Guards Museum Tours

Established in 1988 and located just minutes from Buckingham Palace, the Guards Museum is a military museum that tells the story of the Foot Guards: the red-coat-wearing, bearskin-hat-sporting soldiers tasked with protecting the royal family. The museum features artifacts and artworks ranging from uniforms and weapons to paintings.

The Basics
An institution that commemorates the five Foot Guard regiments (the Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Guards, Irish Guards, Scots Guards, and Welsh Guards), the Guards Museum offers visitors a glimpse into royal pomp and ceremony, as well as British military history. Visitors can learn more about the heritage and duties associated with each regiment and discover artifacts ranging from ceremonial costumes and dioramas to sculptures, weapons, and other related memorabilia.

Part of the London Pass program, the Guards Museum can also be visited as part of combination London sightseeing itineraries (or explored independently).

Things to Know Before You Go

• The museum does not have its own parking spaces, and no public restroom facilities are hosted on-site.
• The Guards Museum provides disabled access via an elevator; wheelchairs can also be rented from the museum.
• True to its name, the Guards Toy Soldier Centre, the museum’s shop, specializes in toy soldiers, as well as other thematic souvenirs.
• The Guards Chapel is open Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm, and is billed as the spiritual home of the Household Division military units.
• Daytime museum tours, available for groups of 10–30, are held on weekdays and can be booked in advance for a per-head fee.

How to Get There
Located near St. James’s Park and Buckingham Palace, the Guards Museum can be visited as part of a regal sightseeing tour of the area. If traveling by Tube, take the Circle or District line to St. James’s station or the Victoria, Circle, or District line to Victoria station (which is also served by mainline trains). It can also be reached on foot, by taxi, or by bike.

When to Get There
The Guards Museum is open daily 10am–4pm; last entry is at 3:30pm. Note that the museum has exceptional closures over the Christmas holidays, as well as on certain ceremonial days; to avoid disappointment, researching opening hours in advance is recommended.

The Changing of the Guard
To see the members of the Foot Guard in action, pair your visit to the Guards Museum with attendance at Buckingham Palace’s Changing of the Guard ceremony. While dates and times can change, the ceremony is free and held several days weekly. It’s advised to arrive early to secure the best viewing spot.