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THE ROYAL MEWS
These Coaches Won't Turn to Pumpkins
On
grand state occasions in England, for the most part viewed on newsreel
footage, the kings and
queens
of the world’s best known monarchy
ride in historic ornate gilded state coaches with coachman draped in
colorful traditional livery pulled by clopping precision Windsor Grey
horses down the Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace. Your next tourist trip
to London may not be in time for a coronation, but you can view the great
coaches of the English royal family at the Royal Mews. Like the names
of those small London back streets, mews are basically rows of stables
and the Royal Mews are located on Buckingham Palace Road between Victoria
Station and the gates to Buckingham Palace.
The
Royal Mews houses the collection of royal coaches built over two
centuries for the use of
the English
crown. The mews are still an
everyday working stables as part of England’s royal heritage, with
the Royal Mews responsible for all road travel arrangements for the queen
and family, whether by boring old car or the grand coaches. Guided tours
are given at regular intervals by liveried working coachman guides. The
coaches on display include the Glass Coach used by royal
brides. It is not actually made of glass like Cinderella’s, but
has large windows and should Prince William ever get serious, might be
taken for a spin in the not too distant future. The Irish State Coach
is often used by the queen to ride to the State Opening of Parliament.
The most impressive of the roayal coaches is the Golden State Coach used
for coronations. Impossibly ornate, gilt with gold dripping from all
corners, it weighs four tons and takes a full eight of the Windsor Greys
and Cleveland Bays horse breeds to pull. The Mews offers activities for
children and families. Also on display are the historic livery uniforms
worn by coachmen through the years.
The Royal Mews are open most
days except Friday afternoons and state occasions. Five minutes walk
from Victoria
Station, the mews are a possible
spot to visit after cathing the changing of the guards at Buckingham
Palace (See London
Bus Sight-Seeing). Prices are £7 for adults and £4.50 for
children between 5 and 17, family tickets are available for £18.50. Purchasing
one ticket allows
you unlimited admission for a year. Just in case those old wild oats
get the better of Prince Harry…well, you know. Hurry up and polish
up that old Glass Coach. © Bargain
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See Also:
MY
GREAT-GREAT-GRAND UNCLE - THE EARL OF SOMETHING - Family Ancestry Travel in Britain
WINDSOR
CASTLE
Stop by the Queen’s House for Tea
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