MY BABA’s In and Around BuckinghamBy Nanny Anita Palace

There are so many wonderful things to do in St. James’s Directions: and that are not included in this trail, so feel free to use this a base in which This trail starts on Buckingham you can go off and explore the Palace Road by the surrounding area. and finishes at the other end of The Mall by .

• Start at the Royal Mews located on Road; if you do go in for a visit then you will exit further along . Either way, continue down the road until you come to Buckingham Palace. • Head into St. James’s Park and follow The Mall down to Admiralty Arch. • Walking down The Mall there are St. James’s Palace and The Mall Galleries on your left. • Towards the end of the Mall, on the right, is The Household Cavalry Museum. If you are planning to be there in time to see the changing of the guards, be aware that it will become extremely busy and the whole process takes around 45 minutes.

For more fun things to do visit the My Baba blog at www.mybaba.com or tweet your trail @ mybabatweets INFORMATION For Attractions

ATTRACTION OPENING TIMES COST

February, March, November Adult 8.75 Royal Mews 10am-4pm Under 17s 5.40 April-October Under 5s free 10am-5pm

Open during the sum- Adult 19.75 mer only: check their Buckingham Under 17s 11.25 website for details. Palace Under 5s free

Adults 3.00 Daily 10am-5pm Mall Galleries Under 18s free

April-October Adults 7.00 10am-6pm Household Calvary Child 5.00 November-March Museum Under 5s free 10am-5pm

N.B Security into these attractions is very tight and you will be subject to airport style checks. Large bags and pushchairs will have to be checked in and reclaimed after your visit. Check out www.royalcollection.org.uk for more details.

For more fun things to do visit the My Baba blog at www.mybaba.com or tweet your trail @ mybabatweets ACTIVITIES From to Trafalgar

1. What animals are kept at the Royal Mews?

2. Which monarch was the first to use Buckingham Palace as an official residence?

3. Why is the road of The Mall red?

4. Can you find the nose that is sticking out of one of the arches in Admiralty Arch? This one is really hard!

FUN FACTS

• The Victoria Memorial features a sculpture of Victoria sitting on her throne. If you move clockwise around the memorial, Victoria is flanked by the Angel of Truth, Charity and the Angel of Justice. Victory sits at the pinnacle of the memorial and is joined by two seated figures. • Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

For more fun things to do visit the My Baba blog at www.mybaba.com or tweet your trail @ mybabatweets • The site where Buckingham Palace now stands was originally a mulberry garden planted by King James I (r. 1603-25) to rear silkworms. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong kind of mulberry bush, and silk production never took off in Britain.

• There are 1,514 doors and 760 windows in Buckingham Palace. All windows are cleaned every six weeks to keep them clean.

• Only the white horses are allowed to pull the Queen’s state .

• Green Park used to be the site of a mass plague pit!

• You can tell which regiment is currently guarding Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace from the grouping of buttons on the scarlet tunic, the collar badge and the plume on the bearskin hat.

• In 1997 Rick Buckley put the nose in Admiralty Arch as a campaign against the installation of CCTV cameras in . He placed 35 of them around London, but only 10 of them remain.

For more fun things to do visit the My Baba blog at www.mybaba.com or tweet your trail @ mybabatweets Buckingham Palace Eye Spy Trail For Younger Children

Can you find these objects on your trail?

Tick Entrance to St. James’s Park Along the Mall

Tick Inside Admiralty Arch Tick

Tick Tick

For more fun things to do visit the My Baba blog at www.mybaba.com or tweet your trail @ mybabatweets