Standing solemnly in the middle of Whitehall, visitors could be forgiven for passing the cenotaph by unnoticed. But every November it becomes the focus of Britain’s Remembrance Service (the closest Sunday to the 11th November). The service commemorates the British Empire and Commonwealth servicemen who died in the two World Wars. The Monarch, representatives of the Church, State, the armed and auxiliary forces, all gather to pay respect to those who lost their lives defending the freedom of others. Hymns are sung, prayers are said, and the two minute silence is observed. Wreaths of poppies are then laid on the steps of the Cenotaph. The monument was originally built of wood and plaster for the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919. The memorial you see today was designed by Edward Lutyens. It was created from Portland Stone and was unveiled one year later in 1920. The inscription simply reads "The Glorious Dead".
St George's Day Events
Covent Garden / Cenotaph / Shakespeare's Globe, WC2E 8HD
23rd April 2008
In the last few years, our dragon-slaying patron saint has been thoroughly... More
Green Park to the South Bank
Distance & Difficulty - 2.5 miles. A peaceful meander through town.
Highlights - Strolling in St James's Park, the view... More
Ceremony at the Cenotaph
Saturday 19th April 2008
Standing solemnly in the middle of Whitehall, the Cenotaph is a suitably sombre place for reflection and remembrance of... More
Remembrance Day Service
13 November 2005
The official Armistice Remembrance is at 11 o'clock on 11 November, when the country observes a minute's silence. The following... More
The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square remained empty after its completion in 1841 - it was designed for an equestrian statue of one of Britain's ... More
A landmark triumphal arch set opposite the Duke of Wellington's residence at Apsley House, Wellington Arch was built in 1830 to commemorate the victories won ... More
Visitors to the Household Cavalry Museum can watch troopers working with their horses in the original 18th century stables (via a glazed screen) and hear ...More
Lord Nelson, Britain's greatest military hero, and the mighty lions that surround him, pay testament to the position of Trafalgar Square at the heart of ... More
A fantastic nineteenth century exterior hides a thoroughly modern hotel, with clean, minimalist design in the rooms. The biggest draw is the location, in the ... More
From budding Harry Potters and bumbling Tommy Coopers to dynamic David Copperfields, Davenports is a haven for magicians of every level and ability. Non-magicians too ... More
Belgium's finest export, the first Godiva was opened in Brussels approximately 75 years ago by master chocolatier Joseph Draps and named after the legendary Lady ... More
Sainsbury Wing,
National Gallery,Trafalgar Square,Westminster,
London,
WC2NMap
5 minutes walk from Cenotaph
The National Gallery's restaurant won Time Out's Best British Restaurant Award in 2007 for good reasons - they do all sorts of great British things ... More
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the ... More
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
Catalyst personal trainers are among the best in London. Get fit without doing yourself an injury, lose weight with a specially devised programme or build ... More
Part Victorian pub, part museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous sleuth.
Thirsty Sherlock Holmes fans look no further than this homage to the ... More
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
One of the West End's finest dance music venues, The Island manages to keep the drunken Soho crowds away by being exceedingly well concealed in ... More
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Standing solemnly in the middle of Whitehall, visitors could be forgiven for passing the cenotaph by unnoticed. But every November it becomes the focus of Britain’s Remembrance Service (the closest Sunday to the 11th November). The service commemorates the British Empire and Commonwealth servicemen who died in the two World Wars. The Monarch, representatives of the Church, State, the armed and auxiliary forces, all gather to pay respect to those who lost their lives defending the freedom of others. Hymns are sung, prayers are said, and the two minute silence is observed. Wreaths of poppies are then laid on the steps of the Cenotaph. The monument was originally built of wood and plaster for the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919. The memorial you see today was designed by Edward Lutyens. It was created from Portland Stone and was unveiled one year later in 1920. The inscription simply reads "The Glorious Dead".
