Wellington Barracks

The Foot Guards Battalions on public duties in London are located in barracks conveniently close to Buckingham Palace for them to be able to reach the Palace very quickly in an emergency. In central London, a battalion is based at Wellington Barracks, Westminster, about 300 yards from Buckingham Palace between Birdcage Walk and Petty France. Wellington Barracks is currently home to F Company, Scots Guards and all of the Foot Guards bands and all the Regimental Headquarters.

History
Wellington Barracks were designed by Sir Francis Smith and Philip Hardwick and opened in 1833. The Guards Chapel was rebuilt in the 1960s after the original chapel was destoyed by a bomb in World War II. On 31 August 2007, Diana, Princess of Wales' two sons, Prince William of Wales and Prince Henry of Wales, organised a memorial service in her honour on the 10th anniversary of her death in the Guards Chapel.

Amenities
Wellington Barracks has many amenities open to those working and living within the Barracks. There is a NAAFI Bar for the Junior Ranks, which has many games available including horse racing and snooker tables. The NAAFI shop with a self-serve restaurant, a masseur and Corporals' Mess are located here. There is a Single Serving Personnel Room with internet access available, as well as an Interactive Learning facility open to all serving soldiers and their dependants. Elsewhere there is an Officers' Mess, Sergeants' Mess, and a gymnasium with squash courts. The Guards Museum houses a collection of uniforms, colours and artefacts spanning over 300 years of history of the Foot Guards.