The British love animals and London is full of statues where our faithful friends play a starring role. Here is where you can find a camel and a bison, a lion chasing a kudu, a lion, a carthorse, two dogs, and a well-loved cat and his oyster...
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South Bank Lion
Originally a logo for a brewery, this lion stood outside a pub that was flattened in the Blitz before moving here to the south side of Westminster Bridge, at the request of the King. Made from a secret process called Coade stone, it is a casting rather than a carving.
Kensington Gardens SW7
Tube: South Kensington
Jacob The Cart Horse
This wonderful life-size dray was lifted into place near the south end of Tower Bridge by helicopter in 1987 to mark the work done in the docks by horses. He is hear the site of the stables of the former Horseleydown Brewery, founded by John Courage in 1787.
Queen Elizabeth Street SE1
Tube: Tower Hill
Albert Memorial
Look for the cow, camel, elephant and bison in the four sculptures at each corner of this Victorian masterpiece, representing the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Africa has a camel instead of a lion because that symbol represents Britain in so much other sculpture.
Kensington Gardens SW7
Tube: South Kensington
Lioness And Kudu
In 1993, Jonathan Kenworthy, famed for his animal sculptures, was asked by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster to create this piece for a lake at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. A second casting was placed here in 2000 to mark the opening of the gardens to the people of Westminster.
Upper Grosvenor Gardens SW1
Tube: Victoria
Sir Robert Grosvenor
Two lovely dogs sit at the feet of Sir Robert Grosvenor, no doubt keen for him to put down those architectural plans and go for a walk. The plinth is carved with a quote from Ruskin: 'When we build let us think we build for ever'. The 1998 work is by Jonathan Wylder.
Belgrave Square SW1
Tube: Hyde Park Corner
Hodge The Cat
A cat - and an oyster - two ‘animals’ for the price of one. Johnson’s ‘very fine cat indeed’ sits on a volume of the great doctor’s English Dictionary, with his favourite snack. Gough Square still boasts three old gas lamps, as well, of course, as Johnson’s house.
Gough Square EC4
Tube: Blackfriars/Temple
