Have you ever walked past a statue and wondered what glorious victory, daring undertaking, or breathtaking achievement earned its subject immortality in bronze and stone? If so, this quest is for you.
Starting in Trafalgar Square, it heads along the edge of St James’s Park, and winds down to the Houses of Parliament, introducing you to 19 once-famous heroes — soldiers, explorers, innovators, royals, a poet, and even a dog. Along the way, it brings their remarkable stories to life with more than 100 full-screen images and scavenger hunt clues (so you look closer and see more).
Our heroes’ achievements span four centuries of Britain’s proud past and reach across the globe from the frozen wastes of the Poles and the hospitals of the Crimea to the flak-filled skies of the Second World War and a small grocery shop right here in London.
Some were brave. Some brilliant. A few were spoiled, foolish and vain. And others have seen their reputations tarnished by time. Together, they raise a deceptively simple question: what is a hero anyway?
Ages: 15-104
Distance: 1.3 miles
Duration: 2 hours or longer if you linger
Best time: Daylight hours
Starting point: Trafalgar Square
A carousel of images showing some of the heroes introduced in this historical walking tour
A carousel of images showing some of the heroes introduced in this historical walking tour