Household Cavalry Museum

The Household Cavalry Museum occupies three ground-floor galleries in Horse Guards, the Palladian building on Whitehall that has stood since 1750 and is still the headquarters of the Household Division. A glazed partition runs along one wall, and behind it troopers work in the original 18th-century stables. The museum has held this part of the building since 2007. The King's Life Guard mounts outside, and the four o'clock inspection takes place in the Whitehall front yard every day.

For a private event the museum closes to visitors and opens to one guest list. A drinks reception runs from six until nine and takes 100 standing; the main gallery seats 40 for lunch or dinner across a four-hour window at midday or in the evening. Guests move through the galleries with a glass in hand, past the breastplates, the royal standards and the Fabergé silver, and museum staff give welcome talks on request. Catering, bar, lighting and sound come through the museum's own list of preferred suppliers rather than an in-house kitchen.

Two things to settle before fixing a date. Horse Guards is a working military site, so the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Metropolitan Police can require the museum to close at short notice, and planned closures are published ahead. Hire windows are fixed and end at 22:00, which makes this a room for the evening rather than the small hours. Ceremonial additions are offered: two troopers on the door to receive guests, and a military band by arrangement.