App-solutely Royal: Changing of the Guard London Review

Planning a trip to London? Very likely, catching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace might be pretty high up on your list. After all, it’s like a huge, free show full of tradition, pomp, and, when you get right down to it, circumstance. That said, finding a good spot, figuring out the schedule, and just generally knowing what’s what can be, you know, more difficult than it seems at first. So, too, I thought an app might be very useful. I tested one out on my recent visit, and this is what I found.

First Look: What Does the App Claim to Do?

This particular app, very similar to several I saw, that is, aimed to make seeing the Changing of the Guard easier and maybe more enjoyable. The app offers schedules, maps, historical facts, and some guidance on the best spots to watch the ceremony. The main idea, in other words, is that you show up with just this app, and you’re all set. Is that actually true, even just a little bit? We’ll see about that!

The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing: My Personal Experience

Using the app in London was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, having all the schedule info right there on my phone was really useful, arguably. The app updated in real-time, which, really, was nice when there were, you know, unexpected delays because of weather or some other event. One thing to keep in mind is that I didn’t have to hunt all over the internet for changes, that is. The map feature showed where all the key spots were – Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Wellington Barracks – which, again, arguably, helped me plan where to go. Yet, it’s almost that I wouldn’t have found them by just using the, you know, rather effective GPS feature on my smartphone that came factory standard!

But, on the other hand, here’s where it gets slightly tricky. The “best viewing spots” it pointed out were, very predictably, the most crowded. So, while the app helped me find the place, it didn’t exactly help me see the thing. Like your average user, maybe the app should have factored in the crowd size? I managed to find a viewing spot, that is, but it took some doing and a bit of pushing (not literally, just positioning!). Moreover, the historical facts were neat, yet they didn’t, say, give more context than a quick Google search would provide, like your average mobile search, you know? Ultimately, in some respects, I question whether the app told me something that just walking up to a Yeoman Warder would not accomplish at approximately the same time.

Breaking Down the Features

So, too, let’s go through what this app brings to the, very typical, sightseeing table:

• Schedule Updates: Pretty accurate. Seemingly, it’s handy to have the latest timings, which were spot on.
• Map Details: A little useful. Maybe, just maybe, the map identified points of interest but didn’t help with the crazy crowd problem. It feels in some respects that using Citymapper or Google Maps provides very much the same features to great effect.
• Historical Insights: Kind of basic. As a matter of fact, you learn a bit, that is, but nothing super deep or new that you couldn’t find somewhere else.
• Viewing Spot Tips: Not amazing. They tend to be the spots where approximately five million other people will also be standing.

Could Be Better: What’s Missing?

I’m not saying the app is awful. I am suggesting it needs some tweaking. What could the app makers add? I think the addition of a crowd-sourced, that is, real-time crowding report would be fantastic. Imagine people using the app can tell the app that a particular place is packed, which then pushes people to another place? Moreover, something on, arguably, less congested alternative routes to the Palace would, definitely, be welcomed. Better background information on the different Guard units would definitely raise the experience too.

Other Apps Worth Looking At

Just a little heads-up: This isn’t the only app that talks about the Guard change. Very predictably, there are some alternatives, that, really, each does things slightly differently. A few provide audio tours of the area, that is, which might keep your interest up a bit. Another shows historical photos to make things that little bit interesting.

Is one better than the others? Really, it might depend what you’re looking for, yet I’m not totally sold on this app concept. So, arguably, don’t spend too long making the purchase decision.

So, Is the App Worth It?

The major question: Should you actually use one of these apps when you try to witness the Changing of the Guard? It can be useful, but do not expect any, arguably, dramatic change to the ease of the experience. In short, the schedule updates and the map are valuable. But, honestly, a good travel blog (like this one!) or site will get you almost all of the key information for, say, nothing.

In the end, enjoying the Changing of the Guard is, very probably, more about having patience and good timing than a dedicated app. The app I tried had value, but only mild value. Ultimately, the decision to download it comes down to whether the few conveniences justify the cost of the, say, in-app purchase. Or the bother of finding a spot for it on your homescreen. If someone just wants something in one place and is very time poor then it might suit them well. Just don’t get sucked in with great expectations.