Horse Guards Parade changing of the guard

The HG Parade is at the opposite end of the Mall from Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guard is 11 a.m. daily & it's free. It's in a large open area & usually not as crowded as the B'ham Palace ceremony. Arrive by 10:30 for a good viewing spot.

I agree with Tim, arrive about 1030 on the Whitehall Street side and take pics of the horses etc then proceed throught the archway to the square. Once all of the horses have lined up across from each other for the changing I usually head down to Buckingham to catch the end of the changing down there, and you will see the off Guard coming down the Mall from Whitehall too a little later.

We have always come from the St. James Park side. Just walk up and stand with the small crowd. It is much easier for a small person to view than the uber crowded Buckingham Palace guard change.

To clarify- the Change does Not take place on the big open area- "Horse Guards parade". Instead enter via Whitehall- where the two sentries on horseback are. Stand in the small open coutyard immediately behind the sentries (stand on the River side) facing the building. The old gurad comes out of that building. The new guard comes on horseback,through the arch (from the large parade ground) and the change takes place in the small courtyard. When you get there, there are usually a few policemen who can show you where to stand (they are very helpful), or just follow the example of those who are there before you. On certain weekends (some saturdays in Summer ,I think) while the change is taking place a mounted horseguards band plays on the large parade ground- you can get through the arch to see them. But at least start in the small courtyard. I have only seen this part of the ceremnony on rare occassions. The poster above is correct, you can get to it from St James Park- you need to cross the parade ground, through the arch to the small courtyard off Whitehall.But it is easiest just coming down Whitehall- look for the sentries
No entrance fee.

Thank you very much for the replies. Brian, that was just the information I was looking for.

We have only watched the guard change on the Horse Guards Parade ---lots of horses line up in two lines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOES5PxcYyA&noredirect=1 It looks like there is a guard change ceremony on the Whitehall (street) side, but the guards are on foot, and there are only two horses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifW4Jzr_eIg

Just to point out it is Whitehall not Whitehall Street.

Yes I know. But I didn't call it Whitehall Street. I said "Whitehall (street) side" to distinguish that side of the stables building, approached from the street, from the other, which is the Parade side (where the ceremony I have watched takes place).

I've just come back from London and seeing the changing of the guards and I have to tell you that if you're really looking for the full experience of seeing the moving bits and pieces of the whole ceremony, there's no better way to do it than by following the walking tour provided by The Original London Visitor Center. My mom and I had bought tickets for the hop-on-hop-off tour and were told by a bus driver to head back to the Visitor's Center to join the walking tour that's lead by a guide who literally gets you right up front and center to see the changing of the guards. I believe it's free (you can just show up even without a bus tour ticket, although several of us tipped the guide at the end) and he/she will take you to the exact points along the parade to see all the most important and exciting parts of the guard change. Honestly, trying to see it from just one point along the route doesn't do the whole parade/guard change any justice. I'd suggest joining the walking tour and seeing it in all its glory!

Thanks for that heads up! That is very good information. I will certainly look into that. Glad you enjoyed it.

Both Changing the Guard ceremonies in London are free, the one at Buckingham Palace as most people know gets the most visitors and takes place behind the railings in Palace forecourt, the other takes place at Horseguards, the opposite end of the Mall to the Palace either in the forecourt on the Whitehall side of the building or on Horseguards Parade itself by the archway. In my experience this attracts fewer visitors and is more colourful, horses, soldiers with plumed helmets etc. Timing varies and needs to be checked on the day. The ceremony does not take place every day in Winter.

One year while at the Horse Guards changing I got a picture of a guard falling of his horse. You don't see that very often.