Location: London
Top Things to do in London
Top 10 Monuments & Statues in London, England
The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
Restaurants in London
1. Albert Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
This gigantic bejeweled shrine protects the gilt bronze sculpture of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, which was designed and executed after the Prince Consort's death in 1861.
Reviewed By lpMaggi713 - Baltimore, United States
The love that Queen Victoria had for Prince Albert was enormous, as evidenced by the large memorial she commissioned in his memory. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha died of typhoid in 1861 at the age of 42. The Albert Memorial sits across from the Royal Albert Hall. It is in Kensington Gardens, which is one of London’s most famous gardens. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic revival style and was completed in 1876, fifteen years after Prince Albert died. It was refurbished between 1994 and 1998 and the Prince Albert statue was re-gilded. The closest Tube stations are High Street Kensington or South Kensington.
2. Cenotaph
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 225 reviews
Reviewed By 968nicholash - London, United Kingdom
Built originally as a temporary structure for a peace parade following the end of WWI, the current monument which replaced it was unveiled on 11 November 1920 to be the focus of the nation’s grieving for those killed in combat then and ever since. It was designed by celebrated architect, Edward Lutyens. This is the UK’s official national war memorial, where a parade and celebration of those who have given their lives is held on 11 November every year. The power is in its simplicity. Very difficult not to get emotional when you visit it.
3. The Monument to the Great Fire of London
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,257 reviews
A permanent reminder of the Great Fire of 1666, the Monument commemorates one of the most famous events in London's history. Standing regally on the piazza between Fish Street Hill and Monument Street, the 202ft column designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, celebrates the City which rose from the ashes. The Monument invites you to climb its 311 spiral steps and enjoy one of the best views over the City.
Reviewed By LeahT352 - Roslyn, United States
I’m London born and bred, having visited most of the important London landmarks as a child but had never climbed Monument. Today I did with my children and I’m so glad to have done so! There’s a teeny, tiny ticket office at the base with a very small unsecured (leave your valuables at home or stick them in your pockets as you’re not able to take bags up) area for backpacks/bags. Then it’s onwards and upwards of 311 steps to the top. The steps are shallow and even, easy to climb. If you need to take a breather en route to the summit, there are window recesses at intervals. The stairs get narrower the higher you go, making it slightly tricky when people coming down pass by. The view from the viewing platform is your reward for the climb and it’s well worth the effort, esp as the day we visited afforded us clear blue skies. I loved it! Oh, you get a certificate on your way out to say you made it to the top of Monument!
4. Australian War Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By therichastill - Stevenage, United Kingdom
The Australian War Memorial is located on the huge roundabout at Hyde Park Corner alongside Wellington Arch and the New Zealand War Memorial. I would definitely recommend checking out as an act of remembrance for those who gave their lives in the great war.
5. Animals in War Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By paullegate - St Ives, United Kingdom
The Animals in War Memorial is situated between two carriageways along Park Lane. The memorial commemorates all the animals that died while serving under British military control throughout history. The endearing sculpture was designed by David Backhouse and unveiled by Anne, Princess Royal in 2004. The memorial is worth exploring even though it is slightly inaccessible, it is adjacent to Hyde Park and is a short walk from Marble Arch.
6. Queen Victoria Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 469 reviews
Reviewed By BigHugh51 - Adelaide, Australia
While staying in London once again, we had been to Buckingham Palace on a Saturday to view the Changing of the Guard ceremony. When we arrived at the area directly in front of the palace, it was already crowded with people. Fortunately, we were able to snare an unobstructed position on the footpath from where we were able to view the guardsmen marching by. We were standing almost opposite the grand Queen Victoria Memorial. However, at the time of the ceremony, the steps and plaza area of the memorial were covered with people. Consequently, it was difficult to view the finer points of the magnificent memorial. Once the ceremony was over, many people remained in the vicinity and as a result, it was still difficult to gain an uncluttered view of the memorial. Rather than wasting our time waiting for the crowd to clear, we went off to do other things and returned later in the day to get a better view of it. Fortunately, when we returned later in the afternoon, there were only a few people around. This provided us with the opportunity to have a good walk around the memorial taking in the intricacies of the multitude of finally decorated statues. We were also able to view the extensive water feature situated around the memorial. Of course the focal point of the memorial is the fine portrayal of Queen Victoria seated on her throne. The Queen Victoria Memorial is a “must-visit” location for any tourist spending time in London!
7. Bomber Command Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,755 reviews
The RAF Benevolent Fund is proud and privileged to be the custodian of the new Bomber Command Memorial in central London. The memorial has been built to be modern, yet classical, in Portland stone. At its heart are the bronze sculptures of a Bomber Command aircrew. Within the memorial, the space is open to the sky with an opening designed to allow light to fall directly onto sculptures of the aircrew.
Reviewed By The_Loup_Garou - Phoenix, United States
A Different Feeling in the Early Autumn We were in London in September, which is early for our usual visits, but this was not per usual, and not business related. As we were staying in Mayfair, right on Hyde Park, we took a nice long stroll, on a gorgeous weekday, and made the cross to the little section of the Park, where it abuts with Green Park, to visit the monuments again. On a previous visit to the Bomber Command Memorial, it had been grey, dark and cloudy, and the weather leant a very somber mood to the Memorial. In the glorious early Autumn sunshine, it felt different - much different. While still a memorial to the RAF Bomber Command, today it seemed like a glowing tribute to their bravery, rather than just a reminder of the death toll - a very different feeling. For me, this is a must-do, when I am in the Hyde Park/Green Park area, and as it’s but a short walk, easy to get to. I would urge one to give it a good long look, rather than just glance at it, in passing. Study the statues, and read all of the inscriptions. I would give it at least half and hour, but doubt that many do.
8. Battle of Britain Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 133 reviews
The Battle of Britain Monument in London is a superb monument to The Few - commemorating those people who took part in this vital battle of the Second World War.
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Victoria Embankment has the excellent Battle of Britain monument, its large, detailed and a fitting tribute to Sept 1941, go see it and pause for a few seconds.
9. Agatha Christie Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By therichastill - Stevenage, United Kingdom
The memorial to Agatha Christie is located near Leicester Square Tube station. NOT IN DRURY LANE as trip advisor would have you believe. Fortunately a google search pointed me in the right direction. Agatha Christie was a crime writer who wrote many novels. A couple of her most famous characters are Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Both of whom had an uncanny knack of solving murders. Well worth hunting down this memorial if you are in the area and it is close to St Martin's Theatre where Christie's play - The Mousetrap is still being put on.
10. The Meeting Place Statue, St. Pancras Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By 968nicholash - London, United Kingdom
This is very definitely a marmite sculpture; you’ll either love it or hate it. Because the station is so huge and there are no signs to the statue, it’s surprisingly hard to find even though it’s so big at around 9m high. Must people come into the station straight onto the shopping concourse or through the entrance opposite Kings Cross station, while this is a long, long away on the Grand Terrace under the clock. I actually preferred the sculptures on the frieze round the base, which depict many scenes of everyday life and are beautifully cast in bronze. But very worthwhile tracking it down.
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