Horse Guards Parade
A trip to London isn't complete without seeing the Horse Guards Parade
The Horse Guards Building is a large Palladian style building located on Whitehall Street at the east edge of Saint James's Park. It was completed in 1753, replacing the Guard House of the Whitehall Palace after its destruction by a fire in 1698. The building is currently headquarters to London District and Household Cavalry Army commands.
In addition to the interesting architecture, you will enjoy viewing and photographing the guards. The Horse Guards is guarded by both mounted and foot troopers from the Household Cavalry. There are 2 mounted troopers on post daily between 10am and 4pm. These troopers are relieved every hour. In addition two unmounted troopers posted from 10 am until 8 pm get relieved every 2 hours.
If you arrive just before 11am (10am on Sundays) you can view the popular changing of the guard. There is also an inspection of the the guard everyday at 4pm. This was started over 130 years ago when Queen Victoria came through the gate and found no guards. Upon investigating, she discovered they where intoxicated with ale. She then ordered that the Household Cavalry must parade every day at 4 pm for 100 years, to ensure it would not happen again. While the 100 years has long passed the tradition continues.
Kids and adults will all enjoy watching the guards. It is amazing to watch how still they stand at their posts, seemingly oblivious to everyone around them. This is one of the many things you can do in London for free - great when travelling on a budget.
There are many other attractions within easy walking distance of the Horse Guards Parade. Some of these include Saint James's Park, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. These attractions can be nicely combined into a memorable one or two day walking tour.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoHorse Guards Parade Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Address: Whitehall, London SW1A 2ET, UK
Horse Guards Parade Reviews
Rated out of 5
Horse Guards Parade is a must-see in London if you enjoy history and pageantry. The ceremonial grounds are impressive in scale, and standing there you can feel the weight of centuries of tradition. We enjoyed watching the guards on duty, perfectly disciplined and striking in their uniforms, with the backdrop of Whitehall adding to the grandeur. It’s also just a short walk from St. James’s Park and Buckingham Palace, making it an easy stop during a day of exploring. A beautiful place that captures the spirit of London’s heritage.
David Stejkowski - a month ago
Visited the Horse Guards Parade and it was such a unique experience. The guards on horseback are impressive and it feels surreal to see them in real life after watching so many videos online. The whole place has a very historic and royal vibe. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re exploring central London
Gaurab - a month ago
Horseguards parade was excellent. Caught the change over . Blues and Royals ( so polished!). Troopers and horses at their absolute best. Got my photos out front ( don’t forget stay out of the box and don’t touch the horses and you’ll be fine). A must see! 😍🐎
Donna Camer - a month ago
Trooping of the colour, major generals review, great experience, recommended.
Interestingly the acceptable dress for the occasion is not enforced, flip flops, shorts, baseball caps, casual wear all allowed. The vast majority however came appropriately dressed.
weary feladunder - 4 months ago
Amazing to see , beautiful horses and really well looked after, the soldiers are amazing, must be such a stressful job with all the people around them , they do amazing job .
If you go monday Wednesday and Friday you can see the changing of the guards but check Google to make sure definitely worth seeing.
Carli Spraggett - 2 months ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Circle, District and Jubilee Line | Westminster | 7 Minutes |
| Northern and Bakerloo Line | Charing Cross | 7 MInutes |
How to get to Horse Guards Parade by Tube
From Charing Cross Station exit to Trafalger Square and exit the roundabout onto The Mall and then go south (left) on Horse Guards Road.
From Westminster Station take Exit 6 and go left out of the underpass, then go right on Great George Street and right onto Horse Guards Road.
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Accommodations near Horse Guards Parade:
Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: string_bass_dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Myotis Myotis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: David Guyler - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: alisdare1 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors - cc license via Flickr
