Image credit: No Swan So Fine / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2023-06-30 ↗
The Camel Benches of Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment / Temple Gardens · Temple → Fleet Street → Lincoln’s Inn · Victorian street furniture / animal sculpture / riverside detail
Story
These benches, with their distinctive cast-iron supports, might at first glance appear to be an eccentric modern addition or a tourist novelty. However, they are an integral part of the historic street furniture originally designed for the Victoria Embankment, a monumental undertaking of the 19th century. Each bench is supported by crouching camels, cast in iron, which bear the seat upon their backs. This particular group is located opposite Temple Gardens, specifically on the section of the riverside promenade that falls within the City of London. The choice of this exotic animal was not accidental within the Victorian decorative repertoire of the Embankment. When the substantial river walls and new promenade were constructed in the latter half of the 19th century, London’s authorities adorned the area with an array of streetlamps, sphinxes, and other ornaments drawing inspiration from historical or distant cultures. Camels appeared in this section belonging to the City; other stretches of the promenade featured different motifs, adding variety to the overall design. The first benches of this kind were installed in the 1870s, and the examples visible today include later reproductions that faithfully preserve the original historic design.
What to look for
Look closely at the cast-iron camel heads, legs, and the harness details that form the structural supports beneath each seat.
Secret detail
While the benches you see today faithfully preserve their Victorian design, some of their components have been replaced or restored over time, meaning not every piece is necessarily an untouched 1877 original.
Where exactly
Go down to Victoria Embankment opposite Temple Gardens and find the group of five camel-supported seats.
Orientation
They sit on the riverside pavement opposite Temple Gardens.
Why it matters
This street furniture reveals the decorative ambition of the Victorian era, when even practical details were integrated into a grand, monumental design intended to beautify and dignify the new London built upon the Thames.
Access & opening
Always visible; temporary works/events may affect individual benches.
Free.
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Level riverside pavement.