KidRated.com is listed by the kidSAFE Seal Program.
The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
FreeOutdoor

Horse Guards Parade

Share
Official website
8.3

Average K-Rating based
on 3 K-Rating reviews

Write a review

VIDEOS

Horse Guards Parade

KidRated’s Horse Guards Parade Top Tips:


They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –

 

Christopher Robin went down with Alice…

 

 

Follow in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh’s human best friend and cross this viewing off your bucket list. The poem ‘Buckingham Palace’ was written by A.A. Milne in 1924 and this very British tradition has hardly changed since then, with the exception of a few more selfie sticks in the crowds.

 

Check out the sentry’s bearskin hats at the Horse Guards Parade, or try and make a soldier crack a smile. Formerly the Palace of Whitehall’s tiltyard and host to its jousting tournaments, the Horse Guards Parade has also been the British Army HQ and accommodated the beach volleyball of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

 

The Queen’s birthday is celebrated here every year and the Changing of the Guard also takes place Monday to Saturday at 11 am (10 am on Sundays).

 

St James’s Park – featured in our guide to military London – lies to its west and a number of notable monuments also encircle the parade ground such as The Guards Memorial to commemorate First World War battles and a Turkish cannon dating back to 1524. The Horse Guards Parade is the perfect place to gain a sense of British tradition with monuments that define Britain’s cultural past.


Booking Advice:

  • The Horse Guards Parade is FREE
  • No booking required
  • Arrive at least half an hour early to get a good viewing spot

VISITOR INFORMATION

Where:

The Household Division
Horse Guards
Whitehall
London SW1A 2AX

Phone number:

+44 (0)20 7930 3070

Website:

Opening hours:

Changing of the Guards: 11am Mon-Sat, 10am Sun.

How to get there:

Nearest Tubes: Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster.

Journey Planner

car hire badge

Teen Verdict

Family days out, attractions and things to do in London and beyond for kids, older kids and teenagers rated by kids and teens with KidRated

Stanley

Pretty cool to see once in person. I feel accomplished that it’s off my “bucket list”. It doesn’t take too long so it was good to add in as part of my day. I brought a breakfast snack with me which I recommend to keep you going and then we had brunch afterwards. The whole show was quite impressive but it’s definitely something you only need to see once.

Parent Point of View

Things to do, places to go for kids and teenagers - cool, academic, fun and entertaining in London and beyond with KidRated

Laura Porter

  • Be aware if bringing a buggy that it’s a gravel surface.
  • Watch the Changing of the Guard then get a selfie with a sentry guard. (There are two between the parade ground and Whitehall so you can avoid the crowds taking pics with the mounted guards there.)
  • Do remember the guards are working so don’t try and strike up a conversation and always ask before taking a photo and thank them afterwards.

You can find loads more information by Laura Porter at aboutlondonlaura.com 

Have your say...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *