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City & Village Tours: 0208 692 1133
Blue Badge Tour Guide Martin was in the Band of
the Scots Guard for 15 years playing clarinet in the
marching band and violin in the orchestra. He took
part in Changing the Guard, State Openings of
Parliament, Royal Weddings, Trooping the Colour
and many State Visits - playing in the band greeting
guests at Horse Guards Parade and playing for
Her Majesty in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom
during many State Banquets. Join Martin for a fun
and fascinating day of stories and anecdotes that
peel back the formality of Royal and Ceremonial
London to see it all through the eyes of the men
and women in the scarlet and the gold.
Choose your ideal morning and afternoon options:
for more active groups a morning walking tour
(approx one mile) from Trafalgar Square passes
through Admiralty Arch for some pageantry on
Horse Guards Parade (while the tourists crowd the
other end of The Mall) and takes in St James’s Park,
Clarence House, St James’s Palace and Pall Mall.
For less walking opt for Martin’s Ceremonial
London coach tour in the heart of Royal London.
For the afternoon visit the State Apartments at
Buckingham Palace or visit Clarence House the
former home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother and currently the home of The Prince of
Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Morning Arrival
Meet Martin at 10.30am (earlier if you want, later if
you want) in Trafalgar Square to buy morning coffee.
We can step down from the coach right outside the
flagship pub we visit this morning. You’ll meet here
whether you opt for the walking tour or the coach tour.
Martin’s Ceremonial London Walking Tour
Walk with Martin under Admiralty Arch and begin the
day in the heart of Royal and Ceremonial London on
Horse Guards Parade enjoying a splash of scarlet and
gold pageantry while the tourists are all down the other
end of The Mall. Hear Martin’s stories about taking part
in Trooping the Colour here as well as grand welcoming
ceremonies staged during State Visits. What is it like to
march under the Bearskin along Britain’s ceremonial
red carpet - The Mall? Does anything ever go wrong?
Martin’s tour is full of fascinating facts and really
wonderful anecdotes and stories from the inside of
Ceremonial London. The walk will take you past
Clarence House where Martin played for the Queen
Mum and St James Palace where Martin was presented
to the Queen in Silver Jubilee year at a reception given
by the Guards. We stop to buy lunch in the marvellous
world of gentlemen’s clubs and beautiful old shops.
Despite this being a very upper crust part of London
there’s plenty of pub and café choices here that won’t
break the bank for lunch before an afternoon visit to
either Buckingham Palace or Clarence House.
A Bandsman in the Ballroom
Martin’s Ceremonial London
With a Visit to Buckingham Palace or Clarence House
