Statue of Robert Peel

The Statue of Robert Peel is a bronze monument in Parliament Square, in the City of Westminster, honouring Sir Robert Peel, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom. It stands in the south-west corner of the square, facing Great George Street, a few steps from the Houses of Parliament.

Who was Robert Peel?

Peel served as prime minister and is remembered above all as the founder of the Metropolitan Police Service. This is why London's police officers were long nicknamed "bobbies" and "peelers". The statue portrays him as a standing figure in the formal dress of a Victorian statesman, on a tall pedestal of red granite.

Who made the statue and when?

The sculptor was Matthew Noble, one of the busiest portrait sculptors of Victorian Britain. The monument dates from the 1870s. In 1871 a plan was put forward to place statues of three political leaders in the square: Peel, the Earl of Derby and Viscount Palmerston. Peel's statue was one of the first three to stand there, and the square was later arranged so that it could host many more figures. Noble died in 1876, around the time the work was completed, and the statue was set up without a public unveiling ceremony. Published sources disagree on the exact date, so treat 1876 or 1877 as the likely range.

Bronze for the figure was cast at a foundry in Thames Ditton. An earlier statue of Peel by Carlo Marochetti had stood at New Palace Yard, but it was taken down in 1868 and later melted down, which is why Noble's version is the one you see today.

Is it protected?

Yes. The statue is Grade II listed by Historic England, which recognises its architectural and historical interest as part of the Parliament Square ensemble.

Controversy

Like several monuments in the square, the statue has been drawn into public debate. In June 2020 it was vandalised during protests, and a petition called for its removal because of Peel's link to the creation of the police. The statue was not removed and remains in place.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is it? In Parliament Square, in the south-west corner, facing Great George Street. The nearest Underground station is Westminster.

Can I visit it? Yes. It is an open-air monument in a public square, free to see at any time.

What else is nearby? Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster with Big Ben, the Supreme Court building and the many other statues of the square, so it fits easily into a walk around historic London.

How long should I plan? A few minutes for the statue itself. Most visitors combine it with a longer stroll through the Westminster area.

Tips for visitors

Go early in the morning for photos without crowds. The square is busy with traffic, so use the pedestrian crossings to reach the central garden and compare the other statues, which include other prime ministers and international figures. Reading the inscription on the pedestal is a quick way to connect the monument with the political history that unfolded just across the road.