Statue of William Booth

The Statue of William Booth in London stands on Mile End Road in the East End, within the borough of Tower Hamlets. It honours the founder of the Salvation Army, who launched his mission in this very neighbourhood.

Who was William Booth, and why is the statue here?

William Booth (1829–1912) was a Methodist preacher. In July 1865 he began holding open-air meetings on Mile End Waste, a broad strip of land beside what is now Mile End Road, speaking to the poorest residents of the East End. That mission grew into the organisation later named the Salvation Army, now active in many countries. The monument therefore marks a starting point rather than an arbitrary spot.

What will you see?

A bronze figure of Booth on a stone plinth overlooks the busy road. It is a replica of the 1929 sculpture by George Edward Wade that stands outside the old Salvation Army training college at Denmark Hill in south London. The Mile End copy was unveiled in 1979 and paid for by Salvation Army women in the United States. A statue of his wife and co-founder Catherine Booth, unveiled in 2015, stands nearby, so the pair makes a compact, free mini-trail through the movement's origins.

Close by, a plaque in front of the Tower Hamlets Mission records the first preaching of 1865.

How do you get there?

The statue sits on Mile End Road between Whitechapel and Mile End. The easiest approach is by Tube: Whitechapel (District, Hammersmith & City and Elizabeth line) and Stepney Green are both a short walk away, and many buses run along Mile End Road. Coordinates are roughly 51.520 N, 0.054 W.

How long do you need, and when should you go?

The monument is in the open beside the pavement, so you can visit at any hour and it costs nothing. Allow about fifteen minutes to take photos and read the inscription. It fits well into an East End walk, with Whitechapel, Brick Lane and the Queen Mary University of London campus, home to the former People's Palace, all nearby. Daylight gives the best photographs, and early weekend mornings are the quietest on Mile End Road.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an admission fee?

No. The statue stands beside a public street and can be seen at any time.

Who made the sculpture?

The 1929 original is by George Edward Wade. The Mile End Road statue is a 1979 replica.

Is there a statue of Catherine Booth nearby?

Yes. A statue of William's wife, unveiled in 2015, stands in the same area of Mile End Road.

Where is the original sculpture?

The 1929 original is at the former Salvation Army training college on Denmark Hill, south London.