Climb the Wellington Arch

The Wellington Arch, on Hyde Park Corner was planned and built between 1825-30 to commemorate Britain's victories in the Napoleonic Wars. The Arch is also known as Constitution Arch or the Green Park Arch and was planned to line up with Marble Arch and form a grand entrance into London from the west.

In 1846 the Arch was selected as a suitable location for a statue of soldier and Prime Minister the First Duke of Wellington.

Nowadays, the symbolism is somewhat drowned out by the traffic which circles the it, and the similarities to the Arc De Triomphe in Paris don't end there. Inside the arch, there are three floors of exhibits which tell its history, including the time it spent as London's smallest police station. There is also a viewing gallery, which offers a unique view of the surrounding area, and a chance to glimpse into the gardens at Buckingham Palace and see who is playing tennis on the courts there.

Entrance is £3.20 and it is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am til 5pm from 21st March - 31st October and 10am-4pm for the rest of the year. For more information visit the page on the English Heritage Website.

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