Gurkha Memorial

Gurkha Memorial is a bronze monument in the City of Westminster, London, on Horse Guards Avenue at its junction with Whitehall Court. It honours the Gurkhas, the soldiers from Nepal who have served alongside the British Army, and was the first memorial to them in the United Kingdom.

Who made it, and what does it show?

The sculptor was Philip Jackson, a British artist known for public commissions. The figure is a Gurkha soldier standing at ease in a First World War-style uniform and hat. Jackson drew on an earlier statue by Richard Reginald Goulden but reworked it in his own manner, using a living model, Captain Khemkumar Limbu. Cecil Denny Highton designed the plinth.

Why was it built in 1997?

Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the memorial on 3 December 1997. The trigger was the relocation of the Gurkhas' headquarters and training centre from Hong Kong to Britain that same year. It commemorates the Nepalese men who fought in both world wars. Plaques for more recent operations were reportedly added around the 2015 bicentenary of Gurkha service.

What will you see?

A bronze figure on a stone plinth, with government buildings behind it, directly opposite the main building of the Ministry of Defence. Read the inscriptions on the base, then move on: the monument is compact and a visit takes a few minutes. It pairs naturally with a walk along Whitehall.

How do you get there?

The coordinates are roughly 51.505 N, 0.125 W. From Trafalgar Square it is a short walk down Whitehall, and from Westminster a little over fifteen minutes on foot. The nearest Underground stations are Embankment and Westminster. The route is flat, on pavements, with no steps.

When should you go?

The memorial stands on the street, so you can see it at any hour and without a ticket. Weekday mornings are busiest; weekends are calmer and easier for photos. Ceremonial events in the government district, such as those around Remembrance Sunday in November, can lead to street closures.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to visit?

Yes. The memorial is in a public space with no admission charge.

Who unveiled it?

Queen Elizabeth II, on 3 December 1997.

Who are the Gurkhas?

Soldiers recruited in Nepal who have served in the British Army for two centuries. The memorial recalls their part in the First and Second World Wars.

What else is nearby?

Whitehall's government buildings, Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square and several other military memorials along the same street. The Gurkha Memorial needs only a few minutes, so it fits easily into a walk towards Westminster.