The TALKING STATUES in London - What are they? And where you can find them?
Small part of the Broad Family statue by XAVIER CORBERÓ near London Liverpool Street Station, one of the Talking Statues in London (2022). Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
There are over 1500 statues in London (and counting!).
Imagine if they could talk.
Well, around 30 of them actually do!
What if I can tell you that they also have a sense of humor and can operate a... smartphone. Well, almost.
Let me introduce you to Talking Statues in London.
Quick preview of the content of this post
What are the Talking Statues in London?
The EYE-I statue near Liverpool Street Station (2022). Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
The Talking Statues is an art scheme that aims to bring life to the old monuments when using new technology.
The idea did not originate in London.
It was invented in Copenhagen by David Peter Fox but it has been widely implemented in the UK capital and other cities like Leeds, Manchester, Dublin, Rome, Berlin or New York.
2. So, how does it work?
The plinth of the Queen Victoria statue near Blackfriars Station (2022). Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
There are two ways to hear from the Talking Statues.
One way is to download the 'Talking Statues' application.
The app will track your location, and if you get close enough to the statue, you will receive a phone call from it*.
* this service uses the mobile data
The second way is to swipe your phone on the special plaque located near the particular monument (usually on the plinth or on the floor nearby).
If you swipe your smartphone over the tag, you will also receive a phone call.
Then you just need to answer it, and here you go, you are connected to the history!
3. "Hello, and meow..." So, WHO is on the line?
Hodge the Cat statue in London (2022). Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
The list of available callers includes a young plumber, Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan, and even Queen Victoria. Just to mention a few.
You might also be surprised how talkative the sculpture of the boat* could be.
*The Boat Talking Statue near London Bridge. You can find its location in the end of this post
But the real treat (equally entertaining for kids and adults) is a phone call from the animal stone figures.
The Leaping Hare on Crescent Bell statue near Liverpool Street Station (2022). Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
Two cats, a goat, and a (leaping) hare can't wait to talk to you*.
*You can find the locations of those statues at the end of this post
They all are available 24/7 for a quick chat over the phone with any passerby keen to answer the unusual phone call.
4. Who is REALLY talking to you over the phone?
If you decide to visit the Talking Statues in London (and if you answer the phone when they call you!), you might be surprised to hear familiar voices.
Among the well-known personalities helping to animate old stones figures in London are Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow, Stephen Mangan, Damian Lewis, Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Dennis, Prunella Scales, Sara Pascoe, and (my personal favorite) Maisie Williams.
5. Where can you find Talking Statues in London?
Photography: Zuzanna/WalkMeBlog
Currently, 30 Talking Statues in London are waiting for your visit.
These unique sculptures are spread all over the capital.
London Bridge, Hyde Park, and The City of London seem to be the areas in London where the stone figures tend to talk the most.
Below you can find a complete list of London Talking Statues (with their locations)*.
*To fully enjoy the phone calls from the sculptures, make sure that you have on you a phone with the data available on it. And the headphones as the streets near the Talking Statues can be busy with people and cars. It’s London after all!
Talking Statues depicting the Queen
Talking Statues depicting animals
Statue of the Leaping Hare by Barry Flanagan (near Liverpool Street): animated by Ken Bruce, written by Ann Wickham, link to the location
Statue of Hodge the Cat by Jon Bickley (near Fleet Street): animated by Nicholas Parsons, written by Catherine Hiller, link to the location
Statue of the Goat by Kenny Hunter (steps away from Liverpool Station): animated by Hugh Dennis, written by Hugh Dennis, link to the location
Statue of Dick Whittington’s Cat (at Highgate Hill): animated by Helen Lederer, written by Helen Lederer, link to the location
Taking Statues in the City of London
Already mentioned earlier the statues of Queen Victoria (near Blackfriars Bridge), Leaping Hare, Hodge the Cat and the Goat.
Statue of John Wilkes steps away from St Paul’s Cathedral: animated by Jeremy Paxman, written by Jeremy Paxman, link to the location
Statue of Rowland Hill steps away from St Paul’s Cathedral: animated by Alan Johnson, written by Colette Hiller, link to the location
Statue of the Plumber’s Apprentice at Cannon Street Station: animated by Dan Martins, written by Sing London, link to the location
The Broad Family statue by Xavier Corbero (steps away from Liverpool Station): written and animated by Clive Anderson, link to the location
EYE-I by Bruce McLean statue (steps away from Liverpool Station): animated and written by Sara Pascoe, link to the location
Taking Statues in and near Hyde Park
Already mentioned earlier statue of Queen Victoria near Kensington Palace
Statue of Peter Pan by Sir George Frampton (Hyde Park): animated by Daniel Roche, written by Ella Hickson, link to the location
Statue of Asclepius at Guy’s Hospital near London Bridge: animated by Dave Spikey, written by Dave Spikey, link to the location
Statue of Isis Simon Gudgeon (Hyde Park): animated by Joely Richardson, written by Carrie Briffett, link to the location
Statue of Achilles by Sir Richard Westmacott (Hyde Park): animated by Dominic West, written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, link to the location
Taking Statues near London Bridge
Statue of Thomas Guy by Peter Sheemakers (Guy’s Hospital): animated by Stephen Mangan, written by Kaja Knudson, link to the location
Statue of John Keats near the Guy’s Hospital: animated by Carl Stone, written by Tom Jordan, link to the location
Statue of the Boat by Daniel Silver (near London Bridge): animated by Ellen MacArthur, written by Elizabeth Dearnley, link to the location
Taking Statues in Canary Wharf
Two Man on a Bench statue by Giles Penny (Canary Wharf): animated by Adrian Lester, written by Lolita Chakrabarti, link to the location
Couple on Seat statue by Lynn Chadwick (in Canary Wharf): animated by Sanjeev Bhaskar Meera Syal, written by Nikesh Shukla, link to the location
Other Talking Statues in London
Statue of Sherlock Holmes by John Doubleday (outside Baker Station): animated by Ed Stoppard, written by Anthony Horowitz, link to the location
Statue of William Shakespeare at The British Library: animated by Ed Wiles, written by Simon Callow, link to the location
Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Paddington Station: animated by Hugh Bonneville, written by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, link to the location
Statue of Isaac Newton by Eduardo Paolozzi (near King’s Cross St. Pancras): animated by Simon Russell Beale, written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, link to the location
Statue of George Orwell by Martin Jennings (at the BBC Broadcasting House near Cavendish Square): animated by Damian Lewis, written by Robert Seatter, link to the location
Statue of Thomas Coram by William Macmillan (not far from Russell Square Station): animated by Simon Callow, written by Kiran Benawra, link to the location
Statue of Hugh Myddleton near the Angel Station: animated by Johnny Sweet, written by Tom Basden, link to the location
Statue of the Unknown Soldier by Charles Sargeant Jagger (at Paddington Station, Platform 1): animated by Patrick Stewart, written by Tony Harrison, link to the location
Statue of Ariel&Prospero near Cavendish Square: animated by Mathew Horne, written by Robert Seatter, link to the location
And the last word…
Well done to you for reading a complete list of Talking Statues in London!
So what do you think?
Would you answer your phone if Queen Victoria was on the line?
To read more interesting tips on sightseein in London, check out my blog.
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