Main Info
On Whitehall Street, on the edge of St. James’s Park, Horse Guard Parade Tour you will find an imposing Palladian style building which is home to London District and Household Cavalry Army Commands. The Four ‘o’clock Parade, also known as the Dismounting Ceremony and Punishment Parade takes place at 16:00 hours in the courtyard in front of the Horse Guards building. (Facing Whitehall).
| Departure | In front of Horse Guards |
| Departure Time | We should arrive by 3:50 PM for a prompt starting at 4 PM |
| Return Time | Approximately 4:30 PM |
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Itinerary
The guards are inspected by an Officer, and then the mounted guards take the horses back to the stables for the night. Two dismounted sentries will then guard the entrance until 20:00 when the gates to Horse Guards are closed, and then one sentry will remain on duty until 07:00 when the gates re-open. This Four 'o'clock Parade started in 1894 when Queen Victoria found the entire guard drinking and gambling while on duty. As a punishment, she said they had to be inspected every day at 4 pm by an officer for the next 100 years! The 100 years finished in 1994. However, the reigning Queen wanted the parade to continue as a tradition. Horse Guard Parade may not be as popular or well-known as the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace; nevertheless, the Changing the Queen’s Lifeguard ceremony at the Horse Guards Parade provides tourists with some spectacular photo-taking opportunities. Changing the Queen’s Lifeguard ceremony tour programme, you can combine other half day tours in London to make your London visit a most memorable one.
