Experience a day in the life of one of the United Kingdom’s most senior military regiments at The Household Cavalry Museum. Browse displays of regalia, musical instruments and weapons. Meet cavalry guards and military horses and watch and experience the pageantry of changing of the guard ceremonies. The Household Cavalry Museum is housed in the 18th-century Horse Guards building, which is the headquarters, barracks and stables of the Household Cavalry.
The museum collection celebrates the regiment’s troops and its close ties with the British monarchy. Many of the exhibits were donated by former kings, guards and nobility. See a pair of kettledrums that belonged to William IV, the cork leg of politician Henry William Paget, Fabergé silverware, standards and medals. Former England footballer Jack Charlton, who served in the regiment in the 1950s, donated one of his international soccer caps.
Have fun posing for photos while dressed as a cavalryman in official military uniforms, including glistening body armor. Learn about the curiosities of the uniform such as why there are different colored plumes on the helmets. In the 200-year-old stable area you can observe guards taking care of the elegant horses. Listen to the personal stories of the guards and feel free to ask questions about their daily routines.
Daily sentry changes take place in the parade grounds and showcase the regiment’s pomp. The highlight is the Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard, a ceremony that begins at Hyde Park and finishes on Horse Guards Parade. The troops arrive promptly at 11 a.m. from Monday to Saturday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Two mounted sentries protect the entrance to the building and change every hour.
The Household Cavalry Museum stands on Whitehall, a street lined with parliamentary buildings in London’s Westminster district. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the Charing Cross, Embankment and Westminster underground stations. The museum is open daily and there’s an admission fee. You can watch the ceremonies for free.
