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The British love animals and London is full of statues where our faithful friends play a starring role. Here’s where you can find a camel and a bison, sheep, a cart horse, dinosaurs, mice and rabbits, two dogs, and a well-loved cat and his oyster...

 

Albert Memorial

Look for the cow, camel, elephant and bison in the four monumental 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

Peter Pan

Mice and rabbits play around Peter Pan’s feet. Writer JM Barrie paid George Frampton to sculpt this work in 1919. Questions were asked as to why an author had been allowed to erect a tribute to his own creation in a public park. There are seven copies around the world.

Kensington Gardens SW7

Tube: South Kensington

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’s  a casting rather than 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 Horseleydown Brewery, founded by John Courage in 1787.

Queen Elizabeth Street SE1

Tube: Tower Hill

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

Any comments - or a suggestion? Please e-mail me.

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