Free London War Memorials Walking Tour (With Map)
Text & photography by Anna Kmiecik, private tour guide in London. Polish version of this guide is also available.
London is home to many war memorials, commemorating various conflicts.
In this post, I invite you to take a short walk around nine of my favorite ones.
MAP of this walking tour
Distance to cover: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
Enjoy the read and the walk!
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War Memorials in London
Animals In War Memorial
I would like to start this London war memorials walking tour at a monument that is often overlooked by many due to its somewhat hidden location – the Animals in War Memorial.
Located on Park Lane, near Hyde Park, with Marble Arch being the closest tube station, the Animals in War Memorial is a moving tribute to the millions of animals that have served, suffered, and died in various wars.
The memorial features a bronze sculptures of mules, a horse and a dog.
It was unveiled to the public in November 2004, on the 90th anniversary of the start of World War I.
What is interesting about this monument is that it was not funded by the government but by the public donors.
2. Royal Artillery Memorial
The green space surrounding the Wellington Arch, located between Hyde Park and Green Park, is one of the best places in London to witness Remembrance Day celebrations on the 11th of November.
The absolute best place would be Whitehall.
It is also home to various memorials, including the Royal Artillery Memorial, which is usually the focus of the celebrations on the 11th of November at this location.
The Royal Artillery Memorial commemorates soldiers killed in the First World War.
3. Bomber Command Memorial
Not to far from The Royal Artillery Memorial you can find The Bomber Command Memorial.
It is a prominent memorial dedicated to the members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command who served and lost their lives during World War II.
The memorial features a large bronze sculpture of seven aircrew, representing the diversity of the individuals who served in Bomber Command.
The sculpture stands on a high plinth.
A place of reflection and remembrance.
4. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial
Next point on this walking tour is the beautiful monument to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Many people may not consider this memorial strictly as a war memorial. However, it does feature important moments from the lives of parents of late Queen Elizabeth II, including scenes from WWII when they bravely remained in London during the Blitz alongside the people to suffer the consequences of German bombing.
In other words to boost Londoner's morale.
This fact was celebrated in 1941 with a patriotic song The King is still in London.
The monument shows King George VI in his naval uniform, while the Queen Mother's sculpture portrays her at the age of 51, the age at which she became a widow after her husband's passing in 1952.
5. Guards Memorial
The Guards Memorial is a war memorial located in St James’s Park, opposite Horse Guards Parade.
It commemorates the guards who died during the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts.
6. Royal Tank Regiment Memorial
The Royal Tank Regiment Memorial is another war memorial in Westminster, located off the typical tourist paths.
It features a larger-than-life statue of a WWII tank crew, standing in line and looking to their left.
This well-crafted monument is definitely worth a visit.
7. The Battle of Britain Monument
The Battle of Britain Monument is a beautiful memorial dedicated to the brave individuals who fought in the Battle of Britain during World War II.
The monument features a group of bronze statues representing various scenes from this important battle, including airmen running towards their planes.
It is located on the Victoria Embankment, near the River Thames, opposite the London Eye.
8. The Women of World War II
The Women of World War II Memorial is a moving tribute to the women who contributed to the war effort during World War II.
It can be found on Whitehall, near the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street.
The central element of the sculpture is a group of uniforms that represent the various roles and services that women undertook during the war.
After the conflict ended (and men returned to their jobs), women were expected to quietly hang up their uniforms and return to more domestic roles.
This is what this monument represents.
9. The Cenotaph
And last but not least, the Cenotaph. The simplest of them all, yet perhaps it speaks volumes in its simplicity.
It is an empty grave, symbolizing the graves of all the fallen soldiers whose bodies never made it back home. Erected after WWI, it is now the centre of London’s celebrations on Remembrance Day, commemorating all the soldiers who died in all conflicts Great Britain took part in.
These are the nine war monuments in London that I wanted to showcase in this walking tour.
I hope you enjoyed this post.
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+44 7742098448
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