Statue of Winston Churchill

A bronze statue of Winston Churchill stands in Parliament Square, London, on the main green opposite the Palace of Westminster. It was placed where Churchill himself marked the spot in the 1950s. The work was sculpted by Ivor Roberts-Jones, who used a photograph of Churchill inspecting the bombed Commons Chamber as his guide. The statue shows Churchill in a military greatcoat, hand resting on a walking stick, atop an eight-foot plinth bearing his name. Concerns during its creation that the head resembled Benito Mussolini led Roberts-Jones to lower the dome of the forehead. The plinth’s height and the figure’s pose make the statue visible from the surrounding streets. The unveiling in 1973 was performed by Clementine, Baroness Spencer-Churchill, in front of Queen Elizabeth II and four former prime ministers. The ceremony included music from the Band of the Royal Marines and a speech by the Queen recalling Churchill’s refusal of a dukedom. Over £32,000 was raised by 4,500 donors whose names were recorded in a book kept at Chartwell. In 2008 the statue was granted Grade II listed status for its historic interest. It has been targeted in protests, including red paint in 2000 and graffiti in 2020, prompting temporary covering. Visitors find the statue set among twelve monuments to statesmen around Parliament Square. The bronze figure’s stance and greatcoat capture Churchill at a moment of wartime leadership. The plinth’s inscription and scale draw the eye upward from the green lawn. Nearby, the Palace of Westminster and its clock tower provide a backdrop of national institutions. The statue’s position on the main green makes it easy to reach from Westminster Bridge or the Underground.