The Household Cavalry Museum is a living museum about real people doing a real job in a real place. Through a large glazed partition you can see troopers working with horses in the original 18th century stables.
The experience comes alive with compelling personal stories, first-hand accounts of the troopers' rigorous and demanding training, interactive displays and stunning rare objects – many on public display for the first time.
Historic setting
The Household Cavalry Museum sits within Horse Guards in Whitehall, central London, one of the city’s most historic buildings. Dating from 1750, it is still the headquarters of the Household Division, in which the Household Cavalry has performed the Queen’s Life Guard in a daily ceremony that has remained broadly unchanged for over 350 years.
The Household Cavalry
The Household Cavalry was formed in 1661 under the direct order of King Charles II and now consists of the two senior regiments of the British Army – The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
We have two roles: as a mounted regiment (on horseback), we guard Her Majesty The Queen on ceremonial occasions in London and across the UK and are a key part of the Royal pageantry; as an operational regiment we serve around the world in armoured fighting vehicles. We currently have units deployed on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our fighting capacity is matched by our strategic role in international peace keeping and humanitarian operations.
Ticket Information
Availability: Open daily year round excluding Good Friday and 24-26 December.
Opening Times: 10am - 6pm April to October, 10am - 5pm November to March. Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Please Note: The following opening time changes.
On 19, 22, 24, 26, 31 May and 1 June the Museum will open at 12pm.
On 25 May and 13 June the museum is open 10am-2pm only.
On 3, 6, 10 and 17 June the museum will open at 1pm.
On 14 and 15Â June the Museum will close at 4:30pm.
Address: The Household Cavalry Museum is located at House Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX. Tel. 020 7930 3070.
Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross, Westminster and Embankment.
Additional Information:
Daily Ceremony - The Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard takes place daily on Horse Guards Parade at 11am (10am Sundays). The Daily Inspection takes place at 4pm (Front Yard Whitehall).
Disabled Access - We are committed to ensuring the Household Cavalry Museum is accessible to all visitors. If you have any queries or need any assistance, please ask.
Animals - No animals, except guide dogs are allowed in the Museum.
Additional Information
Important InformationVisitors can now listen to the Riot Act being complete with sound effects while looking at one of the original copies that soldiers were required to read out before dispersing crowds. They can experience the compelling stories of serving troops in recorded interviews simply by tapping on a picture of the soldier or watch troopers in training taking their first ride of a horse (Multimedia Guides free of charge).DateMuseum open Horse Guards Parade closed dueto military or other event activityWednesday May 6th - Saturday May 9thOpen all dayAccess only from Whitehall due to VE Day preparations on Horse Guards ParadeSaturday May 9th10am - 3.15pmVE Day Concert on Horse Guards ParadeMonday May 11thOpen all dayAccess only from Whitehall until midday -and from Horse Guards Parade after midday.Friday May 15th1pm -6pmQBP RehearsalMonday May 18th12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalWednesday May 20th12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalFriday May 22nd12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalTuesday May 26th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalWednesday May 27th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalThursday May 28th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalSaturday May 30th1pm - 6pmMajor General's ReviewMonday June 2nd1pm - 6pmBeating Retreat RehearsalWednesday June 4th1pm - 6pmState Opening of Parliament Saturday June 6th1pm - 6pmColonel's ReviewMonday June 8th10 am - 1pmBeating Retreat RehearsalWednesday June 10th10am - 4pmBeating Retreat Security SweepThursday June 11th10am - 4pmBeating Retreat Security SweepSaturday June 13th2pm - 6pmQueen's Birthday ParadeSaturday July 11th12 noon -6pmBelgian Day ParadeSunday November 8th1pm - 5pmRemembrance SundaySunday November 15th1pm - 5pmRoyal Tank Regiment/Irish Guards Wreathlaying/ Ajex Parade.
Other Information
Important InformationVisitors can now listen to the Riot Act being complete with sound effects while looking at one of the original copies that soldiers were required to read out before dispersing crowds. They can experience the compelling stories of serving troops in recorded interviews simply by tapping on a picture of the soldier or watch troopers in training taking their first ride of a horse (Multimedia Guides free of charge).DateMuseum open Horse Guards Parade closed dueto military or other event activityWednesday May 6th - Saturday May 9thOpen all dayAccess only from Whitehall due to VE Day preparations on Horse Guards ParadeSaturday May 9th10am - 3.15pmVE Day Concert on Horse Guards ParadeMonday May 11thOpen all dayAccess only from Whitehall until midday -and from Horse Guards Parade after midday.Friday May 15th1pm -6pmQBP RehearsalMonday May 18th12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalWednesday May 20th12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalFriday May 22nd12 noon - 6pmQBP RehearsalTuesday May 26th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalWednesday May 27th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalThursday May 28th10am- 12 noonQBP RehearsalSaturday May 30th1pm - 6pmMajor General's ReviewMonday June 2nd1pm - 6pmBeating Retreat RehearsalWednesday June 4th1pm - 6pmState Opening of Parliament Saturday June 6th1pm - 6pmColonel's ReviewMonday June 8th10 am - 1pmBeating Retreat RehearsalWednesday June 10th10am - 4pmBeating Retreat Security SweepThursday June 11th10am - 4pmBeating Retreat Security SweepSaturday June 13th2pm - 6pmQueen's Birthday ParadeSaturday July 11th12 noon -6pmBelgian Day ParadeSunday November 8th1pm - 5pmRemembrance SundaySunday November 15th1pm - 5pmRoyal Tank Regiment/Irish Guards Wreathlaying/ Ajex Parade.