Kensington Palace, the Changing of the Guard and Afternoon Tea
What happens, in order
- Meet at the Guards Memorial, Horse Guards Road
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens on foot
- Afternoon tea at the Orangery
- Kensington Palace with your audio guide
From $150 per person
- Duration5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- At the palace1 hour 30 minutes inside the palace, plus an hour at the Orangery
- Departs fromGuards Memorial, 69 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2BJ
- Group sizeUp to 16
- Palace entryEntry included
- OperatorWalks - UK
- CancellationFree up to 24 hours before
Palace entry pre-reserved
In the fare, not an upgrade, and no queue at the ticket desk.
A chosen spot for the Guard
Your guide picks the view rather than the crowd choosing it for you.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
The Diana Memorial Fountain and the Albert Memorial on the walk.
An hour at the Orangery
Full afternoon tea in Queen Anne's 1704 greenhouse.
Ninety minutes inside
More time in the State Apartments than any other guided trip here allows.
Sixteen people at most
Small enough to hear the guide across an open park.
Five and a half hours, and what fills them
This is the longest trip listed here and the only one that settles royal London in a single booking. It starts at ten at the Guards Memorial, takes the Changing of the Guard, walks the length of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, stops for afternoon tea at the Orangery, and finishes inside Kensington Palace with your ticket already reserved.
A place at the Guard, chosen rather than fought for
Most visitors watch the Changing of the Guard from the railings at the front of Buckingham Palace and see the back of a crowd. Your guide takes the group to a spot chosen for the part of the ceremony that is worth seeing, which is the single clearest thing this booking buys in its first hour.
Across the parks on foot
From Buckingham Palace the route crosses Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, passing the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Albert Memorial on the way. It is an hour and a half of walking and about three miles in total, so shoes matter more on this trip than on any other listed here. The gardens covers what you pass.
An hour at the Orangery
Afternoon tea in Queen Anne's 1704 greenhouse, with scones and sandwiches, taken before you go into the palace rather than after. That order is the right way round: you arrive at the State Apartments rested rather than at the end of a long walk.
The palace, on the handset, with the ticket already bought
An hour and a half inside, which is more than most guided trips allow. Your ticket is pre-reserved as part of the fare, so there is no queue at the desk and no upgrade to tick. The guide hands you over at the door because no operator may go further, and the multimedia guide takes you through the King's State Apartments, Victoria's rooms and the Jewel Room. What you see inside sets out the route.
Who this suits
Book this if
You have one day for royal London and want it planned. The Guard, three palace exteriors, two royal parks, a proper tea and ninety minutes inside Kensington with the ticket paid for, in one booking and a group capped at sixteen. It is the best-value version of the day once you add up the parts.
Book something else if
Three miles of walking is too much, or you need step-free access. The private garden tea covers the Kensington half at your own pace and states wheelchair access, and the official entrance ticket gets you into the rooms with no walking at all.
Know before you go
- Ten o'clock start, Guards Memorial. Arrive fifteen minutes early; the guide carries a green sign.
- Three miles on foot. Wear something you can walk in and expect to be outdoors for the first three hours.
- English only, sixteen people maximum. Small enough to hear, large enough to book late.
- Bag searches at the palace. Travel light; large bags are refused at the entrance.
- Not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Say so when you book and the operator will tell you which of its other departures work.
- Free cancellation to 24 hours ahead. Useful on a trip that depends partly on a ceremony the Army can call off.
Kensington Palace private tour compares this against every other way in, and Kensington against Buckingham works through which of the two you actually want.
What the fare covers, and what it does not
- ✓ Pre-reserved ticket to Kensington Palace
- ✓ Afternoon tea at the Orangery
- ✓ Audio guide at Kensington Palace
- ✓ Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park on foot
- ✓ Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Clarence House from the outside
- ✓ The Mall
- ✓ Local English-speaking guide
- ✗ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- ✗ Gratuities
What travellers said about this trip
“The Guard, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, the palace and tea at the Orangery, all settled by one booking. A full day and a good one.”
Bruce · United States · Couple · June 2026
“A great deal of walking, so wear something comfortable. The guide's stories carried the day and everything was well organised.”
Sandy · United States · Solo traveller · August 2026
“Deidra was outstanding and the whole day was well organised. The Guard, the parks, the palace and a high tea at the end of it made a proper London day out.”
Kelly G. · United States · Couple · June 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is palace entry included?
Yes, and it is pre-reserved rather than sold as an upgrade. That is the main difference between this and the shorter garden walks, and it is worth about twenty-five pounds a head.
What if the Guard does not change?
The ceremony can be called off at short notice, sometimes as late as 10:45 on the day, usually in wet weather. The tour runs regardless on an alternative itinerary, so nothing about your booking is wasted.
Where does it start?
The Guards Memorial on Horse Guards Road at ten in the morning, where your guide holds a green sign. It finishes at Kensington Palace, on the other side of the parks.
How much walking is there?
About three miles across five and a half hours, on made paths through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Wheelchairs and strollers are not catered for here, so for a step-free option see the private tours.
Does the guide come inside the palace?
No. Historic Royal Palaces does not allow guided commentary in the State Apartments, so the last ninety minutes are yours with the handset that admission includes.
Is the tea a full afternoon tea?
Yes, at the Orangery, with scones, sandwiches and more. An hour is set aside for it in the middle of the day rather than at the end, so you go into the palace rested rather than footsore.
I only have two hours. Is there a shorter version?
There is. The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea covers the gardens and the Orangery in two hours, with palace entry as a checkout option.
One booking for the Guard, the parks, the tea and the palace
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before you go on this booking, so a change of plan costs nothing.
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