Location: Westminster
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What to do and see in Westminster, England: The Best Monuments & Statues
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).
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1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.
4. Guard's Division Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By BigHugh51 - Adelaide, Australia
After viewing the Household Cavalry sentries on Whitehall, we visited the Household Cavalry Museum and then walked out on to Horse Guards parade ground to take in the sights there. Eventually the time came for us to depart and after walking across the parade ground in the direction of St. James’s Park, we came to the Guards Division Memorial on Horse Guards Road. We had viewed this large and significant war memorial during previous stays in London and have always found it to be a touching memorial. The memorial pays tribute to those members of the Guards divisions who have been killed in action, since 1918. Each of the foot guards’ regiments are represented by a bronze sculpture of a soldier, on the side of the memorial which faces Horse Guards Parade. After spending a few moments paying our respects to the fallen at the memorial, it was time for us to move on. We did so, happy in the knowledge that we had taken a little time again, to pause at the memorial to remember those who had fallen in the defence of their nation.
5. Royal Air Force Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Victoria embankment opposite to the London Eye, you can discover the Royal Air Force memorial, per ardua as astra, a few minutes to admire the golden eagle.
6. William Tyndale Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By futtock21 - London, United Kingdom
This statue embodying at 125% life size embodying and commemorating William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English and was burnt at the stake in Antwerp in 1535 is one of three Victorian statues within Whitehall Gardens adjacent to the Embankment. It is sculpted in bronze; is the work of Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm (German for tree) and unveiled in 1884. The martyr’s features are based upon a painting of him in Hertford College Oxford.
7. Charles George Gordon Statue
8. Abraham Lincoln Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By misopiso88 - Seattle, United States
Parliament Square is home to twelve statues of British, Commonwealth and foreign political figures and Abraham Lincoln is among the twelve. It is so amazing to see his likeness alongside Gandhi, Mandela and Churchill. Highly recommend if you are nearby.
9. Chindit Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By MedEngland
Sited parallel to the River Thames, the Chindit Memorial commemorates the special Force recruited in World War Two under the command of Major General Orde Wingate. The simple column is capped with the image of a "Chinthe", the legendary beast who is regarded as the "Guardian of Burmese Temples". Set in very nice Gardens close to Westminster Bridge.
10. Fleet Air Arm Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Taxidevil - Glasgow, United Kingdom
There are many military statues and memorials in this area of the Victoria Embankment, the memorial to Fleet Air Arm is very poignant and commemorates the sacrifice of the men and women of the Royal Navy Air Service and fleet Air Arm It is a fitting memorial; a bronze figure dressed as an airman stands atop a tall stone column, wings are attached to his outstretched arms like an angel. I have read that the statue is meant to depict Daedalus, of the Greek of myth, who built wings for his son Icarus who flew to close to the sun, his wings melted and he fell to his death. I initially thought that Icarus would have been a more fitting name for the memorial but then considering this further Daedalus survived to mourn his son as those left behind mourn the brave of the Fleet Air Arm.
