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 goose, a glowworm and a pigeon, a dolphin, a leaping hare and a small flock of sheep.
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Cocker Spaniels
St Peter’s Square is a lovely oasis of 19th-century houses, set back from the bustle of the A4. It is full of statues of eagles and lions, including a snoozing pair (above) in nearby St Peter’s Grove. You’ll also find a pair of gun-dogs (below) guarding a doorway on the square.
St Peter’s Square W6
Tube: Stamford Brook
Boy And Dolphin
David Wynne did two dolphin statues, Girl And Dolphin at Tower Bridge and this better one in Chelsea. The model, in 1961, was his ten-year old son and a poignant plaque was added in 1999 to mark the boy’s death. Wynne also did the Fred Perry bronze at Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
Cheyne Walk SW10
Tube: South Kensington (20mins)
Boy And Goose
You’ll need to look high into the rooftops to spot this fun piece, a pun on the address: Poultry. Sir William Reid Dick designed this matching pair for architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. He also sculpted the gilded eagle on the Royal Air Force Memorial on the Embankment and Roosevelt in Grosvenor Square.
HSBC, 27-32 Poultry EC2
Tube: Bank
Animals At War
Inspired by a Jillie Cooper book, this is a memorial to the millions of animals who died in 20th century wars - 8million horses alone in World War I. Sculptor David Backhouse shows horses, mules, dogs, elephants, camels, pigeons and even the glow-worms used to light WWI trenches.
Park Lane W1
Tube: Marble Arch
Shepherd And Sheep
This bronze, entitled Paternoster, is by Dame Elisabeth Frink RA. noted for her works based on nature. Perhaps her most famous is the Eagle on the JFK memorial in Dallas. Inspired by Giacometti, you can see his influence in the clean stylised lines of her art.
Paternoster Square EC4
Tube: St Paul’s
Hare
Leaping Hare on Crescent and Bell is by Barry Flanagan. This Welsh artist has a fascination with the tradition, mythology and literature of hares, which appear in many of his works. He often poses them as people, though this one seems to be just having fun.
Broadgate EC2
Tube: Liverpool Street
