London Tour: London in a Day, part 4 – Monuments and Statues

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Author’s photo

London in a Day, part 4 – Monuments and Statues

London might not have the same kind of monuments as, say, Paris, with its Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe.

But London has its share of interesting monuments and many statues: about 1,100 total. Let’s begin with the big ones, using our ranking system:

• A: must see if you have only one day in the area
• B: valuable to see, but might require a second day
• C: interesting, if you have more time

To start:

The Big Ones

• A: Houses of Parliament / Big Ben (several hours)

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, from across the River Thames. Author’s photo

You’ll see the Parliament building when you visit Westminster Abbey or anywhere on the South Bank (from the London Eye). It’s not always open to tourists, but I’d advise booking ahead if you want to see it. I enjoyed it and did research there for my article on Guy Fawkes, and its relationship to The King’s Speech.

During the tour of Parliament, you’ll see the House of Lords and the House of Commons, as well as Westminster Hall, which I described previously.

Immediately next door to the Parliament building is the signature monument of London if not all of Britain. It is the world’s most famous clock tower. Ringing since 1859, people call it Big Ben.

But:

• Big Ben is not the name of the tower. It was originally known as the Clock Tower but was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012.

• Big Ben is not the name of the clock, it’s the Great Clock of Westminster.

• Instead, Big Ben is the name of the 13.5-ton Great Bell, which sounds E-natural when rung.

By the way, you will not be blamed for calling the tower “Big Ben.” Everyone does.

Big Ben Tower. Author’s photo

You can take a tour of the belfry that houses the Great Clock and the Big Ben bell, though they sell out quickly. It’s a 334-step climb up a spiral stairwell. More info here.

• A: London Eye (30 minutes, plus queue)

London Eye. Author’s photo

It takes 30 minutes to make the circuit in an air-conditioned glass tube.

Your “ride” on the London Eye. Author’s photo

It’s all about what you can see from inside it.

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben seen from the London Eye. Photo credit: Chad DeKam

Similar to the Eiffel Tower, you can see everything in the immediate vicinity. Expect long lines or book ahead.

London Statues

You can see several notable statues and columns by visiting:

• A: Trafalgar Square (less than an hour)

Trafalgar Square, 360 panorama, London. Image: Wikipedia

In the center of London is a giant square with many monuments, and it is part of what was called the Charing Cross area of London. Charing Cross was considered the “centre of London,” and distances were measured from there. Charing is from an Old English word cierring, a river bend (in the Thames). The cross was the “Eleanor Cross,” made to commemorate Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I, in the late 13th century.

Designed by John Nash, the square was opened in 1844. It commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the naval victory off the coast of Cape Trafalgar in southwest Spain that the British navy achieved in the Napoleonic wars over France and Spain on October 212, 1805. There are four “plinths,” one of which was kept empty but has since 1999 hosted contemporary art.

The fountains are lovely, and it is tempting to dip one’s toes on a hot summer day. I am not saying I did.

It serves as a meeting place for contemporary political demonstrations. On Victory in Europe (VE) Day in 1945, thousands gathered there to celebrate.

Thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square, London 1945, to mark VE Day. Image: Flashbak

This is also the location of the Christmas tree (either spruce or fir) donated by Norway since 1947 as a token of gratitude for Britain’s support during World War II and displayed for twelve days before and after Christmas.

Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Image: Wikipedia

• Nelson’s Column was added in 1843, paying tribute to the admiral who lost his life during this battle.

Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square. Image: Wikipedia

• Four famous Bronze Lions were added in 1867.

Four Lions, Trafalgar Square. Image: Wikipedia

• B: Cleopatra’s Needle – Trafalgar Square

Cleopatra’s Needle by the Thames, near Trafalgar Square. Image: Wikipedia

There are a pair of ancient Egyptian obelisks, one in Central Park, New York City, outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the other in London’s Victoria Embankment along the River Thames. They were made in Heliopolis (near Cairo), Egypt, between 2,000 and 2,500 years ago and stood in Alexandria for almost two millennia, long before Cleopatra lived. This one was delivered to the UK in 1877.

• A: Statue of Eros – Piccadilly Circus

Statue of Anteros, Piccadilly Circus, London. Image: Wikipedia

People will tell you that you must see the “Statue of Eros” at Piccadilly Circus, but it’s actually a statue of the Greek god Eros‘ brother Anteros, the “god of selfless love.” It’s officially called the “Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain,” commissioned to represent the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury‘s philanthropic spirit.

When you hear people say, “Meet me in Piccadilly,” this is usually where they mean.

• B: Queen Victoria Memorial – Buckingham Palace

Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Palace, London. Author’s photo

In the circle immediately in front of Buckingham Palace at the end of “The Mall” is the Victoria Memorial. Completed in 1924, it’s 2535 tons. Atop it is a gilded bronze statue of “Winged Victory” standing on a globe. Below are smaller statues of Constancy, Courage, Motherhood, Justice, and Truth.

• B: Queen Victoria Statue – Kensington Palace

Princess Louise’s statue of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace, London. Image: Wikipedia

A 45-minute walk from Buckingham Palace brings you to Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria was born. Before the palace stands a statue of her, sculpted by her fourth daughter, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, erected in 1893. Victoria spent most of her life in Kensington Palace until she took the throne in 1837. Indeed, it was at Kensington Palace that she was informed of her father’s death and that she was now Queen. The white marble statue shows Victoria in her coronation robes at 18.

• B: Queen Boudica and Her Daughters Statue – Westminster

Queen Boudica statue before Big Ben. Author’s photo

At the Westminster Pier, along the River Thames, in front of Big Ben, is a statue of “Boudica and Her Daughters” being pulled in a chariot.  She was the Queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe at the time. In AD 60 or 61, she led the Iceni and Trinovantes in a failed uprising against the vastly superior Roman Empire, which resulted in her death and Britain’s conquest by the Romans. She is now considered a British national heroine and a symbol of the struggle for justice and independence.

You might recognize this view. Perhaps you, like me:

I have the strangest feeling that I’ve seen that… before, a long time ago, when I was very young.” –Mr. Darling, Peter Pan

Walt Disney’s Peter Pan (1953)

• B: Peter Pan Statue – Kensington Gardens

Author with Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, London. Author’s photo

This is the most popular London Monument, commissioned by J.M. Barrie in 1912, based on his fictional character Peter Pan. It is located in Kensington Gardens, and a six-year-old boy’s costume was used as the model for this statue. You’ll come upon this statue as you walk along the Long Water that separates Kensington Gardens from Hyde Park. Peter flew with the children over Kensington Gardens in the JM Barrie book Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. There’s a scene in the Disney movie of fish jumping out of the water, trying to catch Tinkerbell as she flies over.

It was in one of the final scenes of the 1991 Stephen Spielberg film Hook when Peter (Robin Williams) returns from Neverland and Tinkerbell tells him that he can find her in that liminal place:

You know that place between sleep and awake?
That place where you still remember dreaming?
That’s where I’ll always love you… Peter Pan.
That’s where I’ll be waiting. 

Next Article: London Shopping

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com