Chelsea Dog Day: Dog Tour with a Chelsea Pensioner
Location:
Royal Hospital Chelsea (South Grounds - Meeting point: Soane Stable Yard via Chelsea Gate)
Date & time:
Saturday 3 Oct 2026, 11.00am - 12.00pm
Price:
£13.00 (plus £2 booking fee per transaction)
Bring your four-legged companion along for a special dog-friendly tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s historic South Grounds, led by a Chelsea Pensioner.
About the event
Enjoy a unique guided tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s South Grounds, led by one of the Chelsea Pensioners.
Explore the history of this remarkable site as you discover the stories behind its historic cannons, learn about the Battle of Chillianwala memorial and uncover the significance of Figure Court. Along the way, your Chelsea Pensioner guide will share insights into the traditions, stories and daily life of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Part of Chelsea Dog Day, this tour is designed for history lovers and their four-legged companions.
Dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the tour, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
Heidi Café
Enjoy a coffee in the courtyard while your dog enjoys a puppacino. Special dog-friendly offers will be available throughout the day.
Soane Stable Yard Shop
The Soane Stable Yard Shop will be open as usual, with an extended selection of dog-related items available for Chelsea Dog Day, including dog jackets and dog treats.
Festival planning
Getting between Chelsea History Festival venues: This event takes place at Royal Hospital Chelsea. Many Chelsea History Festival venues are within walking distance of one another, but journey times vary. If you are booking events close together, please allow enough time to travel comfortably between venues.
Estimated walking times from this venue: 3 minutes to National Army Museum, 5 minutes to Garrison Chapel, 8 minutes to Chelsea Physic Garden, 9 minutes to Royal Court Theatre, 12 minutes to Sloane Square Station , 16 minutes to Chelsea Old Church and 25 minutes to Chelsea Theatre.
About the speaker
Though Chelsea has long since been engulfed by the sprawl of London, the Royal Hospital remains one of the most iconic sites within the capital. As the permanent home to the Chelsea Pensioners, it is numbered amongst the nation’s most loved and valued working historic buildings. The Royal Hospital’s relevance to modern society remains undiminished, continuing a centuries-old tradition of veteran care.
FAQs
Is the Royal Hospital Chelsea accessible?Yes, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is fully accessible. If you need further access information or help please do get in touch tours@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk or call 0207 881 5200.
Bikes (including folding bikes) and scooters are not permitted. There are bike racks located along Royal Hospital Road. These can be used to secure any bikes and scooters.
Please do not secure any bikes or scooters to the railings outside the Royal Hospital Chelsea or Burton Court. Any items secure to these railings will be removed.
Online booking is available 24/7 on this website.
You can book by phone on 0131 226 0014 from Monday – Friday 10 – 6pm from 10 July but will need to make payment at the time. We cannot reserve tickets.
You can book in person at the National Army Museum from Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29th if there is still availability at that time, which we cannot guarantee.
Please see the full terms & conditions on the booking platform when you book tickets.
The booking fee is £2.00 and this applies online, on the telephone and in person.
All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, with the exception of cancelled events which we will refund within 28 days. The organising venue reserves the right to change event speakers and content may be subject to change. Refunds will not be issued if the event is still taking place.
There are no concessions for Chelsea History Festival tickets, which have been priced as reasonably as possible. People requiring a carer, support worker or personal assistant will get a complimentary carer ticket. To book this please contact our box office on 0131 226 0014.
Proof of concession is required for these tickets so please be prepared to show relevant ID.
Please adhere to the age range specified for events on the listings page and if appropriate please book a ticket for your child. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult approved by the parent/guardian. The event organiser cannot be responsible for unsupervised children.
Walks will continue in wet conditions, so please dress appropriately.
Please adhere to the age range specified for events on the listings page and if appropriate please book a ticket for your child. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult approved by the parent/guardian. This person can accompany a maximum of four children per event. Where permitted, any child over the age of two needs their own seat for events.
The event organiser cannot be responsible for unsupervised children.
What’s on
Check out more events at this venue
A History of Healing: Chelsea Heritage Quarter Short Course
- 16 November 2026, 10.00am
- Chelsea Physic Garden
- £120.00
Join us at Chelsea Heritage Quarter for our short course exploring the history of healing and medicine through the collections of our partner heritage sites.
More info