Wellington Barracks

Wellington Barracks is a military installation in the City of Westminster that runs between Birdcage Walk and Petty France, combining classical architecture with a central parade ground. The complex includes residential buildings for guardsmen, a museum dedicated to military heritage, and a rebuilt chapel.

Architects Sir Francis Smith and Philip Hardwick completed the barracks in 1833 to accommodate Foot Guards battalions near Buckingham Palace. A V-1 flying bomb destroyed the Guards Chapel in 1944 during a service, and it was rebuilt in the postwar years.

The Guards Museum inside the complex displays uniforms, regimental colours and equipment spanning three centuries of Foot Guards service. Visitors can trace how military dress and tradition evolved through different periods of British history.

Public access is limited to the Guards Museum and the chapel, while residential areas and facilities remain restricted to military personnel. Visitors wishing to observe the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace can watch guardsmen march from here to the ceremony.

The Flanders Fields Memorial Garden beside the chapel commemorates those who fell in both world wars through memorial stones and seasonal planting. The site combines active military function with public spaces that honour significant historical events.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: 1833

GPS coordinates: 51.49970,-0.13778

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27