First check: is the Royal Mews open on your date?
This is a seasonal attraction, and more visitors are turned away by the calendar than by queues. The Mews is the King's working stable and coach house, so the public visit fits around real royal duties.
- Winter closure: shut from early November until 4 March. The new season's dates run from 4 March to 31 October.
- Weekly pattern: in spring, early summer and autumn it has typically opened Thursday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In July and August it has opened every day.
- Short-notice closures: the coaches, horses and staff are used for state visits, the State Opening of Parliament and other ceremonial occasions, and the Mews can close for these. Check the Royal Collection Trust website on the morning you go.
The horses might not be in
The Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays are working animals. They may be out on duty, in training, or resting away from London, so seeing them in their stalls isn't guaranteed. The coaches are always the main event.
How busy does the Royal Mews get?
It's one of the calmer royal sights in London. Most people who visit Buckingham Palace never walk round the corner to the Mews, and it has no single blockbuster room that everyone fights over. Where crowds do build:
The only real pinch point is the Gold State Coach. Everyone stops at it, and on a busy summer day you may wait a few minutes for a clear look or a photo. Go to it first or last, not with the crowd that has just come through security.
Crowds by day and time
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Least busy time
Monday, 3-5 pm
Busiest time
Sunday, 11 am-4 pm
Tickets: prices, where to buy and the 1-year pass
Where to buy
- Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk): the official seller, and the one that lets you convert your ticket into a 1-year pass. Ask a warden to stamp it before you leave and you can come back free for 12 months (a small booking fee applies when you reserve a return visit).
How to avoid queuing
There's no fast-track product, and none is needed most of the year. Every visitor goes through airport-style security at the entrance on Buckingham Palace Road, and that's the only queue that matters.
- Book online so you walk straight to security.
- Choose a Thursday or Friday at 10 am in spring or autumn, outside the school holidays.
- Carry as little as possible. Food and drink must stay sealed in your bag (bottled water is fine), and large bags slow the check.
- In July and August, avoid late morning when palace visitors spill over; come after 2:30 pm instead and leave an hour before the 4 pm cut-off.
What you'll see
The visit is a self-guided walk round the quadrangle, stables and coach houses with the included multimedia guide. Much of it is outdoors but under cover, so dress for the weather. Bring your own headphones (standard jack) for the guide.
The Gold State Coach
The reason most people come. Around 260 years old, gilded all over, about 7 metres long and weighing roughly four tonnes, it has carried monarchs to their coronations, including King Charles III's. It's shown with replica horses so you can picture how the team was arranged, and it's so heavy it can only travel at walking pace.
The Diamond Jubilee and Australian State Coaches
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is the newest in the collection and the one now used for the State Opening of Parliament, built with modern comforts hidden inside a traditional body. The Australian State Coach was a gift from Australia.
The stables and horses
The 19th-century stable block houses the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays that pull the coaches. If they're in, you can see them in their stalls; the guide explains how they're trained to stay calm amid crowds and bands.
State cars and everyday carriages
The Mews also looks after the royal limousines and smaller carriages used for ambassadors' credentials ceremonies and royal weddings, so the display changes depending on what's out on duty.
Hands-on bits for children
Kids can try on livery and practise tacking up a wooden pony, and there's a family version of the multimedia guide.
Tips by visitor type
Families
This is one of the most child-friendly royal visits: horses, gold coaches, dressing up, and only an hour long. Children's tickets are half the adult price and under 5s are free.
Visitors already doing the palace
In summer, book the Royal Day Out and do the Mews first thing, before your State Rooms slot. You'll see it before the crowds come round from the palace exit.
Return visitors to London
Buy direct and get the 1-year pass stamped. A second trip to see the horses that were out the first time costs nothing more than the booking fee.
Accessibility
The site is step-free. Manual wheelchairs and rollators can be borrowed (first come, first served), there's an accessible toilet and a Changing Places facility, and assistance dogs are welcome. The multimedia guide comes in BSL and audio-described versions.
Getting there
The entrance is on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 1QH, on the south-west side of the palace, a short walk from Victoria station (Victoria, District and Circle lines plus National Rail). Buses 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop nearby. There's no visitor parking.
Combine it with
- The King's Gallery: next door on Buckingham Palace Road, with changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
- Buckingham Palace State Rooms in summer. Our Buckingham Palace guide covers the summer State Rooms tickets.
- St James's Park: a 5-minute walk, good for a picnic after the visit.
- Westminster Abbey: 15 minutes' walk east. See our Westminster Abbey guide.
Check the Royal Mews crowd forecast.
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FAQs
Is the Royal Mews open now?
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No. It's closed for the winter and reopens on 4 March, with the season running to 31 October. Tickets for the new season are already on sale.
How much are Royal Mews tickets?
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£18 for adults, £12 for young people aged 18-24, £9 for children 5-17 and disabled visitors, and free for under 5s and access companions.
What days is the Royal Mews open?
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Outside high summer it has usually opened Thursday to Monday, 10 am-5 pm, with last admission at 4 pm. In July and August it has opened daily. It can close at short notice for royal events.
Do you need to book the Royal Mews in advance?
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It's recommended, especially in summer. Booking with the Royal Collection Trust also lets you convert your ticket into a free 1-year pass.
Is the Royal Mews included in the Buckingham Palace ticket?
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Heading to The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
Check live crowds →Sources
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 11 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
