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Thirty places to see first, in order, for somebody who has never been to London. Each says what it is, whether it is free, whether you must book, and whether the queue is worth it.
Soldiers in red coats and bearskin hats handing the palace over to the next watch, with a band playing. Free, no ticket, and you need a place at the railings well before 11:00.
Also in What’s On and Royal London.
The King's Guard, drawn from the five regiments of Foot Guards in scarlet and bearskins - or from a visiting unit, which is when the Gurkhas or the Navy appear - marches from Wellington Barracks with a band and hands over the palace in a forty-five-minute drill of shouted orders and presented arms. It is the most watched piece of royal ceremony there is, free, and best seen from the Victoria Memorial steps or the railings by ten-thirty. St James's Palace has its own smaller change in Friary Court beforehand, which is less crowded and closer.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:00; extra days in summer and for events
The new guard leaves Wellington Barracks at 10:45; the forecourt railings are the view. Check the Household Division calendar, which changes with the weather and state visits.
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Photo by Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Data is compiled from public sources including OpenStreetMap, under the ODbL. Hours change often, so check before making a journey.