Image credit: Txllxt TxllxT / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2009-09-08 ↗
Landseer’s Lions
Trafalgar Square · Trafalgar Square → Strand → Somerset House → Temple · Monumental sculpture / animal detail
Story
The four enormous bronze lions flanking the base of Nelson’s Column appear as though they have always belonged to Trafalgar Square, yet they arrived well after the column itself. They were designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, famous above all for his animal paintings, and modelled in bronze by Baron Marochetti in the 1860s. The commission was significant: to create monumental animals for one of London’s most prominent public spaces. Go close to one and study it as though it were a real animal. You will notice how the heads and chests project enormous power, while the paws are curiously less convincing as lion anatomy, almost as if the proportions don't quite fit. A popular, oft-repeated story claims that Landseer struggled when the dead lion he was using as a model began to decompose, and that he eventually resorted to studying a domestic cat. While this anecdote is more studio folklore than perfectly documented fact, it highlights the challenge of the task. Up close, they cease to be mere "furniture" of Trafalgar Square and reveal themselves as remarkably theatrical sculptures.
What to look for
Pay particular attention to the paws, claws, and mane of each lion, and how each animal is seated on its plinth, conveying a sense of weight and power.
Secret detail
The curious anatomy of the paws gave rise to the urban legend that Landseer used a domestic cat as a model for this part of the lions. Notice their somewhat disproportionate size.
Where exactly
The four bronze lions are located around the base of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. You can walk around the column and compare the sculptures.
Orientation
Walk around the base of Nelson’s Column; there is no single ideal viewing direction.
Why it matters
These lions are a prime example of 19th-century monumental public sculpture, a reminder of how the city honoured its heroes and beautified its squares with grandeur and animal symbolism.
Access & opening
Public realm; major events or demonstrations may create barriers.
Free
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Level square with step-free routes available.