South Bank Lion Statue

Sculpted from durable Coade stone, this majestic creature has weathered the test of time. This, my friends, is the South Bank Lion. A fixture on the London landscape since 1837, the South Bank Lion has quite a tale to tell. Originally, the South Bank Lion wasn’t a South Bank resident at all. It perched proudly on the Lion Brewery, a prominent landmark on the Lambeth side of the Thames. This brewery, owned by James Goding, commissioned the esteemed sculptor William Frederick Woodington to create this magnificent beast. The South Bank Lion watched over London as the city underwent dramatic changes, from the construction of Hungerford Bridge to the devastating air raids of World War II. When the brewery was demolished in 1949 to make way for the Festival of Britain, there was a public outcry to save their beloved lion. King George VI himself intervened, ensuring the South Bank Lion would live to roar another day. Repainted a vibrant red, the South Bank Lion temporarily graced the entrance of Waterloo Station before finally finding its permanent home here, on the eastern end of Westminster Bridge in 1966. The South Bank Lion stands as a testament to London’s ever-evolving landscape, a silent guardian of history and a symbol of resilience.