Parliament Square

A Monument to Democratic Ideals

Parliament Square represents the four pillars of British governance arranged symbolically around its perimeter: the legislature to the east in the Houses of Parliament, the executive to the north on Whitehall, the judiciary to the west in the Supreme Court, and the church to the south with Westminster Abbey. This deliberate spatial arrangement transforms the square into a physical manifestation of constitutional balance and democratic principle. The square itself has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey inscription granted in 1987 for its outstanding architectural, historic, and symbolic significance.

From Medieval Monastery to Victorian Innovation

The history of this location stretches back over a thousand years. Benedictine monks arrived around 960 AD to establish a monastery on what was then a marshy, flood-prone island called Thorney Island. This monastic settlement eventually evolved into Westminster Abbey. The area remained largely unchanged until the great fire of 1834 destroyed most of the medieval Westminster Palace. Sir Charles Barry won the competition to design the replacement, creating the magnificent neo-Gothic Houses of Parliament completed in 1852, with the iconic Clock Tower housing Big Ben finished in 1858. The square itself was formally laid out in 1868 as part of Barry's vision to open up the space and improve traffic circulation. Remarkably, Parliament Square hosted the world's first traffic light in 1868, a pioneering safety innovation positioned near the Churchill statue in the northeast corner.

The Gallery of Statesmen and Global Leaders

Twelve bronze statues populate Parliament Square, each telling a story of political influence and historical significance. The oldest monument is George Canning, the former Prime Minister who served for only five months in 1827 before dying of pneumonia. His statue, originally unveiled in 1832, was moved to the square in 1867 and marked the beginning of the square's transformation into an outdoor memorial gallery. The Victorian era saw the addition of four prime ministers: Canning, Edward Stanley (Earl of Derby, 1874), Benjamin Disraeli (1883), and Robert Peel (1876), all created by renowned sculptors of the period and standing on granite pedestals with bronze reliefs. Sir Winston Churchill's bronze statue, created by sculptor Ivor Roberts-Jones in 1973, occupies the northeast corner—the very spot Churchill himself selected when shown redevelopment plans as Prime Minister. The twentieth century brought international figures: Abraham Lincoln, added to celebrate Anglo-American friendship a century after the War of 1812; Nelson Mandela (2007), whose statue was added following sustained public pressure; Mahatma Gandhi (2015), unveiled to commemorate 100 years since Gandhi left South Africa to begin his independence campaign; and Millicent Fawcett, the only woman among the statues, added after considerable public advocacy for female representation.

Post-War Redesign and Modern Character

Following significant bomb damage during the Second World War, architect George Grey Wornum was commissioned in 1948 to redesign the square into the form largely seen today. The Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949 authorized the transformation, which included creating a central garden island with formal paved walkways, a square lawn, and seating areas on the northern and western edges. This redesign required the removal of the Victorian Buxton Memorial Fountain, which was relocated to nearby Victoria Tower Gardens in 1957. The square was formally listed as a Grade II Registered Garden of Special Historic Interest in 1996 and designated as part of the Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square Conservation Area in 1987.

A Stage for National Expression

Beyond its role as a tourist attraction, Parliament Square has served as a vital platform for public expression and national ceremony. The square forms part of the ceremonial route between Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall, hosting coronation processions of monarchs since 1066. In modern times, it has become equally renowned as a site for protests and demonstrations, reflecting its position at the symbolic heart of British democracy. The east side, opposite the main entrance to the Palace of Westminster, has historically attracted activists and campaigners. Notable demonstrations include the May Day 2000 Reclaim the Streets guerrilla gardening action, which temporarily transformed the square into a giant allotment, and Brian Haw's multi-year protest against British and American military action in Iraq. This duality—simultaneously a place of ceremonial reverence and democratic dissent—defines the square's contemporary character.