Vauxhall Bridge's Miniature St Paul's
a pocket st paul's over the thames
A bronze statue on the side of Vauxhall Bridge cradling a tiny model of St Paul's Cathedral, almost impossible to see from above.
Free to visit · Vauxhall · Vauxhall · SW1V 3LX
Opening: Viewable any time
Most people crossing Vauxhall Bridge have no idea that giant bronze statues adorn its sides, mounted on the piers and almost invisible from the pavement above. Each represents an art or science, and one figure, a seated woman symbolising architecture, holds in her hands a perfect miniature model of St Paul's Cathedral.
Because the statues face out over the water, you really need a boat or a low-tide view from the bank to appreciate them. It is free, and a real reward for the curious, a tiny cathedral held aloft over the Thames that almost nobody ever notices.
Getting there: On the downstream side of Vauxhall Bridge over the Thames, near Vauxhall station.
Best time to go: Low tide or from a passing boat to see the statue clearly.
Insider tip: You cannot see the statues from the bridge deck, so view them from a river boat, the bank, or the far side at low tide. The architecture figure holding the little St Paul's is on the downstream side of the bridge.
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