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When mentioning the Royal Family, most people don't really think about the Royal Mews aka the horse and carriage. I myself was one of those people. However, it's actually a large part of the Royal Family's history and everyday life. The Royal Mews is an interesting museum that features many of the carriages that have been used over the years to transport the Royal Family. Each carriage is unique in its' style and design and most have a significant golden trim. The museum also doubles as a working stable, and you'll be able to see some of the horses as well if you take a walk through the stable portion. There are also a few classic cars on display like three Rolls-Royce. The museum starts off with the more basic carriages and then ends with the most extravagant carriages that are covered in gold. The golden carriages were used to transport the King and Queen during prominent events and ceremonies. The golden carriages are truly striking! Each exhibit has lots of information about the history of the carriage. The tour is audio based and is really entertaining and informational. There's airport style security when you enter into the museum. Most of the exhibits are actually viewable from tbt outside, but the golden carriages are all inside of one large room. This museum is located really close to Buckingham Palace, so it's easy to add it to your itinerary. If you're touring near Buckingham Palace, you should definitely look into visiting the Royal Mews as well.
VERY educational self guided tour! Got to see a few of the horse and lots of carriages (that are still being used) Lots of historical information provided along the way.
I loved our visit to the Royal Mews! Who doesn't want to see a bunch of fancy carriages close up? The best part about this spot is that it's a working mews - her Maj's horses are on site so you'll likely see some in their stalls, or in the riding school getting some exercise. The stables are really nice - they're gorgeously tiled and the horses are just beautiful. Toward the end, you'll see the tack room and maybe someone working on keeping all the leather harnesses and bridles in perfect shape. Of course, you'll see amazing carriages. The Golden State carriage is the most impressive for sure but I thought the Diamond Jubilee carriage was the prettiest. They do a good job of explaining what each carriage is used for and who might be riding in it during carriage riding occasions. They even have a carriage on blocks that you can sit in and practice your Royal wave. I definitely have mine down, so I'm ready whenever QEII is.
When in London, the Royal Mews is a must do! It is amazing to be able to see the different carriages and the history behind them. They even have stations for the kids to sit and do activities. There is also an audio tour which is very helpful. If you are interested in the royal family then I would highly recommend this as a part of your visit to London.
The home of old-time carriages used for royal ceremonies. The history of each carriage, the horses, and the equipment used. Towards the end is a massive Golden Carriage which made the tour worthwhile. A definite 'must visit' for anyone!
Better than expected. Part 2 of our Royal Day Out is the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews is responsible for all road travel arrangements for The Queen and members of the Royal Family and is home to the Royal coaches including the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821, and The Diamond Jubilee State Coach. After passing through security, we passed by one of the Queen's horses before beginning our free tour. The guide showed us all of the Royal carriages and car, the stable, and then the final part of the tour was the most impressive: The Gold State Coach. The Mews doesn't take very long to visit, maybe half hour to an hour at most. So if you're debating to get the Royal Day Out (during July to October when the State Room is open) do it.
Yes, there is Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard but the Royal Mews are not to be missed! These posh stables are working stables where the Royal carriages and horses live. These stables provide transportation for the Queen and the Royal Family. Many employees work and live here. When you arrive, you are provided with ear buds and your own remote so you are in control of your tour. The history here is just phenomenal. These stables have been in this location since 1760. There were many historical carriages and a car to view and each carriage was so unique, but my favorites were The Diamond Jubilee made especially for Queen Elizabeth's II 60th anniversary. This carriage is ultra modern and weighs over three tons. It is almost 5.5 meters long and over 3 meters high. It is absolutely outstanding! My other favorite is the carriage that Princess Diana rode in on her wedding day. Just being near this carriage gave me chills and I got a little teary eyed. This venue is not over crowded and you can really take your time to enjoy the tour. Enjoy!
If you can get past the fact that you have to pay every time you go into a museum or art collection in London, they have some great history to see and this is no exception. Here they house the royal coaches from history. They are in perfect condition and are each labeled with who used them and when. The coach Diana road in for her marriage to Charles, the miniature coach the Queen used as a child, etc. Very cool. They do have electronic guides you can listen to as well. My rating system consists of a 3-star being exactly what you expected and neither good nor bad. A 4 means something was extra special and a 5 means you were blown away. A 2 star rating was disappointing and a 1-star rating is terrible
I always enjoy audio tours and the Royal Mews did not disappoint. I got off to a shaky start because the tablet thingy didn't appear to have the best organization, so I was confused on what to do first. There were staff throughout who were helpful in getting me back on track. Unlike the Queen's Gallery, there was no queue and we were able to walk right in. We saw the stage coaches and one of the Queen's vehicles. We also saw the living quarters for the staff who maintain the mews. I had no idea they lived onsite, so that was interesting. I highly recommend visiting the Royal Mews if you're near Buckingham Palace.
I revisited with my family after several decades have lapsed since my first visit. It's a beautiful display of the carriages used during the royal ceremonies. The history of each carriage, how the horses are cared for and the equipment used and their care. Also seen some of the horses live. Definitely, the children have a great time as well dressing up and taking photos riding the "pony' and "carriage". Adults too enjoy hopping into the carriage for a photo spot. The massive Golden Carriage is worth the admission price. Impressive. Royal. I can only imagine how it feels to be riding on it. How wonderful that the Mews are open to the public.
The Royal Mews - A.K.A. the royal stables - are one of the most underrated places you can visit in all of London. In fact, I would argue that they're the most interesting part about Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews are not here just as a history museum - they're a real place of operation for the Royal Family. And if you visit, you'll find out just how important the Mews are not only to England's history, but to their present as well. Around the corner and down the street from the art galleries and the main gates of the palace, the Royal Mews are an amazing blend of both stable-related storage and real-time working needs. You can either do an audio tour or a guided tour - both are very informative, but I actually recommend the guided tour, as the staff are very good natured and will add a lot of personality and insight to your experience. The tours do a great job of explaining the history and work of the Mews, as well as how they serve the Queen in modern day England now. During a tour you'll be able to enjoy the beauty that is the stables and the Royal Family's collections of different carriages. And there are a lot of different carriages. If I remember correctly at least one was a retired children's toy, pulled by the family pony once upon a time, and there on display only. Needless to say it was an old little thing - especially compared to the newest carriage, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Ordered to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday, it's a stunning display of modern day craftsmanship and features some fantastic blending of modern day technological needs with old school English traditions. But, of course, if you go on a tour here you'll also get to see one of the most amazing things in the Royal Mews: the Coronation Carriage, or the Gold State Coach. It's the coach that's been used at the coronation of every British monarch since George IV. It's an astounding thing to look at - it weighs 4 tons, it featured gorgeous painted panels...and apparently it's incredibly uncomfortable to ride in. Figures, right? But it's still worth seeing in person - plus, learning about how the coach is prepped for use and the complicated process involved in just getting it out of the building is incredible. Finally, while timing has a lot to do with this one, you'll also have a chance catch sight of some of the royal family's horses while visiting here. During my first visit they were all out to pasture for the summer, unfortunately. But during my second visit I caught sight of some their Windsor Greys as well as a couple Cleveland Bays - it made my day! If anything in this review sounded interesting, this is a must-see spot. I won't pretend that visiting a stable is for everyone, but if you love horses, you love the royal family, and/or you enjoy learning about different parts of England's history, a visit to the Royal Mews should really go on your to do list.
My wife told me that this was the working-museum where they housed all the state vehicles - royal carriages and motor cars. Carriages are ok, but I was looking forward to seeing the royal cars! I was definitely underwhelmed by the solitary Rolls-Royce (though wealthy and famous, it seems that the British royals can't hold a candle to the Arab oil princes' car collections). At least someone had parked their Maserati in the Royal Mews parking lot for me to drool over. Anyway, I was slightly impressed by the carriages, particularly the big, fancy, way-over-the-top gold stage coach. And my wife was excited to see a few horses in their stables, too. It was interesting to learn that the horses have to go through tons of training to be able to parade around with the royal family while thousands of people are making noise and taking photographs of them! The free audio tour is very good. When you buy a ticket combined with the Queen's Gallery, it'll save you a quid or two. I'd definitely recommend doing both, but neither are really a must-see while visiting London.
This is some really cool stuff. Horses and coaches and a nice Phantom Royals Royce only a few feet away from you. The London Pass gets you in here as well. I recommend doing both the Queen's Gallery and this place since they are right next to each other. On my visit here, they didn't let anyone inside Buckingham Palace, but at least coming here, you're technically on the grounds of the Buckingham Palace so I guess that's something. But they have coaches here dating back from the 18th century and they looked pristine. They even have a gold coach too that has to be pulled by 8 horses.
Went here because I wanted to see the royal carriages in person. Since I live in the U.S., I've only ever seen them on TV, and even if you live in England and might have seen them in a parade, you most likely only saw them from far away and in passing. At the Royal Mews, you can see all of them all at once, parked, and up close. I was curious about the name "Mews" and it turns out this was where the royal hawks used to be kept as they "mewed" meaning moulted their feathers, a time when they couldn't be used for hunting. The place itself is relatively small. However, they try to inform you as much as possible as to what you're looking at with both signs and a free audio tour. And even if you don't really pay that much attention to all that info, the craftsmanship of the carriages themselves are amazing to look at. In addition, when we went we saw a few horses in the stables, a couple of which were being prepared for the police. We went on a rainy Friday morning in late summer and even though I bought tickets ahead of time to be safe, when we arrived there was no wait and we walked straight in. I also saw a small group of people join a tour with a docent, but even without one, we still enjoyed the tour. read more
1 year ago
We really enjoyed our visit to The Royal Mews. Getting through ticketing and security is easy. We got to see two lovely horses and they were remarkable. The tour guides are very thorough and they also have a self guided tour you can take in headset if you wish. Seeing the royal carriages was very special and you get a very good view of them. I especially loved seeing the coronation carriage and Queen Victoria's sled. The staff are friendly and helpful and we enjoyed walking through and seeing the tack room, rising school, and livery worn by the members of staff. This is a wonderful experience if you are visiting London. read more
1 year ago
A cute area to tour. We did the guided tour but there is also a self-guided tour with a headset. The tour tells you about the history of the Mews, each of the carriages housed there and the horses. read more
When mentioning the Royal Family, most people don't really think about the Royal Mews aka the horse and carriage. I myself was one of those people. However, it's actually a large part of the Royal Family's history and everyday life. The Royal Mews is an interesting museum that features many of the carriages that have been used over the years to transport the Royal Family. Each carriage is unique in its' style and design and most have a significant golden trim. The museum also doubles as a working stable, and you'll be able to see some of the horses as well if you take a walk through the stable portion. There are also a few classic cars on display like three Rolls-Royce. The museum starts off with the more basic carriages and then ends with the most extravagant carriages that are covered in gold. The golden carriages were used to transport the King and Queen during prominent events and ceremonies. The golden carriages are truly striking! Each exhibit has lots of information about the history of the carriage. The tour is audio based and is really entertaining and informational. There's airport style security when you enter into the museum. Most of the exhibits are actually viewable from tbt outside, but the golden carriages are all inside of one large room. This museum is located really close to Buckingham Palace, so it's easy to add it to your itinerary. If you're touring near Buckingham Palace, you should definitely look into visiting the Royal Mews as well. read more
I loved our visit to the Royal Mews! Who doesn't want to see a bunch of fancy carriages close up? The best part about this spot is that it's a working mews - her Maj's horses are on site so you'll likely see some in their stalls, or in the riding school getting some exercise. The stables are really nice - they're gorgeously tiled and the horses are just beautiful. Toward the end, you'll see the tack room and maybe someone working on keeping all the leather harnesses and bridles in perfect shape. Of course, you'll see amazing carriages. The Golden State carriage is the most impressive for sure but I thought the Diamond Jubilee carriage was the prettiest. They do a good job of explaining what each carriage is used for and who might be riding in it during carriage riding occasions. They even have a carriage on blocks that you can sit in and practice your Royal wave. I definitely have mine down, so I'm ready whenever QEII is. read more
When in London, the Royal Mews is a must do! It is amazing to be able to see the different carriages and the history behind them. They even have stations for the kids to sit and do activities. There is also an audio tour which is very helpful. If you are interested in the royal family then I would highly recommend this as a part of your visit to London. read more
The home of old-time carriages used for royal ceremonies. The history of each carriage, the horses, and the equipment used. Towards the end is a massive Golden Carriage which made the tour worthwhile. A definite 'must visit' for anyone! read more
9 years ago
Better than expected. Part 2 of our Royal Day Out is the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews is responsible for all road travel arrangements for The Queen and members of the Royal Family and is home to the Royal coaches including the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821, and The Diamond Jubilee State Coach. After passing through security, we passed by one of the Queen's horses before beginning our free tour. The guide showed us all of the Royal carriages and car, the stable, and then the final part of the tour was the most impressive: The Gold State Coach. The Mews doesn't take very long to visit, maybe half hour to an hour at most. So if you're debating to get the Royal Day Out (during July to October when the State Room is open) do it. read more
Yes, there is Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard but the Royal Mews are not to be missed! These posh stables are working stables where the Royal carriages and horses live. These stables provide transportation for the Queen and the Royal Family. Many employees work and live here. When you arrive, you are provided with ear buds and your own remote so you are in control of your tour. The history here is just phenomenal. These stables have been in this location since 1760. There were many historical carriages and a car to view and each carriage was so unique, but my favorites were The Diamond Jubilee made especially for Queen Elizabeth's II 60th anniversary. This carriage is ultra modern and weighs over three tons. It is almost 5.5 meters long and over 3 meters high. It is absolutely outstanding! My other favorite is the carriage that Princess Diana rode in on her wedding day. Just being near this carriage gave me chills and I got a little teary eyed. This venue is not over crowded and you can really take your time to enjoy the tour. Enjoy! read more
If you can get past the fact that you have to pay every time you go into a museum or art collection in London, they have some great history to see and this is no exception. Here they house the royal coaches from history. They are in perfect condition and are each labeled with who used them and when. The coach Diana road in for her marriage to Charles, the miniature coach the Queen used as a child, etc. Very cool. They do have electronic guides you can listen to as well. My rating system consists of a 3-star being exactly what you expected and neither good nor bad. A 4 means something was extra special and a 5 means you were blown away. A 2 star rating was disappointing and a 1-star rating is terrible read more
I always enjoy audio tours and the Royal Mews did not disappoint. I got off to a shaky start because the tablet thingy didn't appear to have the best organization, so I was confused on what to do first. There were staff throughout who were helpful in getting me back on track. Unlike the Queen's Gallery, there was no queue and we were able to walk right in. We saw the stage coaches and one of the Queen's vehicles. We also saw the living quarters for the staff who maintain the mews. I had no idea they lived onsite, so that was interesting. I highly recommend visiting the Royal Mews if you're near Buckingham Palace. read more
I revisited with my family after several decades have lapsed since my first visit. It's a beautiful display of the carriages used during the royal ceremonies. The history of each carriage, how the horses are cared for and the equipment used and their care. Also seen some of the horses live. Definitely, the children have a great time as well dressing up and taking photos riding the "pony' and "carriage". Adults too enjoy hopping into the carriage for a photo spot. The massive Golden Carriage is worth the admission price. Impressive. Royal. I can only imagine how it feels to be riding on it. How wonderful that the Mews are open to the public. read more
11 years ago
The Royal Mews - A.K.A. the royal stables - are one of the most underrated places you can visit in all of London. In fact, I would argue that they're the most interesting part about Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews are not here just as a history museum - they're a real place of operation for the Royal Family. And if you visit, you'll find out just how important the Mews are not only to England's history, but to their present as well. Around the corner and down the street from the art galleries and the main gates of the palace, the Royal Mews are an amazing blend of both stable-related storage and real-time working needs. You can either do an audio tour or a guided tour - both are very informative, but I actually recommend the guided tour, as the staff are very good natured and will add a lot of personality and insight to your experience. The tours do a great job of explaining the history and work of the Mews, as well as how they serve the Queen in modern day England now. During a tour you'll be able to enjoy the beauty that is the stables and the Royal Family's collections of different carriages. And there are a lot of different carriages. If I remember correctly at least one was a retired children's toy, pulled by the family pony once upon a time, and there on display only. Needless to say it was an old little thing - especially compared to the newest carriage, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Ordered to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday, it's a stunning display of modern day craftsmanship and features some fantastic blending of modern day technological needs with old school English traditions. But, of course, if you go on a tour here you'll also get to see one of the most amazing things in the Royal Mews: the Coronation Carriage, or the Gold State Coach. It's the coach that's been used at the coronation of every British monarch since George IV. It's an astounding thing to look at - it weighs 4 tons, it featured gorgeous painted panels...and apparently it's incredibly uncomfortable to ride in. Figures, right? But it's still worth seeing in person - plus, learning about how the coach is prepped for use and the complicated process involved in just getting it out of the building is incredible. Finally, while timing has a lot to do with this one, you'll also have a chance catch sight of some of the royal family's horses while visiting here. During my first visit they were all out to pasture for the summer, unfortunately. But during my second visit I caught sight of some their Windsor Greys as well as a couple Cleveland Bays - it made my day! If anything in this review sounded interesting, this is a must-see spot. I won't pretend that visiting a stable is for everyone, but if you love horses, you love the royal family, and/or you enjoy learning about different parts of England's history, a visit to the Royal Mews should really go on your to do list. read more
My wife told me that this was the working-museum where they housed all the state vehicles - royal carriages and motor cars. Carriages are ok, but I was looking forward to seeing the royal cars! I was definitely underwhelmed by the solitary Rolls-Royce (though wealthy and famous, it seems that the British royals can't hold a candle to the Arab oil princes' car collections). At least someone had parked their Maserati in the Royal Mews parking lot for me to drool over. Anyway, I was slightly impressed by the carriages, particularly the big, fancy, way-over-the-top gold stage coach. And my wife was excited to see a few horses in their stables, too. It was interesting to learn that the horses have to go through tons of training to be able to parade around with the royal family while thousands of people are making noise and taking photographs of them! The free audio tour is very good. When you buy a ticket combined with the Queen's Gallery, it'll save you a quid or two. I'd definitely recommend doing both, but neither are really a must-see while visiting London. read more
7 years ago
This is some really cool stuff. Horses and coaches and a nice Phantom Royals Royce only a few feet away from you. The London Pass gets you in here as well. I recommend doing both the Queen's Gallery and this place since they are right next to each other. On my visit here, they didn't let anyone inside Buckingham Palace, but at least coming here, you're technically on the grounds of the Buckingham Palace so I guess that's something. But they have coaches here dating back from the 18th century and they looked pristine. They even have a gold coach too that has to be pulled by 8 horses. read more
13 years ago
I've done this self-guided audio tour twice. It's a great alternative to the Queen's Gallery and if the Palace is closed. The first time I did it was after touring the Palace, so I expected a certain level of an experience. Was not disappointed. It's a working mews. The guides are actual family members of the men and women who work to take care of the cars, horses, and carriages. Be on the look out as you go through the tour. You will see carriages being prepared for heads of state as well as the mail carriages. Horses are on parade as well. You can see all of the carriages that the royal family uses including the one from the wedding! The Coronation Carriage takes up an entire room. You are also given access to view the various luxurious cars that are owned by the royal family. read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
This was such a great accidental find. We were leaving Buckingham Palace and popped in and we're glad we did. It's a small "museum" but there's a lot of history in there. They have tour guides that are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I highly recommend this place read more
The Royal Mews is part of the Buckingham Royal estate. It is responsible for all the road travel arrangements for the Royal Family. It is only open from February to November each year. It was located right around the corner from our hotel, and the concierge highly recommended visiting here. I am glad that he did, as I don't think I would have come here on my own. My friend and I enjoyed our visit to the Royal Mews. It is unlike visiting typical museums, where the historic items you are viewing are no longer used. Here you are able to view royal carriages, some of which are still in use. There are many unique and different carriages, and it is interesting to see how they have evolved over time. If only the carriages could speak. I bet they have amazing stories to tell about the many Royals through history who have ridden in them. You get a chance to tour working stables that are home to the royal carriage horses. My friend who loves horses, got a chance to be up close with a couple horses, and so wished she could have touched them. You can also view the Diamond jubilee state coach. See the livery and try on some of the staff outfits, try riding in a carriage, and other family fun activities. Entrance for adults is only 11 pounds and comes with an informative audio program. The audio program has a digital screen that you can interact with. It has cool 360 degree views of inside the carriage, and additional talks with some of the people who care for the carriages, and more. There is also a special room with arts and crafts for the young ones to enjoy. read more
17 years ago
12 years ago
Gotta go audio tour on this. This tour was recommended to us by a couple we were standing next to at the changing of the guard. Loved seeing the carriage Princess Diana rode in to her wedding & the Rolls Royce Kate rode in to hers. You also get to see the enormous Jubilee carriage & some of the horses. Very interesting tour. read more
8 years ago
11 years ago
10 years ago
Not for you, if you're looking for big, fancy cars. The first mews was in Charing Cross, in the 14th century. and it was for the royal hawks, who were housed there, when they were moulting, or "mew" time. I don't think the place really got going around Buckingham Palace until the 18th century, when George III moved some of his horses here. And really didn't start as a transport system for the royals, until the early 19th century. Queen Victoria really put the place on the map, as she housed around 200 horses there at one time. The mews is really the royal transport system for the Queen and her family. Cars and carriages. You might be able to see a few horses, but mostly the ornately decorated carriages, are the real attraction. There is a free audio guide, which I highly recommend. Cool thing about this place is that people work and live here, where they tend the horses, take care of the various tack (bridles, saddles, harnesses,etc.,) and the royal cars. There was an ice cream vendor here, when we were there, but nothing else. Definitely something to see if you grew up with horses, as I did. read more
15 years ago
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