Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
public has no original furnishings, but is well worth seeing for the superlative
Rubens ceil-
ing paintings
commissioned by Charles I in the 1630s, depicting the union of England and
Scotland, the peaceful reign of his father, James I, and finally his apotheosis (ask for an au-
dioguide). Charles himself walked through the room for the last time in 1649, when he
stepped onto the executioner's scaffold from one of its windows.
HORSE GUARDS
Whitehall Charing Cross or Westminster.
MAP
Outside this modest building, built in 1745 and once the old palace guard house, two moun-
ted sentries of the
Queen's Household Cavalry
and two horseless colleagues, all in cere-
monial uniform, are posted daily from 10am to 4pm. With nothing in particular to guard
nowadays, the sentries are basically here for the tourists, though they are under orders not to
smile. Try to coincide your visit with the
Changing of the Guard
, when a squad of moun-
ted Household Cavalry in full livery arrives to relieve the guards (Mon-Sat 11am, Sun
10am) - if you miss it, turn up at 4pm for the elaborate
daily inspection
by the Officer of
the Guard.
HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MUSEUM
Whitehall Westminster 020 7930 3070,
www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk
.Daily: March-Sept
10am-6pm; Oct-Feb 10am-5pm.£6.
MAP
Round the back of Horse Guards, you'll find the Household Cavalry Museum, where you
can try on a trooper's elaborate uniform, complete a horse quiz and learn about the regi-
ments' history. With the stables immediately adjacent, it's a sweet-smelling place, and -
horse-lovers will be pleased to know - you can see the beasts in their stalls through a glass
screen. Don't miss the pocket Riot Act on display, which ends with the wise warning: “must
read correctly: variance fatal”.
10 DOWNING STREET
Westminster.
www.number10.gov.uk
.
MAP
Since the days of Margaret Thatcher, London's most famous address has been hidden be-
hind wrought-iron security gates. A pretty plain, seventeenth-century terraced house, no. 10
has been home to every British
prime minister
since it was presented to Robert Walpole,
Britain's first PM, by George II in 1732.
