Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch -Famous Landmark

Wellington Arch London's famous landmark at Hyde Park Corner was recently saved from ruin and returned to its full glory by English Heritage. From viewing platforms beneath the Wellington Arch's magnificent sculpture (Peace descending on the Chariot of War), exceptional views of the surrounding parks and the London skyline can be seen from high above the swirling traffic.

History of Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch is a great place to watch the mounted Horse Guards, which pass between its majestic columns every day. Exhibitions inside tell of Wellington Arch's fascinating history and introduce the statues and memorials of London. Decimus Burton designed Wellington Arch in 1825 as a grand ceremonial entrance to Green Park and Buckingham Palace. Spiralling costs prevented the scheme being realised as envisaged, and when George IV died in 1830, the government intervened and Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner was completed without many of its intended ornamental features.

It was taken over by a Committee organising the national memorial to the Duke of Wellington. In 1846, a disproportionately large equestrian statue of the Duke by Matthew Cotes was erected on top of Wellington Arch without Burton's consent. It remained there until 1882, when a road-widening scheme required the arch to be dismantled and moved to its present site looking down Constitution Hill. This allowed the Duke's statue to be removed to Aldershot, the home of the British Army, where it still remains. Adrian Jones depicting The Angel of Peace descending on the Chariot of War completed the neo-classical arch in 1912 by the addition of the Quadriga, a sculpture. In the 1950's, the monument served as the smallest police station in the city, occupied by ten constables, two sergeants and a cat! This was closed circa 1960, when the setting for Wellington Arch was radically altered by the creation of the Hyde Park Corner roundabout.

From Victoria Station if you take a bus to central London you will pass Wellington Arch.
For more inforamtion visit www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Georgian House Hotel is ideally situated in a very central location, so visiting sights all over London is quick and easy. Why not book Georgian House Hotel when you plan to see the Wellington Arch? You can book online or email to make a reservation on reception@georgianhousehotel.co.uk, or telephone on 0044(0)207 834 1438