What Is the Wellington Arch?
This is one of London’s most iconic monuments, featuring the largest bronze sculpture in Europe!
What Makes It Historical?
Despite getting beaten in both the Wars of American Independence and 1812, England was in high spirits after defeating Napoleon at Waterloo on June 18, 1815 and decided it needed to spruce up its capital! In the same period of building that saw the rise of the British Museum, the Office of Works envisioned a gateway at Hyde Park Corner, through which processions could pass between the park and Buckingham Palace! The arch’s design fell to Decimus Burton in 1824, first as a humble Green Park Arch, then, when it became clear this would be a gateway to Buckingham Palace, it grew into a more triumphal arch! That arch grew into a recognizable shape, but because Palace construction was already over budget, it was left incomplete in 1828!
In the following decade, the matter of the incomplete arch was picked up again by the Wellington Memorial Committee, which commissioned Matthew Cotes Wyatt to create an enormous equestrian statue of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and victor of Waterloo! How enormous? When installed atop the arch, it was the largest equestrian statue ever created, so large that it made the arch it was standing on look small! It was widely derided. The Queen wanted it taken down. The Duke of Wellington, however, still being very active in the government, threatened to resign his posts if it were removed! So the statue remained atop the arch for almost 40 years!
In 1883, it was decided that the arch had to move to fix the flow of traffic. The statue came down and, conveniently, was not put back up when the arch was reinstalled! It was sent to Aldershot. Meanwhle, even though the arch kept the Wellington name, the equestrian statue was replaced by even more horses—a quadriga—in January of 1912! This statue by Adrian Jones, called Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War, was originally considered in 1891 and took 21 years to fund, sculpt, and install!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of English Heritage!
- Donate to English Heritage!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Apsley Way
Hyde Park Corner
London W1J 7JZ
United Kingdom
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
You can go inside the arch between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Wednesday to Sunday!