Buckingham Palace: The Royal Mews Entrance Ticket

The Royal Mews is interesting because it is not just royal furniture behind glass, it is a working stable where road transport for the King and Royal Family comes from. I love how up close you get to the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, and I also like that you can look into the stall world where the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays wait their turn.

I also like the pacing here. This ticket is set up for a small group (limited to 10 people), and the included multimedia audio tour runs in nine languages, so you can keep your momentum without feeling rushed or lost.

One possible drawback to know ahead of time: this is the Royal Mews area, not a full Buckingham Palace visit. Also, security screening happens on arrival, and luggage or large bags are not allowed because there is no cloakroom.

Key points to know before you go

• A working stable, not a dead museum: the Mews handles road transport for the King and Royal Family.
• Close-up coach viewing: you get a real sense of scale and craftsmanship rather than only seeing these on TV.
• Diamond Jubilee State Coach on display: the coach used for Queen Elizabeth II during the 2014 State Opening of Parliament.
• Gold State Coach highlights coronation history: used at every coronation since William IV, most recently for King Charles III in 2023.
• Horse stalls are part of the show: you can see horses that pull the carriages, including Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays.
• Nine-language multimedia tour included: Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian.

Royal Mews: A working stable behind Buckingham Palace

The Royal Mews sits at Buckingham Palace, but the feel is completely different from the palace rooms. This is where the practical side of monarchy shows up, day to day, in real stables and working equipment. You are walking into a space built around horses, harness, and the kind of coordination that has to run on schedule.

What makes it especially satisfying is how many iconic vehicles you can see in one compact visit. You will encounter multiple state coaches used across different eras, including ones tied to coronations and big ceremonial dates. It is history you can walk around, not history that stays politely behind a rope.

And the horses matter here. The Mews is responsible for the training and care of the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, which pull the royal carriages. Even if you are not a horse person, you will likely find yourself watching the details of their tack and the way the stable space is set up.

Tickets, timing, and what your Royal Mews ticket covers

This is an entrance ticket to the Royal Mews, exchanged from your voucher at the ticket office. After you swap your voucher, you continue to the visitor entrance on Buckingham Palace Road. The visit ends back at the meeting point, so you are not getting shipped across London for the rest of your day.

The ticket is priced at $22.90 per person. For London, that can feel like a bargain or a splurge depending on what you compare it to. Here is the value logic: you are paying for a special, behind-the-scenes access point that is also a live working facility. You are not just buying a generic sightseeing stop. And the ticket includes a multimedia tour, so you get interpretation in nine languages as part of the price.

Duration is practical rather than exact. The ticket is valid for one day, and you choose from available starting times based on checks at booking. That makes it easier to fit into a day that already includes Buckingham Palace or nearby sights.

One small note for first timers: this does not include a full Buckingham Palace interior tour. You are here for the Mews, its vehicles, and the stable side of royal life.

Entering the Royal Mews smoothly: security and bag rules

Plan to pass through airport-style security checks on arrival. The advice is simple: bring as little as possible to move through screening faster. That matters more than people expect, because stables tend to be efficient spaces with limited tolerance for bulky items.

Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and the Royal Mews has no cloakroom facilities. Certain items like pen-knives and scissors are also not permitted. If you travel light, you will enjoy the flow more. If you show up with a big daypack plus extra bags, expect friction.

Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcomed, so you can take pictures without feeling like you are breaking rules every minute. Mobile phones are allowed too, but with consideration for other visitors, which is a polite way of asking you not to turn your visit into a personal studio session.

What you will see: the Diamond Jubilee State Coach up close

One of the biggest reasons people love this visit is that several famous coaches are actually displayed where they belong. The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is a standout.

This coach conveyed Queen Elizabeth II on the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014. Knowing that date makes your look at the coach feel sharper. You are not only seeing an ornate vehicle, you are seeing one used for a specific modern ceremonial moment.

Up close, the coach’s presence lands differently than on a screen. You can better judge proportions, the way decorative elements sit on the structure, and how a vehicle like this is built to be seen from a distance while still looking composed up close.

If you like the idea of a “recent history” moment in addition to old-world coronation lore, the Diamond Jubilee display does that job.

The Gold State Coach and coronation history you can walk past

If you are only going to care about one coach, make it the Gold State Coach. It is described as the most dazzling, and it is also the one with the longest coronation track record.

The Gold State Coach has been used at every coronation since that of William IV. Queen Elizabeth II traveled in it on her Coronation Day in 1953. Most recently, it was used for the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

That timeline is powerful in person. You start to see how ceremonial vehicles become a living tradition, not a one-time prop. The coach is not just gold color for decoration. It is part of a repeating ritual, and the craftsmanship is built for that kind of continuity.

When I think about value here, this is where it clicks: you are paying to get access to a vehicle that represents a whole line of reigns, and you are doing it without needing to time a coronation event in your travel calendar.

More state coaches: Australian and Irish additions

The Royal Mews does not stop at the headline coaches. You will also see other carriages tied to major royal milestones.

The Australian State Coach is one of the most interesting surprises on the list. It has central heating and electric windows, which makes it feel like a modern upgrade inside a very traditional framework. It carried Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in 2011. That context gives the coach a story beyond appearance.

Then there is the Irish State Coach, purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852. Queen Victoria, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II have all traveled to the State Opening of Parliament in this carriage. Again, the meaning matters as much as the metalwork. This is a coach that connects multiple royal eras across more than a century.

If you are a coach fan, these additional vehicles help you avoid the classic “one big thing and you are done” feeling. You will likely leave remembering multiple coaches, not just the flashiest one.

Horses at the Royal Mews: Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays

The Royal Mews experience is not only about vehicles. A key part of your visit is the horses.

The Mews trains and is responsible for the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, the horses that draw the royal carriages. Seeing them in their working environment is what makes this visit feel real rather than theatrical.

That said, there is one practical consideration. Depending on the day, you may see only a limited number of horses out in the area. Some visitors have noted that not every session includes a wide view of many horses at once. If you are traveling with kids who want lots of horse action, focus your expectations on a short, high-impact look rather than a full ranch-style visit.

Even with that limitation, horses add a different kind of “wow.” Coaches are about design and symbolism. Horses add the living, moving part of the ritual.

How the multimedia audio tour works in 9 languages

You get a multimedia tour in nine languages: Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian. That matters for two reasons.

First, it helps you understand what you are looking at without needing to decode plaques. State coaches are full of details, and the multimedia tour is what turns those details into stories.

Second, it keeps the visit flexible. The format makes it easier to pause, move a step closer for photos, and then restart your listening when you are ready. In small spaces like stables, being able to control your pace is a big quality-of-life upgrade.

If you get a staff-led moment on top of the multimedia narration, that can make the experience even more personal. Guides such as Jorge or Lynne have been named in accounts as friendly, and that lines up with what you want in a place like this, clear explanations that help you read the vehicles like a pro.

Time it right: planning your Royal Mews visit inside a London day

Because your ticket is valid for one day and you select from available starting times, you have room to match the Mews to your schedule. I like putting it early in a day when possible, before crowds build around central Buckingham Palace.

The visit itself tends to be a walk-through style experience. You are moving from coach viewing to stable viewing and back through the visitor route. It is a short and focused stop, so it pairs well with other nearby sights.

If you are doing Buckingham Palace that day, you might think about energy. The Mews gives you a different angle on royal life, more hands-on and more mechanical. That contrast can keep your day from feeling like you are just repeating the same theme in different rooms.

Who this is best for, and who might not love it

This is a great fit for people who want something closer than a standard museum ticket. It works well for families because the stables, horses, and coaches are instantly visual. If your kids like animals, harnesses, or anything with wheels, this is a strong match.

It is also a strong choice for history-minded visitors who care about the actual objects tied to real dates. Diamond Jubilee State Coach, Gold State Coach coronations, Australian State Coach after 2011 wedding, Irish State Coach purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852. You do not need to be a royal expert to appreciate the links.

Who might find it less satisfying is someone expecting a long, all-day guided tour of Buckingham Palace interiors. This is a focused entry into the Royal Mews and its displays.

Also consider the horse viewing note. If you want maximum time with many horses roaming, the Royal Mews is still a working stable, and your view may be limited on the day you go.

Should you book Buckingham Palace Royal Mews entrance tickets?

Yes, I would book this if you want a close-up look at iconic royal coaches in a real, functioning stable. For the $22.90 price point, the inclusion of a nine-language multimedia audio tour is part of why it feels like value, not just sightseeing.

Book it especially if you care about the Gold State Coach used across coronations since William IV, or if the Diamond Jubilee State Coach is on your personal must-see list. Add in the working horses theme, and the Royal Mews becomes a memorable change of pace from typical London monuments.

If you are traveling with only a few hours to spare and you want something practical, compact, and visually different, the Royal Mews ticket is a strong pick.

FAQ

What is included with the Royal Mews entrance ticket?

The ticket includes entrance to the Royal Mews and a multimedia tour in 9 languages.

How much does the Royal Mews ticket cost?

The price is $22.90 per person.

How long is the ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for 1 day. Starting times depend on availability.

Where do I go when I arrive?

Exchange your voucher at the ticket office, then proceed to the visitor entrance to the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is there a group limit?

Yes. The group is limited to 10 participants.

Is photography allowed?

Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcomed.

What should I know about security and bags?

On arrival, you and your belongings are subject to airport-style security checks. Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and there are no cloakroom facilities.

Are any items prohibited?

Certain items such as pen-knives and scissors are not allowed.

What languages are available for the audio or multimedia tour?

The multimedia tour is available in Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian.