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Wellington Arch

The Arch was designed in the 1820s by Decimus Burton as a Roman-style triumphal arch to commemorate victory in the Napoleonic Wars; although money ran out before it was completed. Adrian Jones' chariot statue on the top, "Peace descending on the Quadriga of War", was added in 1912. The original equestrian statue, added in 1846, was widely disliked and now stands in Aldershot. The arch is now owned by English Heritage and is open to the public: it contains exhibits about the arch and English history, while the view from the top is quite impressive.

history

Address: Apsley Way, Hyde Park Corner, W1J 7JZ
Getting there: tube:; in the centre of the Hyde Park Corner roundabout
Hours: Interior access daily: Apr–Sep 10AM–6PM; Oct 10AM–5PM; Nov–Mar 10AM–4PM
Price: £4.20 adult, £3.80 concessions, £2.50 child
Website: english-heritage.org.uk (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: London/Westminster, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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SeeMayfair-Marylebone
Wellington Arch
A neoclassical triumphal arch, designed by Decimus Burton and first erected in 1826 as a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace. In 1846, a massive equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington was placed on top of the arch. a major road widening of Piccadilly in 1882 was the opportunity to finally remove the oversized statue to Aldershot. The present magnificent statue, Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War, was placed on top of the Arch in 1912, and remains the largest bronze sculpture in the United Kingdom, spectacularly lit at night. During the 1950s, the arch served as the smallest police station in the city, when it was occupied by ten constables, two sergeants and a cat! The arch was opened to the public for the first time in 2001 after a £1.5 million restoration by English Heritage. Wellington Arch is also available for corporate and private events, with dramatic views down Constitution Hill and across central London from the Arch's spacious balconies.
Interior access daily: Apr–Sep 10AM–6PM; Oct 10AM–5PM; Nov–Mar 10AM-4PM£4.20 adult, £3.80 concessions, £2.50 child
SeeWestminster
New Zealand Memorial
Sixteen cruciform bronze pillars designed by Paul Dibble and John Hardwick-Smith.
SeeMayfair-Marylebone
Apsley House
The Wellington Museum
The London residence of the Dukes of Wellington, which now acts as a museum for the inaugural and most famous holder of the title. It boasts an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, medals and swords. Perhaps the most bizarre item in Wellington's collection is a nude statue of Napoleon Bonaparte, commissioned by the emperor himself and bought by the British government following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo as a gift for the duke.
Wed-Sun 11AM-5PMAdult £11.30, child £6.80, concession £10.20
EatMayfair-Marylebone
Hard Rock Cafe
The original cafe that spawned a global franchise, established in 1971. The food and drinks - burgers, fries and cocktails - are certainly overpriced, but the real stars are the memorabilia items: Elvis Presley's coat, John Lennon's glasses, an antique chair owned by Freddie Mercury, and more famous guitars than Guns 'n' Roses has had members.
Daily noon-10PM / 11PM SatMains £15-£30. Access to the Vault (memorabilia museum) free, with no requirement to purchase food