Guards Museum

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.