Can You Walk Through Horse Guards Parade?

Visiting The Horse Guards Parade Only members of the royal family or cavalrymen on duty are allowed to travel through the archway; however, tourists are free to walk through from Whitehall to the Horse Guards Parade and St. James’s Park.

Can the public walk through Horse Guards Parade?

Although only members of the Royal Family or cavalrymen on duty are allowed to drive or ride through the archway, visitors and tourists are free to walk through from Whitehall to Horse Guards Parade and St James’s Park.

Can you touch the horses at Horse Guards?

They change guards and horses at the gate at around 2pm everyday and if you want to witness this, be there in time. Then you can go and touch the horses although the guards sitting on them must keep a straight face.

Can you cycle through Horse Guards Parade?

Before Admiralty Arch you might be best crossing the road; after 100m you come to a large gravel parade ground known as Horse Guards Parade. Cycle across the parade ground towards the central Arch. On the right you will be able to see the back of 10 Downing Street the official residence of the Prime Minister.

How do you get to Horse Guards Parade?

You can easily reach Horse Guards Parade by train. The nearest station to Horse Guards Parade is London Charing Cross, which is served by Southeastern services throughout the day. Turn left onto Strand, then at the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Whitehall until you see Horse Guards Parade on your right.

Is horse Guard parade the same as changing of the guard?

Horse Guards Parade, is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London. As well as being the venue for changing The King’s Life Guard it is also the location for Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the King’s Birthday, and Beating Retreat.

Is Horse Guards Parade sand?

Most of the parade ground was covered in sand but there was a cleared pathway from the roadway at the rear of the parade ground through to the archways in the Horse Guard’s building. Photo opportunities abound across the parade ground. A “must visit” location for history buffs and Royalists!

Can you visit Horse Guards?

Visiting The Horse Guards Parade
Only members of the royal family or cavalrymen on duty are allowed to travel through the archway; however, tourists are free to walk through from Whitehall to the Horse Guards Parade and St. James’s Park.

Do you have to pay to see the Changing of the Guard?

Precision drill and bands playing stirring music all combine to make Changing of the Guard one of London’s most popular attractions that epitomises the pomp and military ceremony for which Britain is famous. The Changing of the Guard is free to watch, you do not require a ticket or have to make a booking!

How long does the Horse Guards Parade last?

The changing of the guard at Horseguards begins at 11.00am and lasts about 25 mins (most of which is just standing around), the change at BP starts at about 11.30 and again lasts about 25mins, although unless you are up against the railings you won’t see much , so you would be pushing it a bit to see both on the same

What time do Horse Guards change?

Changing of The King’s Life Guard occurs daily (Monday to Friday) at 1100 on Horse Guards Parade. At 1600 daily, the duty officer will inspect The King’s Life Guard in the courtyard. At 1100 on Saturday and 1000 on Sunday, the duty officer will inspect The King’s Life Guard on Horse Guards Parade.

What is the surface on Horse Guards Parade?

Access to the Horse Guards Parade is level and easily approached from the adjacent pavement. The surface is gravelled and may make it hard for some wheelchair users to negotiate.

What is the ivy covered building on Horse Guards Parade?

The Citadel
Behind Horse Guards stands a rather imposing and somewhat ugly brown lump of a building, semi covered in ivy. This is the Citadel, a bomb proof bunker built during World War Two to house the Royal Navy operations unit, and still in use to this day.

Where can I see the Horse Guards?

Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade ground in St James’s Park and is the scene of Trooping the Colour on the Queen’s official birthday in June. Horse Guards is the building with a clock tower over an archway, and remains the official entrance to St James’s and Buckingham Palace.

When can you see the Household Cavalry?

Daily Ceremony. The Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard takes place daily on Horse Guards Parade at 11am (10am Sundays). The Daily Inspection takes place at 4pm (Front Yard Whitehall).

Are the Queens Guards allowed to stop?

While on duty, Queen’s Guards are not supposed to move or respond to anything that the tourists may throw at them. However, the rules indicate that after being still for at least 10 minutes, they can march up and down the street in order to stretch their legs and avoid passing out.

Do guards still stand outside Buckingham Palace?

Today, the King’s Guard is based in London and provides soldiers outside Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Occasionally there are Guards also located in Scotland at Holyrood House or in Edinburgh.