Famous Monuments in London: Statues, Memorials & Landmarks
London has statues, war memorials, fountains and historic landmarks in many of its main sightseeing areas, especially around Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the City and the River Thames.
I always enjoy seeking these out while exploring London, especially early in the morning before the crowds arrive. Many have interesting backstories and are in some of the city’s most visited locations.
Famous Monuments in London
The Cenotaph War Memorial
The Cenotaph is in Whitehall, a short walk away from the Houses of Parliament. It is famous for being the focal point of the Remembrance Sunday memorial service. It is a war memorial created by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was unveiled in 1920 as the United Kingdom’s national memorial to the dead of Britain and the British Empire of the First World War. It was subsequently rededicated in 1946 to include those of the Second World War. Since then, the Cenotaph has come to represent the Commonwealth casualties from those and subsequent conflicts. View on Map
The Victoria Memorial on The Mall
One of the most eye-catching monuments near Buckingham Palace is the Victoria Memorial. You can see this all the way down The Mall, and the gold features certainly catch the light.
The Victoria Memorial is a monument to Queen Victoria. Sculptor Sir Thomas Brock designed it in 1901, and it was unveiled in 1911; however, it wasn’t complete until 1924. Its central pylon is made of Pentelic marble, and the individual statues are of Lasa marble and gilt bronze. View on Map
Nelson’s Column
Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It was built between 1840 and 1843 with Dartmoor granite.
The column includes Nelson at the top and four bronze lions around its base. The lions were added in 1867 and represent Lord Nelson’s heroism. View on Map
The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens
The Albert Memorial is to the north of the Albert Hall in Kensington Gardens. Queen Victoria commissioned the Albert Memorial after Prince Albert’s death, and it was unveiled in 1872. It’s a spectacular monument facing the Royal Albert Hall. View on Map
Monument to the Great Fire of London
One of the most epic monuments is the Monument to the Great Fire of London near the Monument tube station. This was built between 1671 and 1677. It was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London and celebrate the city’s rebuilding afterwards. For those who enjoy views, you can pay to enter and climb to the top for special views of the city. View on Map
Monuments Around Westminster and Trafalgar Square
Women of World War II
The Women of World War II monument is on Whitehall, near the Cenotaph. It commemorates the work done by nearly seven million women during the Second World War. The bronze memorial was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 and features different uniforms and work clothes, representing the many roles women carried out during the war. View on map.
Boadicea and Her Daughters
Boadicea and Her Daughters is a feature on Westminster Bridge. This bronze sculptural group represents Boudicea, queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe, who led an uprising in Roman Britain. This statue was unveiled in 1902.
Battle of Britain Monument
The Battle of Britain Monument is on the Victoria Embankment overlooking the river and commemorates those who took part in the Battle of Britain. It’s directly opposite the London Eye and a nice place for a walk. It is 25 metres wide and made from bronze and granite. View on Map
Royal Air Force Memorial
Along the River Thames at the Victoria Embankment is the Royal Air Force Memorial. This is dedicated to the casualties of the Royal Air Force during World War I and subsequent conflicts. The statue dates from 1923, when it was unveiled. The golden eagle on top certainly caught my eye.
The Burghers of Calais
The Burghers of Calais are in Victoria Tower Gardens South. It was completed in 1889 and, interestingly, 12 casts were made. This commemorates when Calais, a French port on the English Channel, surrendered to the English after an eleven-month siege during the Hundred Years’ War. View on Map
Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square
A prominent statue in Parliament Square is of Nelson Mandela. It is pretty new and was unveiled in the square in 2007 in the presence of Mandela and his wife. View on Map
Abraham Lincoln
Another one in Parliament Square is the 3.7-metre-tall bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the USA. This is a cast of the original, which is in Central Park in New York. View on Map
Oliver Cromwell Statue at the Houses of Parliament
Just outside the Houses of Parliament is the impressive statue of Oliver Cromwell. Oliver Cromwell is a controversial figure who was Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland between 1653 and 1658. It dates from 1899 and is a Grade II listed building. It is made from Portland stone and bronze. View on Map
Trafalgar Square Fountains
Trafalgar Square has two fountains, which add to the beauty of the place. The fountains are actually memorials to Lord Jellicoe and Beatty. I find it a pleasant place to visit early in the morning and to watch the fountains before the crowds arrive. View on Map
Charles James Napier
Another statue in Trafalgar Square is of Charles James Napier, a military leader and Commander-in-Chief in India. The bronze piece is impressive: 3.7 metres tall and in the square since 1856. Since 1970, it has been a Grade II listed building. View on Map
The Fourth Plinth
The fourth plinth in the square is in the northwest corner. Originally, this plinth was intended to hold an equestrian statue of William IV. However, the plinth remained empty because of insufficient funds for more than 150 years, until it was decided to use it as a home for temporary artworks. Since then, the 4th plinth has hosted some interesting statues, including Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle (2010-2012). View on Map
Monuments Around Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Green Park
Duke of York Monument
Overlooking The Mall near Buckingham Palace is the Duke of York Column. This monument commemorates Prince Frederick, Duke of York, the 2nd son of King George III. You can find it at Waterloo Place and Gardens.
They completed the column part in 1832 and subsequently added the Duke of York in 1834. It is 42 metres tall, and it was built in the Tuscan style. The Duke of York Monument weighs 16,840 pounds, and it was built using granite sourced in Aberdeenshire. View on Map
Royal Artillery Boer War Memorial
On the Mall near St James’s Park is the Royal Artillery Boer War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1910. It commemorates Royal Artillery soldiers who died in the Second Boer War. The main feature is a life-size bronze horse. This horse is being calmed down by a winged personification of Peace. View on Map
Bomber Command Memorial
The Bomber Command Memorial is on the edge of Green Park. It’s quite new; it was unveiled in 2012 and commemorates the crews of RAF Bomber Command who embarked on missions during the Second World War. This features a 2.7 m tall sculpture of seven aircrew under a stone cover with impressive columns. View on Map
Guards Crimean War Memorial
The Guards’ Crimean War Memorial is at St James’s Place near Pall Mall. This memorial commemorates the Allied victory in the Crimean War that took place between 1853 and 1856. They unveiled in 1861. It features three Guardsmen and an allegorical figure of Honour. View on Map
City of London and Tower Bridge Monuments
The Anne Boleyn Execution Site
A fascinating place to visit in the courtyard of the Tower of London is the site where Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was executed. There is a monument which marks the spot where Queen Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536. They buried her nearby in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, which overlooks the execution site. View on Map
Temple Bar Memorial
Temple Bar Memorial is the ceremonial entrance to the city of London on the famous ceremonial route from the Tower of London to the Palace of Westminster. It’s near the Royal Courts of Justice on Fleet Street, near the Strand. It used to be a gateway, which was moved near St Paul’s Cathedral. However, the current version includes statues of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. The site has had a bar/gate since 1293. View on Map
Girl with a Dolphin
The Girl with a Dolphin statue offers great views of Tower Bridge. It is part of a fountain which was created in 1973. View on Map
St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain
Near St Paul’s Cathedral is the St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain. It’s a bronze, Gothic-looking structure featuring St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene. It dates from 1866 and was originally housed outside the Church of St Laurence before being moved here. View on Map
Monuments Around Kensington, Hyde Park and Chelsea
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a large structure just outside Hyde Park. It sits in the northeast corner, near Oxford Street and Edgware Road. Marble Arch is a 19th-century white marble triumphal arch. Its three-arch design is based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. View on Map
Statue of Charles II at Royal Hospital Chelsea
To honour the founder of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, King Charles II, they created a statue of him. They created it between 1680 and 1682. It depicts Charles in the attire of a Roman emperor. It was made of brass; however, it was originally gilded in bronze. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, it was re-gilded. View on Map
Great Exhibition Memorial
At the rear of the Royal Albert Hall, you can find the Great Exhibition Memorial. It commemorates the Great Exhibition held in Hyde Park in 1851 and features Albert, Prince Consort. View on Map
Other London Memorials and Statues
Cádiz Memorial
In Horse Guards Parade is the eye-catching Cádiz Memorial, nicknamed ‘the Prince Regent’s Bomb’. It features a 19th-century French mortar on top of a monster, which looks pretty cool. This one dates from 1816 and was created to commemorate the Siege of Cadiz in Spain. View on Map
The Dockers Statue
The Dockers Statue is in the Royal Docks, near ExCeL London. It is a memorial to the people who worked in the docks before larger ships led to their decline. View on Map
Little Ben Clock
Near Westminster Cathedral is the Little Ben Clock, a stone’s throw from the Victoria coach and railway stations. This cast-iron replica of the Houses of Parliament’s clock tower was built in 1892. View on Map