Visiting the Queens Horses at the Royal Mews, London, London, England (B)

I was hardly aware of the existence of the Royal Mews: they were not on my “to do” list for London. In fact, they do not seem to be high on the tourist radar at all. I found them by accident, when I saw the mile long queue snaking around Buckingham Palace, and hastily changed my mind about the morning’s activity. The Royal Mews, just a stone’s throw away, was a welcome alternative, relatively devoid of queues or crowds. But what is the Royal Mews, and why is it worth a visit?

Historically a mews was a group of stables, a place to house horses and the people who looked after them. Over time cars have replaced horses, and most mews have been converted into small but fashionable houses. However the Royal Mews retains its original purpose. It is a home for the Queen’s horses and state coaches, and its staff are responsible for all of the Royal Family’s road travel, whether by car or carriage.

Standing in the main courtyard, designed by John Nash in the 19th century, you get the feeling that this place hasn’t changed much since Queen Victoria’s day. Perhaps it hasn’t: this is still where the grooms and coachmen who care for the horses and the carriages live. We picked up the excellent and informative audiotour and listened to one of the Mews workers describing how his father had lived and worked here, and his grandfather before that. For many people, it seems to be a family concern. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).