Royal Mews, London

Explore an opulent display of royalty by paying a visit to the Royal Mews. Designed by John Nash in 1825, the stables and coach houses house the royal family's state carriages, along with their distinctive horses, ridden by postilions wearing red-and-gold attire and wigs. For families with children, there are activities to enjoy, and from April to October, complimentary guided tours are offered.

The Mews boasts a vast assortment of coaches, motorcars, and carriages, including Queen Victoria's Irish state coach, acquired for the State Opening of Parliament; the 1902 royal landau, an open-top carriage used to provide the public with a prime view of newlywed royal couples; and the glass coach, also employed in royal weddings. The most recent addition is the 2012 Diamond Jubilee State Coach, an elegant black-and-gold creation featuring a concealed camera for filming during processions.

The collection's crowning jewel is the Gold State Coach, a mobile masterpiece created for George III in 1762. Adorned with 22-carat gilding and embellished with panel paintings by Cipriani, this four-tonne behemoth is supported by axles featuring four life-sized Tritons blowing conches. Eight horses are required to pull it, and the experience reportedly left Queen Victoria feeling quite queasy; as a result, it has only been used for coronations and jubilees since.