Small children to see the Queen's Horse Guards in London?
Is it safe or advisable to take my 3 year old daughter to see the Queen's Horse Guards?
I can't remember whether the horse often standing out front is a friendly horse that can be touched, or whether it is a mean old police horse who will bite. My daughter has fun feeding handfuls of grass to nice horses and I would only consider this destination worth it if it were advisable to try to pet the horse's snout.
A quick google search did not turn up usable details for me.
Best Answer
The horses used by the ceremonial guards at the London royal palaces are extremely well trained and will not bite or otherwise harm people.
They are working, military horses, and your daughter will not be encouraged to touch them, certainly not to feed them. However the worst thing that is likely to happen to her if she tries is a shouted instruction from the guard.
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Where can you see Queens guards?
This covers Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, St James's Palace and the Tower of London, as well as Windsor Castle. The Queen's Guard is also mounted at the sovereign's other official residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, but not as often as in London.Where can I see a Royal Guard in London?
The Buckingham Palace gates and the steps of the Victoria Memorial just opposite are two of the best spots to watch Changing the Guard. Alternatively, get there early and try to grab a spot on The Mall, between Marlborough Road and Buckingham Palace, for a close-up view of the guards marching past.Where can I find Horse Guards?
Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade ground in St James's Park and is the scene of Trooping the Colour on the Queen's official birthday in June. Horse Guards is the building with a clock tower over an archway, and remains the official entrance to St James's and Buckingham Palace.Where can I watch Changing of the Guard with kids?
Best Place to Watch Changing of the Guard with Kids or without- Buckingham Palace Gates \u2013 As close as you can get to the Palace itself! ...
- Friary Court \u2013 courtyard at St. ...
- The Mall \u2013 The main road they march down!
The Queen decorates a Christmas tree at a new national children's centre
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Answer 2
I was there 2 weeks ago with my 3 year old child who is already learning how to ride and can ride a trailing horse behind a guide in a walk. But I did not take him near the guard horse.
I certainly recommend going to witness the ceremony but I do not recommend taking the child anywhere near the horse at that time for various reasons.
1) The horse is on duty and is going to follow a certain schedule as commanded by the rider.
2) The place is really crowded, you won't even get a lot of room to get very close to the horses.
3) For the child's safety. Going near a horse on duty to pat him/her is never recommended and mostly not even allowed in a crowded place.
This is relevant even to the single horse guard that is always there at the gate. That place is small and visitors are not allowed to go very close to the horse. Even if they were allowed, there is a significant crowd making it difficult to have any significant time with the horse.
There is a Museum (The Household Cavalry Museum) which shows you behind the scenes life of Queen's guards it will be very interesting for the child to get up close to the horses there but there is a glass separator there.
There are riding clubs and stables around the area and you could take the child there to pat or feed the horse, they do not allow a 3 year old child to ride but they don't mind a pat for the horse.
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