Duke Of York Column
Duke Of York Column
3.5
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The area
Neighborhood: St. James's
Perennially fashionable since the days of Henry VIII, the aristocratic “Clubland” of St James's is a premier destination for high end craft and bespoke design. Here you’ll lose count of the Royal Warrants (which indicate that the Royal Family patronizes the establishment) seen in shop front windows, even during a short stroll to bordering Green Park or St James’s Park. With the brightly lit and constantly buzzing junction of Piccadilly Circus at its northeast corner and none of Central London too far away, this is an surprisingly central and accessible part of town, especially given its prosperous demeanor.
How to get there
- Piccadilly Circus • 4 min walk
- Charing Cross • 5 min walk
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10,000 within 3 miles
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2,321 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
108 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
42
Average
44
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Ian C
London, UK23,970 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
Trafalgar Square has Nelson's Column, the route from Piccadilly to St James's Park planned by John Nash has the tall column with the Duke of York at the top.
The Column is the architectural centrepiece of the fine 19th century Carlton House Terrace at the end of Waterloo Place which has other statues worth exploring including that of the explorer Robert Scott and Edward VII, with the Guards Crimean Memorial and Florence Nightingale at the other end.
The Duke's memory is also enshrined in the children's song and game 'The Grand Old Duke of York'.
The Column is the architectural centrepiece of the fine 19th century Carlton House Terrace at the end of Waterloo Place which has other statues worth exploring including that of the explorer Robert Scott and Edward VII, with the Guards Crimean Memorial and Florence Nightingale at the other end.
The Duke's memory is also enshrined in the children's song and game 'The Grand Old Duke of York'.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK2,568 contributions
Apr 2021
One of the British nursery rhymes is "The Grand Old Duke Of York" and there is a tribute to the Duke of York.
It is located just off the Mall next to the ICA about halfway between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
Not to be confused with our current Duke of York this is worth checking out if you are in the area.
It is located just off the Mall next to the ICA about halfway between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
Not to be confused with our current Duke of York this is worth checking out if you are in the area.
Written April 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiver75
Melbourne, Australia12,454 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
The Duke of York Column was very cool. No, not the more famous Nelson Column, but just down the road. This column is located at the top of the steps that lead from Waterloo Place down to Regents Park – these steps are known at the Duke of York Steps.
Built in the early 1800’s the column is pretty impressive. The Column and Steps are located near many other tourist attractions and are definites put on your list. Recommended.
Built in the early 1800’s the column is pretty impressive. The Column and Steps are located near many other tourist attractions and are definites put on your list. Recommended.
Written September 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AvidTraveler12
Winchester, UK1,814 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
If you start at Trafalgar Square and walk down Whitehall there are so many of Londons premier sites to see. One of which is the Duke of York Column which is located beside Carlton House Terrace, you walk up some grand steps to access. Tourists flock here, drink in the views and watch the Horseguards parade past.
Written January 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
badmintontim
Hastings, UK4,563 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
I completely disagree with the other reviewers who state that this is 'just another London Monument'
London has its monuments to commemorate its grand history and these are part of what makes it the greatest city in the world
This statue which is nearly 42 metres high is extremely grand celebrating the 'Grand old Duke of York' - such a pity that the internal steps are no longer open unlike the 'Monument' - this would be so good
Definitely worth s close look
Recommended - Enjoy
London has its monuments to commemorate its grand history and these are part of what makes it the greatest city in the world
This statue which is nearly 42 metres high is extremely grand celebrating the 'Grand old Duke of York' - such a pity that the internal steps are no longer open unlike the 'Monument' - this would be so good
Definitely worth s close look
Recommended - Enjoy
Written July 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WMIM
Horsham, UK3,231 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
It commemorates Frederick, Duke of York who as George III's second son (and therefore an uncle of Queen Victoria) was made Commander of the British Army. He served throughout the period of the French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars. After his death in 1827 the entire Army forewent a day's wages to pay for this monument. The column's designer was Benjamin Dean Wyatt and it was completed in 1832. The statue, by Sir Richard Westmacott, was raised in 1834. The latter is 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 metres) tall and the total height of the monument to the top of the statue is 137 feet 9 inches (41.99 metres) And yes, this is the 'Grand Old Duke of York' immortalised in the nursery rhyme.
Unlike the later, more famous Nelson Column in nearby Trafalgar Square, it is hollow with a staircase to a railed viewing gallery at the base of the statue. Unfortunately this has been closed off since the late 19th Century!
Unlike the later, more famous Nelson Column in nearby Trafalgar Square, it is hollow with a staircase to a railed viewing gallery at the base of the statue. Unfortunately this has been closed off since the late 19th Century!
Written March 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigHugh51
Adelaide, Australia3,650 contributions
Jun 2019
As we made our way along Pall Mall from Green towards Trafalgar Square, we paused briefly at Waterloo Place to again admire the Duke of York column and the other statues located in the vicinity.
We had seen this column during previous visits to London and each time we have remarked upon the similarities between this column and Nelson’s Column situated not far away in Trafalgar Square. The statue of the Duke of York stands atop the very tall column. The column is surrounded by a paved plaza area and there are wide steps which lead down towards the Mall.
This column is certainly a landmark monument and can be seen from some distance away.
Worthy of your attention should you be in the area as a tourist!
We had seen this column during previous visits to London and each time we have remarked upon the similarities between this column and Nelson’s Column situated not far away in Trafalgar Square. The statue of the Duke of York stands atop the very tall column. The column is surrounded by a paved plaza area and there are wide steps which lead down towards the Mall.
This column is certainly a landmark monument and can be seen from some distance away.
Worthy of your attention should you be in the area as a tourist!
Written December 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK179,496 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
This monument stands in tribute to Prince Frederick, Duke of York, the second eldest son of King George III. His main legacy was his role as commander-in-chief of the British Army during the French Revolutionary Wars and leading the reform of the army into the then more modernised force.
The statue is greatly larger than life at 4.11m tall is made of bronze and features the prince dressed in the robes of the Knights of the Garter, The statue sits atop a 42m (so kind of hard to miss, especially on The Mall) plinth, made of grey granite from Aberdeen in Scotland.
The statue is so high up that unless it's a clear day (can be rare in UK), it's really hard to see the statue clearly.
The statue is greatly larger than life at 4.11m tall is made of bronze and features the prince dressed in the robes of the Knights of the Garter, The statue sits atop a 42m (so kind of hard to miss, especially on The Mall) plinth, made of grey granite from Aberdeen in Scotland.
The statue is so high up that unless it's a clear day (can be rare in UK), it's really hard to see the statue clearly.
Written March 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nidgehammer
Stevenage, UK4,805 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
We heard a few tourists saying “Wow, Nelson’s Column - so cool.!” We had to put them right, it’s only round the corner from Trafalgar Square really and you could understand how it could be mistaken for it.
The Duke of York Column is on a similar column but this monument is to Prince Frederick, Duke of York and is on The Mall. It was erected in 1834 and is made of granite and around 138 feet tall.
Go and see The Grand Old Duke Of York.!
The Duke of York Column is on a similar column but this monument is to Prince Frederick, Duke of York and is on The Mall. It was erected in 1834 and is made of granite and around 138 feet tall.
Go and see The Grand Old Duke Of York.!
Written March 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MedEngland
England2,302 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
It is, without doubt, a colossal column, but so high you cannot see the actual bronze figure of the Duke. If you are very lucky, you might be invited to climb the internal staircase, avoiding the pigeon nests! The staircase explains why the Column by John Nash is, for me, totally out of proportion.
So settle for gazing up at him - the setting at the top of the flight of steps is impressive. But I have issues in realising that the funds to create the Column were raised, in part, by deducting one day's pay from every man in the Royal Navy.
So settle for gazing up at him - the setting at the top of the flight of steps is impressive. But I have issues in realising that the funds to create the Column were raised, in part, by deducting one day's pay from every man in the Royal Navy.
Written May 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingDuke Of York Column - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Duke Of York Column
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Duke Of York Column Information
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