Royal Mews

Over het museum

The word mews comes from the royal hawks once kept in the King's Mews, first recorded in the late 14th century under Richard II. For about a hundred years the mews stood at Charing Cross, on the site of today's National Gallery, until a fire in 1534 destroyed the buildings and they were rebuilt as stables that kept the old name.

George III bought Buckingham House in 1762 and moved some of his horses and carriages to its grounds, where a riding school was built. The present Royal Mews was designed by John Nash, who was rebuilding Buckingham Palace for George IV. It was finished in 1825 and has stables for 100 horses around the riding school, a Doric-style arch with a clock tower, coach houses and harness rooms.

After Queen Victoria moved into the palace in 1837 the mews grew into a busy small community with its own school for the children of staff and a forge added by Prince Albert. Today it arranges road transport for the King and members of the Royal Family, by carriage and by car, and trains the Windsor Grey and Cleveland Bay horses. Visitors see the carriages and cars used on state occasions, among them the Gold State Coach, which has been used at coronations.

Hoogtepunten

• Gold State Coach, used at coronations
• Diamond Jubilee State Coach
• Windsor Grey and Cleveland Bay carriage horses
• Harness room, livery and tack
• Miniature carriages made for royal children
• Family activities including tacking up a wooden pony

Vaste collectie

• The Royal Mews – Working stables with the state carriages, including the Gold State Coach, the state cars, the carriage horses, the harness room and the livery.

Beheerder

Royal Collection Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Booking in advance online gives the best value, and the ticket includes the multimedia guide. A ticket can be converted into a 1-Year Pass with free re-admission for 12 months; a £2 transaction fee applies when pre-booking a return visit.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: niet aanwezig
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie

All areas have level access, although the historic floors are uneven and cobbled in places. Manual wheelchairs and rollators can be borrowed free of charge, and a few benches are on the route. An accessible toilet and a Changing Space with a hoist are about halfway along the route. The multimedia guide is available in British Sign Language with subtitles, has a hearing loop (T-coil) option and an audio-described version. A sensory map and a photo journey can be downloaded, and some wardens are Dementia Friends. There is no parking at the Mews; the nearest accessible Underground station is Green Park and Q-Park Victoria has disabled bays.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

The free family multimedia guide, aimed at children aged 7 to 11, and special family tours on some Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 and 13:30 are offered. Children can try tacking up a wooden pony, dress up in footman's livery and sit in a model carriage. A Little Trekkers trail for under-5s and downloadable activity sheets are available. Pushchairs are allowed, and toilets with baby-care facilities are in the middle of the route. Under-5s enter free.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

On days with Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) the roads nearby are busy; the Mews advises travelling from the Victoria direction. The visitor entrance is on Buckingham Palace Road.

Service & horeca

• Café: niet aanwezig
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe: niet aanwezig
• Kluisjes: niet aanwezig

There is no café, and food and drink cannot be bought at the Mews; eating and drinking are not allowed inside except bottled water, and a water fountain is available. Visitors leave through the Royal Mews shop. There are no cloakroom or storage facilities, so bags and pushchairs stay with the visitor.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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