Royal carriages, in real working stables. The Royal Mews ticket pulls you into the daily world behind Buckingham Palace road transport, where you can get close to the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and other iconic vehicles. It’s not just museum viewing—it’s a look at the operating side of royal travel.

I especially love seeing the scale and craftsmanship of the Gold State Coach, used at coronations over centuries, then standing right there with the other ceremonial carriages. One consideration: this is the Mews itself, not a tour of the main Buckingham Palace rooms, and the voucher-to-entry handoff is followed by airport-style security screening.

Key things that make the Royal Mews ticket worth it

• Working Royal Mews, not a display warehouse: you’re seeing active stables and training for the horses that pull the royal carriages.
• Close-up coaches with real ceremonial dates: Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach connect directly to modern royal events.
• Multiple state coaches in one visit: you’ll also see the Australian State Coach and Irish State Coach among others.
• Horse spotting is part of the fun: look for Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, though the number visible can vary.
• Small group pace (max 10): easier to walk, listen, and actually look without constant shoulder-to-shoulder crowding.
• 9-language multimedia tour included: Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian.

What the Royal Mews entrance ticket really includes

This ticket is focused and efficient. You’re paying for entry to the Royal Mews, plus a multimedia tour (audio included) in 9 languages—so you can understand what you’re looking at without needing to line up for a separate guide.

The payoff is that you’re not just seeing the final, glamorous versions of royal travel. The Royal Mews is where the road transport for the King and the Royal Family happens—by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car—and where the horses used for pulling and ceremonial travel are trained. That working-stables context changes how you’ll read the vehicles. A coach stops being a costume. It becomes equipment, built to do a job with serious style.

Also, plan your expectations: it’s a Buckingham Palace Road experience, but it’s not the Palace interior tour. If your dream day is portraits in grand rooms, you’ll be a little disappointed. If your dream day is horses, carriages, and how this all works, you’ll be in the right place.

Getting in: voucher exchange and the security vibe

Your start is simple: exchange your voucher at the ticket office and then proceed to the visitor entrance to the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road.

After that, be ready for airport-style security checks. The guidance is to bring as little as you can with you—because when you travel light, you move faster through screening. There’s also a hard no on luggage or large bags, and there’s no cloakroom mentioned on-site, so don’t count on storage.

If you’re arriving hungry, don’t build a strategy around a quick snack stop inside. The important part of the experience starts the moment you clear security and step into the Mews flow.

Walking the Royal Mews: horses, stalls, and the real working details

The Royal Mews is built for function, not just sightseeing. As you move through, you’ll get the chance to see the stables area and look for the horses that pull the coaches and carriages. The horses named in the information are Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays—and those names aren’t trivia. They help you notice what you’re seeing and why it matters.

One practical note: the number of horses you can see at any given time can be limited. Some people report only a couple horses visible during their slot, while still finding the rest of the visit rewarding through the coaches, harness displays, and stable viewing areas.

There’s also mention of an indoor arena and harness tack being visible, which is a great bonus if you’re a horse person. Even if you’re not, the tack and stable setting help you understand why these carriages are built the way they are.

Diamond Jubilee State Coach: the 2014 moment on display

The star you’ll likely hear about immediately is the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. It’s the one that carried Queen Elizabeth II during the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014.

Why this matters for you: it links the coach to a specific day you can picture. You’re not just viewing “a famous royal vehicle.” You’re seeing a carriage tied to a very recent moment in modern monarchy. That makes the viewing feel current, even though the object itself is obviously steeped in tradition.

As you stand near it, pay attention to the details that catch your eye from a distance. At Royal Mews, the coaches are close enough that you can actually see the craftsmanship that usually gets lost on TV.

Gold State Coach: coronations, William IV onward, and why scale surprises people

Then comes the coach that’s almost mythic: the Gold State Coach. According to the information provided, it’s been used at every coronation since that of William IV.

The timeline points you toward three big milestones:

• Queen Elizabeth II used it on Coronation Day in 1953
• it was used most recently at the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023

This is where the visit can click for people who think they already know royal history. Seeing the Gold State Coach in person forces you to confront scale and design choices meant for procession—built to be seen, not just admired.

If you like “objects with a job,” you’ll enjoy standing with this coach and thinking about how it works as ceremonial transport. The Royal Mews framing makes the Gold State Coach feel less like a display and more like a tool for a once-every-generation event.

Other coaches to look for: Australian and Irish State Coaches

You’ll also want your eyes on the Australian State Coach. The details given include central heating and electric windows, and it carried Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in 2011.

That’s a fun contrast if you like noticing how the royal travel “style” changes with technology. The Gold State Coach tells you about tradition and continuity; the Australian State Coach shows that even very ceremonial transport can be updated for comfort and modern expectations.

Another named highlight is the Irish State Coach, purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852. The information also notes that Queen Victoria, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II have all traveled to the State Opening of Parliament in this carriage.

That makes the Irish State Coach a great choice if you want your visit to feel like a timeline rather than a pile of stunning vehicles. You’re basically seeing how royal ceremonial travel evolved across centuries, while still keeping a recognizable look and purpose.

The multimedia audio tour: how to use it without getting lost

The entrance ticket includes a multimedia tour in 9 languages. The audio guide languages listed are: Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian.

Here’s the practical way to use it so you don’t waste your time:

• Turn the audio on right as you enter, then pause it when you need to just look at the coaches.
• Use the audio to confirm dates and purpose—Diamond Jubilee 2014, coronations for the Gold State Coach, and the 2011 post-wedding transfer for the Australian State Coach.
• If you’re visiting with kids, choose a pace that lets them swap between listening and watching the horses and stables.

Some visitors also mention hand-held guidance/audio being helpful in keeping the experience at an age-friendly level. The key is that the audio does the heavy lifting, so you aren’t dependent on catching every spoken explanation from staff.

Small-group reality: max 10 participants and an easier walk

This is a small group visit, limited to 10 participants. That matters more than people think. In a place filled with visually detailed objects, crowded pacing can turn a great visit into quick head swivels.

With a smaller group, you’ll usually be able to stop, look, and listen without the “move along” pressure constantly breaking your focus.

Also, you’ll appreciate the experience not being a long sprint. Many people describe it as a short visit that can fit into a bigger London day—often around 1–2 hours, depending on how long you pause at each coach and the number of horses visible.

Photo and phone rules you should know

Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcomed, which is ideal for phones and casual cameras.

Mobile phones are allowed too, but you’ll want to keep them considerate for others. If you take photos, try not to block walkways and avoid filming so long that you become a moving wall of attention.

Price and value: is $22.90 worth it?

At $22.90 per person (as listed), you’re paying for:

• entry to the Royal Mews
• a multimedia tour in 9 languages

The value comes from concentration. In one ticket you see:

• multiple state coaches tied to real events and dates
• the functioning stable environment behind royal road transport
• named horse types linked directly to ceremonial carriage work

If you’re only into one or two items, the price could feel steep because the real magic is the cluster of coaches and stables viewed together. But if you like horses, ceremonial transport, craftsmanship, or even just the chance to see the Gold State Coach up close, it’s hard to argue with the “see a lot in one controlled visit” aspect.

Who should book this Royal Mews ticket

I’d put this high on the list if you fit one (or more) of these:

• You love horses and want a real stables angle, not just a photo of a carriage
• You’re curious about the Gold State Coach and how coronations work across centuries
• You want a family-friendly activity that can hold attention without being exhausting
• You like hearing history through objects tied to specific royal days (2014, 2011, 1953, 2023)

It’s also a good “pair well” option in a London day. The experience has a contained footprint, and it’s easy to plan around without needing a huge time block.

Should you book Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews entrance ticket?

Yes, if your idea of a great royal visit is seeing coaches and horses up close, plus getting context from an included audio tour in multiple languages. The mix of the Diamond Jubilee State Coach (2014), the Gold State Coach (coronations since William IV), and the other named coaches gives you more variety than many entry tickets.

Skip it—or at least adjust expectations—if you’re expecting a broad tour of Buckingham Palace rooms. This ticket is about the Mews: working stables, ceremonial vehicles, and the day-to-day side of royal road transport.

If you book, travel light for security, plan for a short visit window around 1–2 hours, and give yourself extra time at the Gold State Coach. That’s the one where the scale hits hardest when you’re standing close.

FAQ

How long is the Royal Mews ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for 1 day. You’ll need to check availability to see the starting times.

What’s included with the entrance ticket?

The ticket includes entrance to the Royal Mews plus a multimedia tour in 9 languages (audio guide).

How big are the groups?

This experience is limited to a small group of 10 participants.

Which state coaches can I see?

You can see several historic vehicles, including the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, the Gold State Coach, the Australian State Coach, and the Irish State Coach.

Is photography allowed?

Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcomed at the Royal Mews.

Can I bring luggage or large bags?

No. Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and there are no cloakroom facilities available.

Where do I exchange my voucher and start the visit?

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.

You Might Also Enjoy

Secrets of London Walking TourGhost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat RideLondon: British Museum Guided TourLondon: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey & Big Ben Tour