Wellington Arch

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Lonely Planet review

Opposite Apsley House in the little bit of green space being strangled by the Hyde Park Corner roundabout is England's answer to the Arc de Triomphe (except this one commemorates France's defeat - specifically, Napoleon's at the hands of Wellington).

The neoclassical arch, erected in 1826, used to be topped by a disproportionately large equestrian statue of Wellington, but this was removed in 1882 and replaced some years later with the biggest bronze sculpture in Britain, Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War .

For years the monument served as the capital's smallest police station, but it was restored and opened up to the public as a three-level exhibition space focusing on London's arches. The balcony affords unforgettable views of Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.