Buckingham Palace Guard Change: Top Viewing Spot 2026

After a comfortable night at our accommodation, we set out today with one goal: to witness the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony!

Typically, the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at 11:00 AM on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Unless there's exceptionally heavy rain, you can usually expect the ceremony to proceed on these days.

For the most precise and up-to-date schedule, always check the official website:

Changing of the Guard Dates & Times

It had rained quite a bit in the early morning, and I was worried sick, thinking, "What if it's canceled today?"

But thankfully, it seems a little drizzle is no match for the British Guards, and the ceremony went on as planned! What a relief!

The Guards with their musical instruments typically emerge from the building to the left of Buckingham Palace as you face it. This is a key detail for getting a great view!

I practically followed them in real-time as they marched! They looked absolutely immaculate, like life-sized toy soldiers.

I can confidently say that the section I was in offered the absolute best view!

Why, you ask? Because if you try to get too close, inside the palace gates, your view will be heavily obstructed by fences, overwhelming crowds, and a considerable distance. This spot, however, truly offers an unobstructed and memorable experience.

The area highlighted in yellow is where you can get the closest view.

They march by, playing their instruments with incredible precision.

While it's a relatively short spectacle, I highly recommend catching this part and then heading straight for lunch! You'll beat the crowds and enjoy a great meal.

Those folks crammed against the fence... definitely not my cup of tea!

Many people also choose to watch from the main square, but even from there, it's quite a distance, so you don't get the best view.

My mom and I snapped some great photos in the square.

I originally planned to hunt down a popular local eatery,

but my mom, feeling a bit tired, suggested we just pop into the first place we saw!

So, we did just that.

And you know what? It was delicious! Sometimes the best finds are the unexpected ones.

We had a burger and something similar to a kebab – a perfect casual lunch!

Later, I bought some jelly beans from a Harry Potter shop nearby.

Honestly, they were so awful! What a complete waste of money.