The Changing of the Guard –
Beneath the Bearskin
"London Walks does it best" – Old English saying
 
Here's why. The Changing of the Guard ceremony comes into several of our walks: Wednesday's The London Tour, Thursday's Ceremonial London walk, Friday's Royal London and Westminster Abbey tour and Sunday's The London Tour. All of them guided by the creme de la creme of Blue Badge Guides. Those are the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public walks.
 
But we really push the boat out in May, June and July. Because in those months we run, every Tuesday at 10.30 am, a walk called: The Changing of the Guard – Beneath the Bearskin. It goes from Green ParkTube, the Green Park exit (that's the exit that brings you out into the park itself – meet the guide [trust me, you won't have any problem spotting him!] beneath the tree). 
 
And on that note, I want to hand over to the "blurb" for this walk. Here it is:
 
Analogy time: boarding a plane. London Walks people turn left. Everybody else turns right. First Class in this instance being A Changing of the Guard Tour Guided by a Former Guardsman! And, yes, he'll have his bearskin and scarlet tunic with him. Tick 'em off: 1) The best place to stand; 2) What to look for; 3) "Insider" Information to die for; 4) The Facebook Photo of a Lifetime. You Beneath that Bearskin. In that Tunic!
 
The Changing of the Guard – Beneath the Bearskin tour takes place:
every* Tuesday morning at 10.30 am
 
*in May, June and July
 
Meet Martin just outside the Green Park exit of
Green ParkTube
 
Green ParkTube is on
the Victoria, Piccadilly & Jubilee Lines
 
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And of course "going privately" is another possibility. Not Martin (in May, June or July at any rate) but a colleague of his, another former Guardsman. Some "possibility, eh! Takes your breath away when you look at it full on. I mean a former Scots Guard taking you there and taking you through it. And I mean through it. Because they were members of that elite regiment for many years. It's the ultimate "insider's tour" – because these ex-soldiers – they're also professionally qualified guides, incidentally – were there, were part of it. Part of many Trooping the Colour ceremonies. Martin played – he was a member of the Scots Guard Band – at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, let alone at numerous investitures and state banquets. He's played at Buckingham Palace of course. But also at Windsor Castle, at St. James' Palace, at Holyrood, at Guildhall, etc.
 
It gets better. Because they've also got the Bearskin and the tunic – and they'll have the uniform along. You can try it on.
 
 
 
And the stories you'll hear – the information you'll get – the experience you'll have – is off the charts compared to what the "many headed" are getting. Everything from insignia detail to where the tunics are made and what they cost to how tall a guard has to be and what he earns and what do they do when they're not guarding the Queen to the Queen's favourite music (and what she can't abide) to whether the guns are loaded to what they wear under the tunic, etc.
 
And – as usual with London Walks – the timing will be flawless. You'll be right where you need to be for the march past, the fall out, etc.
 
Timing. And time – best possible use of time. Because while everyone else is standing around "waiting" you'll be hearing fascinating story after fascinating story after fascinating story.
 
If you think it might be right for you, give us a ring. On 020 7624 3978. Or email us on:  london@walks.com