Statue of Queen Victoria in Memorial Gardens

Statue of Queen Victoria in Memorial Gardens is a Grade II listed stone sculpture in Nottingham, England, standing in the Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens on the northern bank of the River Trent. It is one of the city's best-known Victorian-era monuments and an easy stop for anyone walking the riverside.

Who made the statue and when was it unveiled?

The figure of Queen Victoria is the work of the sculptor Albert Toft. It was unveiled on 28 July 1905 by the Duke of Portland, a few years after the queen's death in 1901, as Nottingham joined many British cities in commemorating the long-reigning monarch with a public statue.

Why is it in the Memorial Gardens?

The statue was not made for its present setting. It was originally erected in the city centre and was moved to the Victoria Embankment in 1953. Today it forms part of a listed group in the gardens, together with the Memorial Arch, which is also Grade II listed. The gardens were laid out on land given to the people of Nottingham by the businessman Jesse Boot, so that the riverside would remain open space and a place of remembrance. The statue, the arch and the surrounding landscaping are meant to be read together as one dignified ensemble.

What is there to see?

The queen is shown in stone on a granite plinth with bronze plaques. Visitors can look at the carved details of the figure, including the sceptre she holds, and at the inscriptions on the base. Because the statue sits close to the Memorial Arch, it is easy to combine both in a single short visit, and the open lawns and paths around them make it a pleasant place to pause.

Has the statue been restored?

Yes. During the recent redevelopment of the Memorial Gardens, specialist stone craftspeople cleaned the statue, the granite plinth and the bronze plaques. They also repaired the sceptre and replaced or mended some damaged fingers. Marble needed for the sceptre was sourced in Italy and carved by a stonemason based in Newark. A restored statue was officially unveiled again as part of the wider scheme to renew the gardens. Reports give different figures for the cost of the project, so it is best not to rely on a single number.

How to visit

The statue is in an open public park, so there is no ticket and no fixed opening time for the monument itself. It lies along the Victoria Embankment, a popular riverside route in Nottingham, and fits naturally into a walk along the Trent.

Frequently asked questions

Who sculpted the statue of Queen Victoria in Nottingham? Albert Toft, who is credited with the work unveiled in 1905.

Is the statue protected? Yes, it is Grade II listed, as is the nearby Memorial Arch.

Has it always stood in the Memorial Gardens? No. It was moved to the Victoria Embankment in 1953 from an earlier city-centre location.

Who donated the land for the gardens? Jesse Boot gave the land to the citizens of Nottingham so it could be kept as open space and a memorial site.

Is it free to see? Yes. It stands in a public park and can be viewed at any time the gardens are accessible.

What was repaired during the restoration? The stone was cleaned, the sceptre was repaired with newly carved marble, and several missing fingers were replaced or mended, along with work on the plinth and bronze plaques.

Why it is worth a look

For a short stop it offers a mix of sculpture, local history and riverside scenery: a royal portrait by a recognised sculptor, a monument that has changed location during its life, and a gardens setting shaped by a local benefactor. Visitors interested in Nottingham's civic heritage will find it a compact, free introduction to how the city chose to remember the Victorian age.