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