The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

The Royal Mews is a rare example of a truly living, working royal institution that operates right in the middle of London. While many historic sites function as static museums, this is where the monarch's carriage horses and fleet of state vehicles are kept, maintained, and put to use. The name itself hides a surprising history. It comes from the word mew, which refers to the time of year when birds of prey shed their feathers. During the fourteenth century, the site originally served as a place to keep royal hawks while they were moulting. After a fire destroyed the royal stables at Charing Cross in the sixteenth century, the horses were moved into the facility, and the name survived even as the hawks were replaced by steeds.