London's national museums and galleries, with their world-class collections, certainly attract the crowds, but tucked away, in the heart of Whitehall, is The Household Cavalry Museum one of London's only living museums.
The Household Cavalry, mounted on immaculately groomed horses with swords drawn and breastplates shining in the sun are some of the world's most famous and instantly recognisable soldiers, best known for their role in ceremonial events such as The King's Birthday Parade.
However, the Household Cavalry are first and foremost professional soldiers with many having served recently on operations overseas and this little gem of a museum provides a unique insight into their ceremonial and operational roles as well as artifacts from their proud history.
The museum is not a collection of dusty exhibits in glass cabinets for military enthusiasts, it is about real people doing a real job with much of the collection related to the close association that exists between the Household Cavalry and Royalty who they have, protected for nearly 350 years.
Rare, thought provoking and sometimes moving artifacts combined with, friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff, self guided audio visual tours and the opportunity to watch troopers tending to their horses in the working stables, through a glass partition make this small museum, one of our firm favourites.
The audio visual tours, which are included in the admission fee outlines The Household Cavalry's history and achievements with soldiers describing what it is like to serve in the Regiment today on ceremonial duty or in combat.
Hear first hand accounts of the rigorous and demanding training horses and riders go through and work involved in preparation for ceremonial events and regimental inspections.
Between the 3rd and 29 December access to the museum will ony be possible via Admiralty Arch.
This is due to essential maintenance to the Tilt Yard of Horse Guards.
The Household Cavalry Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 - 18:00:
From November the Household Cavalry Museum opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 - 17:00
Last entry is always 45min before closing.
10:00 - 18:00 April to October
10:00 - 17:00 November to March
The Household Cavalry Museum is Closed on:
Tickets for the Household Cavalry Museum are available on the door or on-line.
Arrive at the Household Cavalry Museum for opening time to see the horse being prepared and the troopers mounting up.
Then pop out to watch them changing the Queen's Lifeguard on Horse Guards Parade before returning to the museum to finish your tour.
Address: Horse Guards, London, SW1A 2AX
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By Underground - The nearest tube stations are:
By Train - Nearest, mainline, train station:
By Bus - Bus Numbers: 11, 12, 159, 24, 3, 453, 53, 87, 88, N109, N11, N136, N155, N2, N3, N381, N44, N87
By Car - Not recommended, Whitehall is in the congestion charge zone. Parking is difficult to find and expensive.
An Oyster Card is the cheapest and most flexible way to travel around London.
Valid on London Underground, buses, trams and the Dockland Light Railway (DLR).
The London Travelcard gives you access to unlimited travel on London Underground trains, buses, Docklands Light Railway, trams and overland trains within London.
Profits from the museum support soldiers and families, of the Household Cavalry, who have been adversely affected by recent operational deployment.
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