The Royal Mews

• Indulge in royal history and go behind the scenes at the home of the royal carriages and the finest stables in the world.
• Don’t miss the Gold State Coach! Weighing almost 4 tonnes and needing eight horses to draw it, it’s by far the grandest coach at the Royal Mews.
• Keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful horses during your visit. Can you spot the Windsor Greys or Cleveland Bays?
• Experience sitting in a royal carriage and practising your regal waves to the crowds.
• Take a special family guided tour of the Royal Mews with a warden.

The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is one of the most exceptional working stables in the world. Responsible for all road transport for the Queen and the Royal Family, it’s home to a royal collection of coaches, carriage horses, carriages and motor cars used for royal weddings, coronations and official engagements. The Royal Mews in London goes back as far as the 14th century in the reign of Richard II, when the King’s Mews was located at Charing Cross, where it stayed for around 100 years. The present-day Royal Mews was built in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 1825 by George IV.

Visiting the Royal Mews stables is an incredibly fun way to learn about royal history. Take advantage of the free family multimedia guide, which features lots of interesting facts, games and videos. Ideal for kids aged 7 to 11, you will be guided by Alex, who has been brought up at the Mews (so basically knows everything). Discover what it’s like to ride on a Diamond Jubilee State Coach or in a fancy Rolls Royce car!

There is lots to be impressed by at the Royal Mews. Check out the dazzling and rather large (7m and 3m tall) Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since George IV in 1821. There are miniature carriages on display too, which were designed to be pulled by dogs, ponies, goats and even sheep! Mini royalists can experience what it’s like to step into a royal carriage or tack up a wooden pony in the State Stables. Check out the livery, which remains almost the same as it was in Victorian times; there's a specially-created livery for kids and adults to dress up in! Afterwards, State Apartments at Buckingham Palace are well worth a visit. They are usually only open to the public between July and October. Or browse the wonderful exhibitions at The Queen’s Gallery just down the road.

Looking for other ways to brush up on your history? Visit Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world! Or venture to the medieval Warwick Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror in 1068.  

What to know before you go

• Unlike Buckingham Palace, The Royal Mews is open from February to November each year for visitors.
• A self-guided multimedia tour typically lasts around an hour but you are free to explore the Royal Mews in your own time.
• Guided tours are available between April and October and last 45 minutes. Special family tours are available on Saturday and Sunday at 1.30pm.
• Royal Mews opening times are 11am until 5pm until 30 October 2020 and 11am until 4pm 1 November until 20 November 2020. Please be aware that the Royal Mews is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Royal Mews may sometimes be closed at short notice.
• When visiting the Royal Mews there will be an airport-style security check on arrival. It is best to travel as lightly as possible.
• There is a Little Trekkers activity trail available for under 5s.
• The Learning Room is packed full of fun activities for kids and is open at weekends.
• You can take your buggy into the Mews.
• Toilets, baby-changing facilities and accessible toilets are available next to the Gold State Coach House.
• Feel free to take as many pictures as you want during your visit.
• Please don’t eat and drink inside the Royal Mews. Kidadler Vera recommends, "walking up towards Victoria, there is a new development called Nova South just off Victoria Street with tons of restaurants and cafes for all tastes and budgets." You will find a variety of great family-friendly restaurants here including Franca Manca and Shake Shack. Or take a picnic to the beautiful St James’s Park.
• Pick up some souvenirs or gifts from the Royal Mews shop, which is an official Royal Collection Trust (RCT) retail shop. When you end your tour you will exit through the Royal Mews shop. Please be aware that they are only accepting card payments at the moment.
• There is disabled access at the Mews. Manual wheelchairs and rollators are available to borrow and are free of charge. There is level access throughout the Mews, but there are occasional uneven and cobbled areas.
• The distance between Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews is only a five-minute walk.

Getting there

• The best way to get to the Royal Mews is with public transport. The closest stations are Victoria (Circle, District and Victoria lines and National Rail services), which is just a five-minute walk away, and Hyde Park Corner and Green Park Tube stations (both Piccadilly lines), which are also a 15-minute walk away.
• Buses routes that stop nearby include routes 16, 2, 507 and C2.
• There is no parking available at the Royal Mews, and parking in the area is limited. Q-Park Victoria is a 15-minute walk away.