The Royal Mews, home to the Queen’s carriages and horses, is an annexed building attached to Buckingham Palace. Upon entering you’ll be greeted with the fusty smell of rotten apples and manure.
That visage is broken quickly, though, as Ralph Pottinger, 65, leads a tour of the Mews. He boasts an immense knowledge of historical details and laces history with amusing anecdote.
The Mews dates back to the 1500s when its use was limited to falconry. Only in the 1820s was it used to hold carriages when George IV commissioned architect John Nash to re-design the building.
The steal of the show is the gold coach – a 28-carat gold-gilded, 4-tonne, 28-year-old carriage that needs to be drawn by eight horses. This carriage was used in the Queen’s coronation.
An audio-tour is available for more intricate detailing. Entry is £7.50 for adults and £6.75 for pensioners. Children enter free-of-charge.
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