40 Strand, London WC2N 5PH
Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross
Battle & memorial
Place photograph
3.9
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Check
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
3.9An elaborate Victorian memorial to a medieval queen, standing near—but not on—the site of the original Charing Cross. Its Gothic-inspired stonework turns a busy London junction into a small encounter with royal remembrance.
This is a compact heritage stop rather than a wild landscape: its appeal lies in the detailed memorial and the contrast between medieval commemoration and the modern city around it. Historic England lists it at Grade II*.
Atmospheric
Find your way
Open map40 Strand, London WC2N 5PH
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
A brief architectural and heritage stop at Charing Cross. Take time to look at the carved details and consider how the Victorian monument refers back to the medieval Eleanor Crosses.
Things to do
Read the monument’s three-stage design
Look at the cross from base to spire: Historic England describes an octagonal monument rising in three main stages.
A few minutes
Pick out the heraldic shields
Look for shields bearing the arms of England, Castile, Leon and Ponthieu, copied from the Eleanor Crosses.
A few minutes
Count the queen’s statues
The listing describes eight statues of Queen Eleanor in niches above the second parapet.
A few minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
A close look at the memorial
- 01
Find the Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross at Charing Cross and Strand.
- 02
Take in its overall shape, then look for the carved shields and statues described in the Historic England listing.
Verified history
The present Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross was designed by E. M. Barry and carved by Thomas Earp in 1864–65. Historic England describes its Portland stone, Aberdeen granite plinth and Mansfield stone details, and notes that its design draws on the form of the Eleanor Crosses while relating in detail to the Oxford Martyrs’ Memorial. The Charing Cross Hotel Company commissioned it; its site in the station forecourt is some distance from the original Charing Cross site. It was listed Grade II* on 5 February 1970.
Hidden details
The memorial is not on the original cross site — Historic England notes that the station forecourt site is some distance from the original Charing Cross site—a useful distinction when reading the monument in its urban setting.
A Victorian design with medieval references — Although built in 1864–65, the memorial uses a 14th-century-inspired style and incorporates heraldic shields copied from the Eleanor Crosses.
When to go
· Choose a quieter time if you want room to pause and study the details; specific visitor conditions are not established by the supplied source.
The supplied source gives no seasonal information; the monument’s architectural interest is not described as seasonal.
Check conditions and access before visiting.
What to look for
- 01
The octagonal plan and three main stages
- 02
the shields bearing the arms of England, Castile, Leon and Ponthieu
- 03
the eight statues of Queen Eleanor
- 04
and the spire and cross above. Historic England
The story
Royalty
Best time to go
Year-round; choose a quieter time of day if you want to pause and examine the monument.
A quieter period may make it easier to pause and inspect the carvings. Check access arrangements before setting out.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The cross is identified at Charing Cross and Strand. The supplied source does not establish visitor access arrangements; check before visiting. [Historic England](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1236708) Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
Check before visiting; no accessibility information is established by the supplied source.
Check before visiting
Cost
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
