The Guards Museum is a military museum in Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk near Buckingham Palace, which is the home of the five regiments of Foot Guards (the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards).
Along with the two regiments of the Household Cavalry, the five regiments of the Foot Guards share the responsibility of guarding the monarch and the Royal Palaces.
The museum was founded in 1988 to tell the story of the Foot Guards from the 17th century to the present day. The displays include many examples of different Guards uniforms, chronicling the evolving dress over time of the five regiments. There are also paintings, weapons, models, sculptures, and artefacts that explain the history of the regiments and give a more in-depth look at what being a soldier in the Guards is all about.
The Guards Museum is an interesting museum if you have an interest in military history, but otherwise, it shouldn’t be too high on your list of places to visit in London.
What to see at the Guards Museum
The museum is one of the more interesting of Britain’s military museums as it not only includes displays about the Guards’ military campaigns but also showcase the ceremonial duties that have a visible impact on our perception of British culture.
Visitors to the museum can expect to see a wide range of exhibits, including:
- Uniforms from the 17th century to the present day
- Weapons and equipment from the Guards’ campaigns
- Models of famous battles
- Paintings and sculptures of Guardsmen
- Mess Silver and other artefacts
The museum also has a number of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn more about the Guards’ history and traditions. These include a dressing up area, where visitors can try on Guards uniforms, a firing range, where visitors can try their hand at firing a musket and an area where visitors can learn how to play the Guards’ drums.
Visiting the Guards Museum
The museum is part of Wellington Barracks, which is located on Birdcage Walk near Buckingham Palace. It is only a five-minute walk to St James’s Park tube station.
An audio guide (which includes both a 20-minute and 60-minute tour) is included in the admission charge.
Free admission is available for visitors with a valid London Pass or National Art Pass.
If you enjoyed your visit to the Guards Museum, you may also want to visit the nearby Household Cavalry Museum.
It is a small museum and a visit shouldn’t take longer than an hour.
Free entry to the Guards Museum with the London Pass
The London Pass gives you free entry to the Guards Museum plus entry to over 80 other attractions in London.
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