The Guards Museum

Explore the history and learn about the present role of the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, charged with guarding the Sovereign and Royal Palaces.

Enjoy access to The Guards Museum with The London Pass®

• Pay nothing at the door – simply show your pass.
• Learn about the soldiers involved with the Changing of the Guard, the famous ceremony that takes place at Buckingham Palace
• See guard uniforms worn throughout history.
• Discover the intriguing history of London’s military service.

The Guards Museum tells the story of the five Regiments of Foot Guards tasked with guarding the British Monarch and the Royal Palaces since 1660. Follow the history of these world-class fighting soldiers from the English Civil War to Afghanistan through the museum’s unique collection dating back more than 380 years.

The Guards Museum history

The Foot Guards are an elite set of soldiers responsible for protecting the King and the Royal Palaces. There are five Regiments: the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. When you visit Buckingham Palace, it is traditionally soldiers from one of these five regiments you’ll see standing guard outside. Resplendent in their scarlet tunics and iconic bearskin headwear, they stand stoically outside the palace. It is these elite soldiers who take part in the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony as new troops arrive to relieve the previous regiment of their protective duties.   

Today, the Foot Guards perform two main roles within the British Army. Primarily, they are highly skilled and rigorously trained infantry soldiers who protect the Sovereign and take part in operational duties across the world. Secondly, they perform ceremonial duties at State and Royal events, such as the Trooping of the Colour, the Royal Jubilee and the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Guards Museum highlights

• Discover the history and present-day duties of the five Regiments who take part in the Changing of the Guard.
• See uniforms worn throughout history, starting with some dating back to the English Civil War. 
• Learn about the Royal Family’s long association with the UK’s military.
• See two uniforms worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
• Take a photo in the museum's Sentry Box.

Don’t miss the Changing of the Guard

The iconic ceremony, where the New Guard replaces the Old Guard, takes place throughout the year in front of Buckingham Palace, just 300 yards from The Guards Museum. 

Check the Household Division official website for more information.