of the Guard. It’s just wrong and if you don't plan to do it, you should feel mildly ashamed. To be honest, it's not that exciting and resembles most tourist attractions in that you see it to say you have seen in. And though missing something like that in some places in lieu of doing something else it's such a fundamental part of the scenery and the atmosphere of a trip to London that to miss it would be very wrong indeed. Plus it's free. Unless you are very strapped for time indeed, even if you have no interest in it whatsoever, I do recommend that you stroll across Hyde Park and give it a look. It's a 40 minute ceremony in total, and even if you don't...
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From journal Beyond the Bridge...the Experience that is London.
Guard Change at Buckingham Palace
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I had heard of the guards at Buckingham Palace and this old tradition because my mom had told me, but being there is something very different. From spring to fall they change the guard every day, and from fall to spring they change guard every other day. We saw the whole ceremony and listened to the guard symphony. I really recommend to make it early; we got there 30 minutes before and it was crowded already.
From journal Global Exchange Guides
Changing of the Guard
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The changing of the guard is a fun experience. It is very ceremonial and includes horses and a small marching band. This is a must-see if you are in London. A helpful tip: Once people see the band pass, they tend to assume the show is over. However, another small group will soon come from the other direction, so stick around to see it!
From journal Tea Time in London
Changing of the Guard
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If there was one piece of London I feel like I could have skipped, this it it. Everyone says you have to go see the Changing or you're missing out, but I disagree.
The main problem with the Changing of the Guard is the crowd. There is simply no way to properly view the ceremony unless you arrive an hour or more early. And since it takes place at 11:30am, you are spending some of the most valuable parts of your day just waiting.
The ceremony itself is quite impressive. There is music and a flurry of organized movement. I was impressed with the ceremony itself, even if I was only wondering how they keep cool in their uniforms. If you've got other places to be in London, though, skip the Changing of the Guard.
From journal London: Introduce Yourself to Europe
Changing of the Guard
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I thought it was overrated. The guards march down and the captains shout orders. As an American, I thought they could jazz it up a bit by adding fireworks, music, lasers, and dancing girls. I would always go then!!! As it stands, it is just one of those “things to do in London because everyone will ask you about it when you get home” kind of things. If you do decide to go, get there early and pick either the palace gates or the top of the Victoria Statue as your viewing points.
From journal Trip to London, England
Best of IgoUgoChanging of the Guard
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One of the things in London I wanted to see was the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. It is held daily at 11 am except on very rainy days it will be canceled. The best spot to see everything is to stand in front of the palace on the center statue area up the few steps. I suggest getting there 45 min early if you want to take pictures. There is a band that plays for the crowd as they march by and then head to the palace. After the gates are open they march inside and do a ritual and change the 2 or 4 guards that are in their little box all day. There are 4 guards if the queen is in town or just 2 if she is away. Their outfits were awesome to see. After the changing of guards we walked to the side of the palace and went to a...
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From journal Buckingham Palace
Best of IgoUgoInspection of the Guard
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Everyone knows about the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, daily at 11:30. It is so crowded that you can hardly see what is happening. Skip that, and instead see the better show at the Guards' Barracks on Birdcage Walk at 11 a.m. when the guard is inspected before going to the Palace for the change ceremony. Few people know about it, so you can always get a good view. First, the regular troops march out and line up for inspection. Shortly, the band guys in the bearskin hats muster and march out. They march around in a circle for a bit, then stand at attention for inspection. Then they play a bit of music. The day I saw it, they played the theme from "Indiana Jones," which I'm sure must also be a classical composition...
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From journal On & Off the Tourist Trail in London
Changing of the Guard
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The famous "Changing of the Guard" occurs two or three times a week even in the off-season. Ask around and be sure to fit this event into your vacation plans as it's a must-see!
We particularly enjoyed the showmanship of the "dancing" horses! The horses appear to dance sideways to the music of the marching band.
Even if you're short on time, stop by for a few minutes of London's finest show!
From journal 2 days in London
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