Where: Birdcage
Walk, SW1
What: The
guards museum illustrates the 300-year history of the Brigade
of Guards. This small museum is entered from Birdcage Walk and
is under the parade ground of Wellington Barracks (the
headquarters of British Army's five Guards regiments: the Grenadier
Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards
and Welsh Guards).
The museum
displays uniforms, colours, weapons, silver, medals, pictures
and many interesting
items of memorabilia depicting the lives of the men who served
in the regiments of the Guards, all to the sound of military
music.
Adjacent
is Guard’s Chapel, rebuilt 1963 incorporating surviving apse
of
the earlier chapel devastated 1944 by a flying bomb during
a morning service with the loss of 121 lives.
The guards
museum shop has an range of modern and antique model and
toy soldiers, probably
the largest in London. It also offers military souvenirs
and music.
In addition,
at 10:50 every day from April to August, and every other day
from
September
to March (weather permitting), you can watch the Guards form
up
to march to St James's and Buckingham
Palace for
the ceremonial Changing of the Guards.
Nearest
underground station: St
James’s Park
Museum
opening times: daily
10:00 - 16:00 (last entry 15:30). Closed 24 - 26 December, January
and on certain ceremonial days.
Admission:
(2005)
Adults £2.00, Seniors and Students £1.00, Children under
16 free.
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