Statue of Nelson Mandela

The Statue of Nelson Mandela stands on the grass of Parliament Square in the City of Westminster, in the middle of London's political district. It is a bronze figure of the South African anti-apartheid leader and former president, and it is one of the best-known tributes to a foreign statesman in the British capital.

Who made the statue and when was it unveiled?

The sculptor was Ian Walters, a British artist known for portrait sculpture. He died in 2006, before the work was finished in bronze, and the statue was unveiled on 29 August 2007. Nelson Mandela attended the ceremony in person, accompanied by his wife Graça Machel. Prime Minister Gordon Brown took part in the official proceedings, and Ken Livingstone, then Mayor of London, was also present.

Why is it in Parliament Square?

The idea of honouring Mandela in London had been promoted for years, with campaigners including Donald Woods behind the early proposal. A first plan to site the statue in Trafalgar Square did not go ahead after objections from Westminster City Council, and Parliament Square became the home of the monument instead. The location carries symbolic weight: the square faces the Houses of Parliament and sits beside Westminster Abbey, and it holds statues of other statesmen and figures associated with freedom and political change.

What does the statue show?

The figure shows Mandela standing in an open, relaxed pose, with an arm raised and wearing one of his characteristic loose-fitting shirts rather than a formal suit. The choice reflects how he was known to the public in later life. Because it stands at ground-level scale and is surrounded by lawn and pavement, visitors can approach it closely and photograph it with Big Ben and the parliamentary buildings in the background.

How do you visit?

The statue is free to see and open to view at any time, since it stands in a public square. It is a short walk from Westminster Underground station, and the square is also close to Westminster Bridge, Whitehall and the Supreme Court. It works well as one stop on a walking route through central London that also takes in the Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street.

Frequently asked questions

Who sculpted the Nelson Mandela statue in London? Ian Walters, who died before the bronze was unveiled.

When was it unveiled? On 29 August 2007, with Mandela himself attending.

Where exactly is it? In Parliament Square, in the City of Westminster, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

Is there an entry fee? No. It is an outdoor public monument and can be visited at any time.

Are there other statues of Mandela? Yes. Other statues of him stand in Cape Town, Johannesburg and at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, among other places, but the Parliament Square statue is the London one.

Why does it matter to visitors? It marks the global respect for Mandela's role in ending apartheid and brings that history into the heart of the British political scene. For many travellers it is a quiet, reflective stop among the busier sights of Westminster, and a good reminder of the people who shaped the modern world.