The Guards Museum — Attraction in London

When visitors come to London one of the major attractions they like to experience is, The Changing of The Guard, at Buckingham Palace. The Guards look splendid in their traditional red tunics, and their famous black busbies, and black trousers, with their very shiny boots, as they march down The Mall. Well there is one place where you can find out about the history of The Guards, and that is The Guards Museum, in Birdcage Walk, only five minutes away from Buckingham Palace. The museum has on display the uniforms that the Guards wore through the ages, plus medals, which were won in the many campaigns that the Guards fought in, campaign flags, weapons etc, beautifully presented.

There is also the Guards shop that sells model toy soldiers and military equipment from well known events in military history, it has some wonderful displays.

If you do decide to make a visit, allow at least half a day to see the exhibits, there is a lot to see !!

There is no photography allowed in the museum, so I am unable to show pictures of the exhibits...

Just passing, I knew last admissions had gone in, I wasn't interested in visiting today, just getting information. I'd barely put my foot through the gate when I was rudely stopped by someone lazing about outside. No, "hello", no ,'I'm sorry, but...", He could've been anyone. Obviously thought I was some thick tourist he could get away with being rude to. Asking who he was before telling him my business, he said he was Andrew Wallace, and the curator. How nice for you, I thought, but you need to be more welcoming of visitors - perhaps especially tourists. You don't know who I am, not that it matters, but how do you know I'm not a concierge, or tour guide, etc. I asked for any literature and was told very abruptly that they don't give our any information. I was polite, but made up my mind that I would NEVER visit our recommend this place to anyone. Unfriendly, unwelcoming, unwelcoming, and unworthy of tourism. Go elsewhere for a friendlier London, because you won't find it here. And that's from the curator (if that's who he...

I imagine many tourists stumble across the Guards Museum when they visit Buckingham Palace (it's pretty much next door) but most Londoners, who rarely pass that way (it's not on a bus route or anything), are probably unaware of its existence, which is a shame. It is quite small and it doesn't exactly stand out because it's underground, leaving only the signage and a vintage armoured scout car to draw attention to it.

But, if you are interested in history & militaria, it is definitely worth a visit.

The museum holds historic artefacts relating to the five regiments of Foot Guards (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards) and their campaigns. The majority of the collection comprises the uniforms (ceremonial and battlefield), trophies and weapons of the guards dating back to their creation in the 17th century.

The highlight for me was the lock and bits of wood & chain blasted from the gate at the fortified farmhouse of Hougoumont right at the heart of the Battle of Waterloo, which was held, just, by the...