Do I have to see both Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace on the same day with a combo?

Usually, yes. Most current products are structured as one continuous Westminster morning, which is why they work best for visitors who want a single, organized outing.

How much time should I leave between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace?

Leave 15–30 minutes. The walk itself takes about 15–18 minutes, but security, crowds, and Guard-day street pressure make a small buffer worthwhile.

What should I do if I’m visiting during peak season when both experiences might be crowded?

Choose the earliest Abbey slot or a guided morning combo. Peak-season stress here is often about losing good ceremony viewing space, not just queueing longer.

What happens if one experience is canceled due to weather?

If the Guard ceremony is canceled or reduced because of weather, tours usually continue with Westminster Abbey and a palace-area or Horse Guards alternative. Check your ticket terms.

Can I bring my own food or drinks?

Not inside Westminster Abbey. Current Buckingham Palace combos are walking experiences, so food usually isn’t included.

Are both accessible for people with mobility issues?

Partly. Westminster Abbey offers partial accessibility, but several Buckingham Palace walking combos involve continuous walking and dense crowds, so they won’t suit every mobility need.

Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace combo tickets & tours

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Guided Tours

Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour

What to bring

Ensure your entry tickets and ID are on hand for a smooth experience.

What's not allowed

Alcohol, sharp metallic tools or objects, food & beverages, drones, large bags, suitcases, backpacks, rucksacks, illegal drugs, weapons, and items that make a noise, like whistles, banners, flags, and political slogans, are not permitted on this experience.
Your pets are not permitted on this experience.
Flash photography is strictly prohibited at the venue.

Accessibility

This experience is generally not accessible to wheelchair and pram/stroller users.

Additional information

Interior entry is guaranteed only at the Abbey, not Big Ben or Buckingham Palace.
Safety is a priority, so guests under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
While there is no strictly enforced dress code, please note that the Abbey is a place of worship, and it is better to be dressed modestly.
The Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace only takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays; on other days, the tour visits the Horse Guards Parade instead.
Arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before the start; late arrivals or no-shows are non-refundable.
The English, Spanish, German and/or French-guided tour uses a priority group entrance for Abbey entry.
For the Westminster Abbey & Changing the Guard experience, Abbey visits for organ recital, evensong, or mass are self-guided and subject to the Abbey’s schedule; the guide does not accompany you inside.
Changing the Guard is subject to the British Army’s schedule and may change without notice; typically seen on 10am tours on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun.

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Walking Tours

Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard

What to bring

Ensure your ID and entry tickets are on hand for a smooth experience.

What's not allowed

Large suitcases and bulky items are not permitted on this experience.
Your pets are not permitted on this experience.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible to wheelchair and pram/strollers users.
For your convenience, guide dogs are welcome to join you.

Additional information

Safety is a priority so guests under 17 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over.
While there is no strictly enforced dress code, please note that the Abbey is a place of worship, and it is better to dress modestly.
Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before the morning of the ceremony. On such occasions, see a ‘wet change’ during which the guards march without the usual music or parade.

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Free cancellation

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Guided tour

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Tickets

Westminster Abbey Tickets

Explore one of Britain’s most important churches at your own pace with timed entry.

Everything you get: Explore Westminster Abbey’s soaring nave, royal tombs, cloisters, and the Coronation Chair, then admire centuries of stained glass, intricate stone carvings, and memorials to monarchs, poets, and scientists with a multimedia guide.
Why choose this: Enjoy complete flexibility to move through the Abbey at your speed, pausing wherever you like without being tied to a guide or a fixed schedule.
Upgrades: Add skip the line or priority group entry, a guided Abbey tour, walking tour of Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, English speaking guide, guidebook, plus AI audioguide app access.

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Audio guide

Guided tour

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Why combine Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace?

Short transfer

Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace are close enough to link easily on foot. The walk usually takes about 15–18 minutes, so you can cover both without losing time to transport.

One royal story

The Abbey explains coronations, burials, and state tradition; Buckingham Palace adds the living monarchy and ceremonial setting. Together, they make London’s royal history feel connected, not fragmented.

Ceremony timing

Guard-focused tours remove the guesswork around where to stand and when to move. That matters more here than at many London combos, because ceremony timing can shape your whole morning.

Better planning

Booking one coordinated experience is calmer than building the route yourself around Abbey entry, street crowds, and palace-area viewing points. You spend less time checking maps and schedules.

The best ways to explore both

Aspect	Separate Tickets	Combo Tours
Cost	Westminster Abbey from £30; Buckingham Palace exterior and Guard viewing are free if you plan them yourself.	Usually pricier than Abbey-only entry because you’re paying for guiding, timed routing, and ceremony planning rather than a simple bundle discount.
Availability	Abbey morning slots can fill first, and palace-side viewing space goes quickly on Guard days.	One scheduled departure handles both parts together, which reduces timing friction.
Timeslots	You coordinate Abbey entry and palace timing yourself.	Morning departures are usually built around Guard viewing or a Horse Guards alternative.
Convenience	One ticket, then separate route planning.	One booking, one meeting point, one paced Westminster route.
Flexibility	Easier if you want to linger at the Abbey.	Less free-form, but much easier to manage.
Best for	Visitors building their own Westminster morning around Abbey entry.	Visitors who want Abbey access plus palace-side context in one guided experience.

Making the most of your experience

Plan it as a half day: Allow about 2 hours inside Westminster Abbey, 15–18 minutes to walk to Buckingham Palace, and another 1–1.5 hours for the palace-side portion.
Choose the right format: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour adds a guided Westminster route, while Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard is better for ceremony-focused visitors.
Know what’s included: Current combos here include Westminster Abbey entry plus a Buckingham Palace exterior walk or Guard viewing. They do not include Buckingham Palace State Rooms entry.

Westminster Abbey: Sightseeing entry usually runs 9:30am–3pm on weekdays and 9am–2:30pm on Saturdays. Sundays are for worship, not standard tourist visits.

Buckingham Palace tours: Current combo products are mainly morning walking departures. A 10am start best matches Changing of the Guard days; on others, the route usually shifts to Horse Guards Parade.

Start at the Abbey: Timed entry and security are harder to improvise than a palace exterior stop, so Abbey-first usually keeps the morning smoother.

Best strategy: Choose Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday if the Guard matters most. For independent planning, the earliest Abbey entry gives you the best buffer afterward.

Location context: Both landmarks sit in royal Westminster, linked by Birdcage Walk and St James’s Park, which makes this one of London’s simplest same-area pairings.

Westminster Abbey: Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom | Find on Maps

Buckingham Palace: London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom | Find on Maps

Walk: The most practical transfer is on foot. Expect 15–18 minutes via Great George Street and Birdcage Walk.

Tube: Westminster to St James’s Park is one stop on the District or Circle line, then about 8 minutes on foot. In practice, walking is often quicker.

Car and parking: Driving between them is rarely worth it. Central Westminster parking is limited and expensive, so public transport or walking is the easier choice.

Westminster Abbey: Partially wheelchair and stroller accessible, with Braille support, a hearing loop, free disabled tickets, and guide dogs welcome.

Buckingham Palace walking tours: Current palace-side combos involve continuous walking and dense Guard crowds, so several are not suitable for wheelchair or stroller users.

Wheelchair support: No wheelchair rental is included in these combos.

Sensory comfort: Abbey opening hours are calmer; Guard viewing is louder and more tightly packed.

Service animals: Guide dogs are accepted at Westminster Abbey.

Pick the right departure: Choose a 10am guided option on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday for the best chance of seeing the full Guard ceremony.
Abbey before palace works best: Timed Abbey entry is less forgiving than an exterior palace stop, especially in summer.
Travel light: Westminster Abbey bans large bags, suitcases, banners, and flash photography, so security is quicker with just a day bag.
Use the cloisters pause: The cloisters and Cellarium area are the easiest places to reset before walking to the palace.
Stand rail-side if the Guard matters: Late arrivals near Buckingham Palace usually end up several rows back.
Dress for a church first: Respectful clothing helps you feel comfortable inside the Abbey’s worship spaces.
Save palace photos for the end: The Victoria Memorial viewpoint is easier when you’re not watching the clock for Abbey entry.
Know the weather fallback: Rain can trigger a ‘wet change,’ with fewer ceremonial elements and no full parade music.

Frequently asked questions about Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace tickets

Yes, you can do them separately. Current combos mainly save planning time by pairing Abbey entry with a guided Buckingham Palace exterior walk or Guard-focused route.

Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace combo tickets & tours