Henry VIII Gatehouse Statue
london's only public henry viii
The only public statue of Henry VIII in London, standing over the gatehouse of the hospital he refounded at Smithfield.
Free to visit · Smithfield · Barbican · EC1A 7BE
Opening: Viewable any time
For all his fame, Henry VIII has remarkably few statues in London, and the only one on public display stands above the gateway to St Bartholomew's Hospital at Smithfield. He earned his place here by refounding the hospital in 1546 after dissolving the priory that had run it, so it survived where so many monastic institutions were swept away.
The stone king gazes out over the Smithfield traffic, easy to walk under without a glance. It is free to find, a small reminder that beneath the drama of his reign Henry left some institutions that, against the odds, are still serving Londoners nearly five hundred years on.
Getting there: Above the Henry VIII Gate of St Bartholomew's Hospital at Smithfield, near Barbican station.
Best time to go: Daytime, on a walk around historic Smithfield.
Insider tip: Look up at the ornate stone gateway on the south side of Smithfield to find the crowned king above the arch. The Golden Boy and the William Wallace memorial are both a minute's walk away.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide