Boadicea and Her Daughters
the rebel queen who burned london
A dramatic bronze of the warrior queen charging in her scythed chariot, guarding the approach to Westminster Bridge.
Free to visit · Westminster · Westminster · SW1A 2JH
Opening: Always open
Reins flying and arms thrown wide, Boudica, the queen of the Iceni, charges forward in her chariot at the foot of Westminster Bridge, her two daughters at her side. In around 60 AD she led a furious revolt against Roman rule and burned the young city of Londinium to the ground, and now her statue stands guard over the seat of the very government her descendants would build.
It is a wonderful piece of Victorian irony and ambition, placed here in 1902 with Big Ben and Parliament rising behind it. Free to admire and brilliantly photogenic, it is one of the most dramatic statues in London and a favourite backdrop for the Westminster skyline.
Getting there: At the western end of Westminster Bridge, right by Westminster station and Big Ben.
Best time to go: Daytime for the Big Ben backdrop, or dusk when Westminster lights up.
Insider tip: Stand on the bridge side for the shot with Big Ben rising behind the chariot. Note the scythe blades on the chariot wheels, a vivid Victorian flourish that probably never existed in reality.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide