The Guards Museum

About The Guards Museum:

This fascinating museum, opened in 1988, tells the story of the five Foot Guard Regiments of the Household Division. All exhibits are in floor to ceiling glass cabinets so there are low level exhibits for young visitors. Expect to see weapons, paintings, and uniforms worn by famous Dukes and even the Royal Family. (See review below.)

To help you understand the military groups here, the Household Division is made up of seven regiments. Five of which are Foot Guards and they are covered here at the Guards Museum. The other two regiments are Cavalry and they are dealt with at the Household Cavalry Museum nearby.

Address:

The Guards Museum
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London
SW1E 6HQ

Nearest Tube Stations:

• St. James's Park
• Westminster

Telephone Number:

020 7414 3271

Fax Number:

020 7414 3429

Email:

guardsmuseum@aol.com

Official Website:

www.theguardsmuseum.com

Guards Online Shop

www.guards-shop.com

Opening Times:

Every day: 10am - 4pm
Last admission at 3.30pm

Admission:

There is a small entrance fee. Check directly with the museum for the latest price.

Guards Museum Review:

There are steps down to enter this museum so call ahead if you need wheelchair access. (The museum itself is all on one floor.) The exhibits are all in floor to ceiling glass cabinets which makes it good for young children too.

Atmospheric sounds of military marching bands can be heard which helps to get you in the mood.

I spoke to the curator who was a wonderful guide and helped me to understand some of the military history in the Guards Museum. It can be called a royal collection as there are plenty of exhibits with royal connections. I saw a thank you letter the Queen had written when she was only 16 years old and when she visited the museum in the 1990s she saw the letter and remembered writing it!

Highlights

• Dress up in a guards tunic and bearskin cap and have your photo taken as a souvenir. For a small fee they print the photo and give you a certificate to take home. The tunics were altered to child sizes by a military tailor, who just happens to work at the museum, so are the real guards uniform. Where else can you do that?
• Admire the collection of orders and decorations (medals) which are worth £1.5 million.
• See the Victoria Cross (rare medals) collection worth £3 million.
• See the Duke of Wellington's uniform worn at the Battle of Waterloo.
• For those of you who know the nursery rhyme "The Grand Old Duke of York", his bearskin cap in on display.

The Guards Museum are not allowed to put up advertising banners to help visitors find them as they are opposite a Royal Park, St. James's Park. The museum have produced two DVDs to help them raise more funds. Read these reviews:

• Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace - The essential guide to this world famous ceremony by the people who make it happen.
• The Guards Museum - A Private Viewing - Follow the illustrious history of the five Foot Guard Regiments and hear the wonderful stories behind each exhibit.

Both are available as a DVD and a VHS tape in both PAL(UK) and NTSC(US) formats, and the museum offers worldwide shipping.

The Guards Chapel

The Guards Chapel is opposite the Guards Museum and is also well worth a visit. It's free to go inside and have a look around but the best way to see it would be to attend the Sunday Service at 11am when there is a full Guards band and a professional choir. You could start your day with breakfast at Inn the Park in St. James's Park, attend the church service, then visit the Guards Museum. Sounds like a great day out to me!