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Entered from Birdcage Walk, this small museum is under the
parade ground of Wellington Barracks. This is the headquarters
of British Army's five Guards regiments: the Grenadier Guards,
Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards and Welsh Guards..
The Guards were formed from a
regiment of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army and two regiments
of the exiled King's Body Guard, following the restoration
of Charles II in 1660.
The museum, opened in 1988, has
uniforms, medals and oil paintings on display, accompanied
by martial music. There are also displays and dioramas
depicting the battles which the Guards have been involved
in, from the English Civil War to the present day.
A collection of curios illustrates
the life of the ordinary guardsman through the years.
The shop has an range of modern
and antique model and toy soldiers, probably the largest in
London. It also offers military souvenirs and music.
At 10:50 every day from April
to August, and every other day from September to March, the
Guards form up to march to St James's and Buckingham
Palace for the ceremonial Changing of the Guards.
Admission charge
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London
St James's Park
