Tour format: This is a self-guided audio tour with no live guide and no group to follow. Access method: The tour opens in your phone browser with no app to download, and you have lifetime access. Offline option: You can use the free Roamer app on iPhone if you would rather walk the tour offline. Start time: You can start any time you like, with flexible timing and pacing. Best time to start: Weekday mornings from about 09:00 or late afternoon help you avoid the busiest crowds. Horse Guards arch timing: Plan to pass through the Horse Guards arch before about 19:00, as it can be locked in the evening. Route closure warning: The route between stops 3 and 4 uses Horse Guards arch, which is locked roughly 20:00 to 07:00. Event disruptions: Avoid state occasions and Remembrance Sunday, when Whitehall can be closed and access disrupted. Demonstrations: Expect possible police cordons and demonstrations around Whitehall, Parliament Square, and Downing Street. Traffic safety: Around Parliament Square the traffic is heavy, so cross only at the pedestrian signals. Crowds and pickpockets: Parliament Square, Whitehall, and the Abbey forecourt can be very crowded, so secure your bags and valuables. Victoria Tower Gardens hours: Victoria Tower Gardens opens at 07:00 and closes at 20:30 in September, with earlier closing in winter. Photo tip: For a classic Houses of Parliament photo, walk about 50 metres onto Westminster Bridge from the Boudica statue. Changing of the Guard: The King's Life Guard ceremony is usually at 11:00; check the Household Division schedule for any changes. Horse Guards works note: Ceremonies were suspended from 17 to 28 August 2026 for stable works, with a planned return on 29 August. Westminster Abbey hours: Westminster Abbey is open to visitors Mon to Fri 9:30 to 15:30 and Sat 9:30 to 15:00. Abbey services: On Sundays Westminster Abbey is open for services only, and attending a service such as Evensong is free. Churchill War Rooms: The Churchill War Rooms open daily 9:30 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00. Banqueting House: The Banqueting House interior opens to the public only on 1 November and 20 December 2026. St James's Park pelicans: The pelicans in St James's Park are usually fed daily at around 14:30. Trafalgar Square link: Trafalgar Square is about a five-minute walk north up Whitehall from Horse Guards. Jewel Tower: The Jewel Tower opens daily 10:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:30.