New London museum

A new museum has opened to the public in central London today. The Household Cavalry Museum, formerly in Windsor, has been relocated to Horse Guards Parade between Whitehall and St James’s Park and is described as ‘a living museum about real people doing a real job in a real place’ as this is where the changing of the Queen’s Life Guard takes place everyday.

The Household Cavalry was formed in 1661 and the museum is now housed in buildings built in 1750. Over the last few centuries the Household Cavalry has built up an impressive collection of items such as ceremonial uniforms, royal standards, gallantry awards, musical instruments, horse furniture and silverware by Fabergé.

Uniquely there’s a working stable that visitors can get a behind the scenes look at. All the horses are the ones used by the Cavalry for their ceremonial guard and parade diuties, and during the day you can see them being brought in to be groomed, fed and watered, have their hooves oiled and shoes checked or have their saddles adjusted ready to go on guard. The museums displays explain the training that both soldiers and horses are put through.

The Household Cavalry Museum is open daily from 10am–6pm and admission is £6. If you want to see the Cavalry in action the changing of the Queen’s Life Guard takes place daily on Horse Guards Parade at 11am and there’s a daily inspection at 4pm. Westminster or Charing Cross are the closest Tubes.