Household Cavalry Museum

The Basics

Housed within the historical Horse Guards, the Household Cavalry Museum offers the public the chance to learn more about this centuries-old regiment. The museum showcases artifacts and objects that date to the 17th century, from uniforms and paintings to musical instruments and furniture. It's a family-friendly museum, and visitors can try on helmets, enjoy interactive displays and audiovisual presentations, watch troopers look after their horses in the working stables, and witness the Changing of the Guard.

Prebook tickets to the Household Cavalry Museum for ease, or visit on a daytime tour of Central London’s key attractions. Select discount London passes may include entry.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Book tickets to the Household Cavalry Museum online in advance of your visit, or purchase them in person on the day of.

• The Household Cavalry Museum is fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility, and guide dogs are welcome.

• Last admission to the museum is 45 minutes prior to closing.

How to Get There

Given its central location, Household Cavalry Museum can be reached via numerous forms of transportation. Take the Circle, District, Northern, and Bakerloo lines to Embankment Station; take the Circle, District, and Jubilee lines to Westminster Station; or take above-ground trains to Charing Cross Station. The museum is also served by multiple bus lines, including the 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 159, and 453. It can easily be reached on foot, by car, or by bicycle.

When to Get There

The Household Cavalry Museum is open daily, with slightly later hours from April to October. The museum is also closed on select dates throughout the year for holidays and ceremonial functions, so check to make sure it's open before you visit.

Nearby Highlights

Horse Guards is near to some of London’s most important landmarks. After a visit to the museum, you can also easily venture to Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and other top-notch attractions.

Ways to explore

The Household Cavalry Museum offers visitors the chance to learn more about this centuries-old regiment. The museum showcases artifacts and objects that date from the 17th century, from uniforms and paintings to musical instruments and furniture. It's a family-friendly museum where you can try on helmets, enjoy interactive displays and audiovisual presentations, watch troopers look after their horses in the working stables, and witness the Changing of the Guard.

Prebook tickets to the Household Cavalry Museum for easy entry, or visit on a daytime tour of Central London’s key attractions. Select discount London passes may include entry.

Accessibility

Most of the museum is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but the first gallery features an uneven cobbled floor. There is an accessible restroom. Registered service dogs are welcome. British Sign Language (BSL) tours are available.

Age limits

None; kids aged 5 and under enter for free.

What to pack

Download and print a museum trail for kids from the website.

What to wear

Comfortable shoes for walking on cobbles, jacket for outdoor areas

Not allowed

Flash photography

Amenities

Gift store, audiovisual guides (included with admission), baby-changing facilities, restrooms

Address

The museum is in Whitehall, just east of St. James’s Park, south of Trafalgar Square, and north of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Get there on foot while exploring the area or by public transportation.

Driving

Driving isn’t recommended in this part of London due to busy traffic, parking hassles, and the Congestion Charge. If you must drive, be prepared to walk a way to reach the museum, as on-street parking is limited.

Public transportation

The museum encourages visitors to use public transportation. Several underground stations are within easy walking distance, including Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and Embankment (Bakerloo and Circle lines).

Best times to visit

Special horse ceremonies occur daily, usually at 11am and 4pm. Last admission is one hour before closing time, but arrive earlier in the day for a more leisurely experience. The museum gets especially busy after the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Best days to visit

Avoid weekends for a quieter visit. The museum is usually open daily, but the Household Cavalry are often required to perform ceremonial duties, so it is sometimes closed on irregular days. Check the website or social media for information on closures.

Best months to visit

The museum is a fun year-round destination. It closes an hour earlier from November to March.

Special events

The museum closes on the day of the London Marathon, when various surrounding streets are closed or very busy.

Ways to explore

The Household Cavalry Museum offers visitors the chance to learn more about this centuries-old regiment. The museum showcases artifacts and objects that date from the 17th century, from uniforms and paintings to musical instruments and furniture. It's a family-friendly museum where you can try on helmets, enjoy interactive displays and audiovisual presentations, watch troopers look after their horses in the working stables, and witness the Changing of the Guard.

Prebook tickets to the Household Cavalry Museum for easy entry, or visit on a daytime tour of Central London’s key attractions. Select discount London passes may include entry.

Accessibility

Most of the museum is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but the first gallery features an uneven cobbled floor. There is an accessible restroom. Registered service dogs are welcome. British Sign Language (BSL) tours are available.

Age limits

None; kids aged 5 and under enter for free.

What to pack

Download and print a museum trail for kids from the website

What to wear

Comfortable shoes for walking on cobbles, jacket for outdoor areas

Not allowed

Flash photography

Amenities

Gift store, audiovisual guides (included with admission), baby-changing facilities, restrooms

Address

The museum is in Whitehall, just east of St. James’s Park, south of Trafalgar Square, and north of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Get there on foot while exploring the area or by public transportation.

Driving

Driving isn’t recommended in this part of London due to busy traffic, parking hassles, and the Congestion Charge. If you must drive, be prepared to walk a way to reach the museum, as on-street parking is limited.

Public transportation

The museum encourages visitors to use public transportation. Several underground stations are within easy walking distance, including Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and Embankment (Bakerloo and Circle lines).

Best times to visit

Special horse ceremonies occur daily, usually at 11am and 4pm. Last admission is one hour before closing time, but arrive earlier in the day for a more leisurely experience. The museum gets especially busy after the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Best days to visit

Avoid weekends for a quieter visit. The museum is usually open daily, but the Household Cavalry are often required to perform ceremonial duties, so it is sometimes closed on irregular days. Check the website or social media for information on closures.

Best months to visit

The museum is a fun year-round destination. It closes an hour earlier from November to March.

Special events

The museum closes on the day of the London Marathon, when various surrounding streets are closed or very busy.