Whitehall, London SW1A, United Kingdom
The Women of World War II
Battle & memorial
Place photograph
3.9
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
3.9Seventeen sculpted uniforms and helmets hang around a bronze memorial to the millions of women whose work sustained Britain during the Second World War.
This is a compact, thought-provoking stop in the heart of Whitehall: the memorial’s empty uniforms make a vast wartime contribution tangible. It is a heritage visit rather than a nature destination, best experienced as part of a considered walk through the area.
Atmospheric
Find your way
Open mapWhitehall, London SW1A, United Kingdom
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The experience
A short stop to examine the memorial’s sculpted uniforms and lettering, with context from the National Portrait Gallery’s St James’s walking tour.
Things to do
Read the memorial’s sculpted uniforms
Look for the 17 sets of uniforms and helmets, and consider the different wartime roles they represent.
10–20 minutes
Look for the ATS uniform
The National Portrait Gallery invites visitors to see whether they can identify the Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform among those shown.
A few minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
A closer look at the memorial
- 01
Find a safe place to view the monument from Whitehall without crossing the road.
- 02
Walk around the visible sides and look for the 17 sculpted uniforms and helmets.
- 03
Use the National Portrait Gallery’s stop guide to consider the jobs and service represented.
Half day · Check the walking-tour guide for route details.
Continue the St James’s history walk
- 01
Use the National Portrait Gallery’s St James’s walking-tour page to continue from this memorial to its next listed stop, the Florence Nightingale statue at Waterloo Place.
Verified history
The bronze memorial was unveiled in 2005. The National Portrait Gallery describes its 17 sculpted uniforms and helmets as representing the many vital jobs undertaken by more than seven million women during the Second World War. Women served in roles including mechanics, engineers, munitions workers, air raid wardens, bus drivers and fire-engine drivers; more than 640,000 served in the armed forces. The memorial’s gold lettering is said to echo the typeface of wartime ration books.
Hidden details
The ration-book lettering — The National Portrait Gallery says the memorial’s gold lettering is said to mimic the typeface used in wartime ration books.
Find the ATS uniform — The National Portrait Gallery specifically suggests looking for the Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform among the memorial’s sculpted clothing.
When to go
· No particular time of day is supported by the available source. Pause only where it is safe to do so.
The memorial is an outdoor urban monument, and the supplied source gives no seasonal advice.
Check conditions before visiting; the memorial is beside the road.
Worth pairing with
Florence Nightingale statue, Waterloo Place
The next stop listed by the National Portrait Gallery’s St James’s walking tour, offering a continuation of the area’s memorial and history route.
What to look for
- 01
Look for the 17 sculpted sets of uniforms and helmets around the monument. The National Portrait Gallery notes that the gold lettering is said to echo the typeface of wartime ration books
- 02
identify the ATS uniform if you can.
The story
War & battle
Best time to go
Any time of year; this is an outdoor urban monument.
No season-specific recommendation is supported. Visit when you can safely pause and examine the monument.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Solo · Couples · History lovers · Walkers
Before you go
Address
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 National Portrait Gallery’s walking-tour page says the memorial is in the centre of Whitehall and can be viewed without crossing the road. Stand only where it is safe to do so; check current conditions before visiting.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The supplied source does not confirm step-free access or other accessibility details. Check before visiting, and take care beside the road.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around The Women of World War II
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
