London Weekend Break

Horse Guards Parade

The Horse Guards Parade has an interesting and also, at times, mundane history and use.

Today it is most famously the scene of the Queen’s annual official birthday parade, an event that is celebrated with great spectacle and pomp through the trooping of the colour. The event is a large spectator draw and still is broadcast live on UK television.

In the past too, this large square has seen a number of royal and civic events including parades and tournaments of all kinds dating back to the reign of King Henry VIII.

The buildings around the square are most notably the Old Admiralty and Citadel, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Horse Guards, but the square is overlooked by St. James Park and is very close to 10 Downing Street (the residence of the Prime Minister of Britain).

Despite the parade ground’s historic symbolism, in the late twentieth century it somehow found its way to becoming a glorified car park for civil servants based in the surrounding buildings. This use was however brought to an end after the IRA (terrorist organisation) used the area to launch an attack on Downing Street in early 1991. Today the area is kept clear of vehicles and can be enjoyed by passing tourists.

There are a number of important monuments in the Horse Guards Parade locality.

It is thought that the Horse Guards Parade may play a role in hosting an outdoor sport in the 2012 Olympics.

The nearest tube stations include St. James Park and Westminster.