Animals in War Memorial
they had no choice
A moving Park Lane monument to the millions of animals that served and died in war, free and quietly powerful.
Free to visit · Mayfair · Marble Arch · W1K 7AR
Opening: Always open
On a strip of green beside the rush of Park Lane stands one of London's most affecting memorials, dedicated to the countless animals that served and died alongside British forces. A curved Portland stone wall is carved with images of elephants, camels, horses and dogs, and two heavily laden bronze mules struggle up toward a gap in the wall, beyond which a horse and a dog walk free.
The carved inscription is simply devastating in its plainness, noting that these animals had no choice. It is free, often overlooked by the traffic streaming past, and worth crossing to, a thoughtful tribute that stops most visitors in their tracks.
Getting there: On the Park Lane central reservation near Brook Gate, a short walk from Marble Arch.
Best time to go: Any daylight hour, on a walk along Park Lane or through Hyde Park.
Insider tip: Read the short inscription, 'They had no choice', the line that gives the whole memorial its power. It sits on the central reservation, so use the crossings, and pair it with a walk into Hyde Park alongside.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide