The mission – to find elephants in London.
If like me you love elephants, you’ll take any opportunity to see elephants when on holiday.
So, I decided to make it my mission to track down elephants in my home city of London.
Elephant number 1.
Starting with probably one of the most well-known elephants in London – the elephant and castle statue. The statue is located at the entrance to the shopping centre at Elephant and Castle. It was taken from a public house on the site before it was redeveloped into a shopping centre in the Sixties, claimed as the first covered shopping mall in Europe.
Closest tube station: Elephant and Castle
Elephant number 2 can be found tucked inside a courtyard just a few minutes west from Blackfriars Bridge along Fleet Street at the Apex Temple Court Hotel.
Closest tube station: Temple / Blackfriars
Next up is Trafalgar Square! Just above a window on the left hand side of the South Africa House is elephant number 3.
The South Africa House is the base for the South Africa High Commission for United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Closest tube station: Charing Cross
Elephant number 4 wasn’t easy to spot.
I visited this one during Open House London.
Although not accessible to the public, it can be seen through a window in Court 3 at the UK Supreme Court.
Closest tube station: Westminster
Camden High Street houses the most colourful elephant in London, elephant number 5.
Make sure you look up as you walk along the high street taking in the unique wall art above the shops including this amazing elephant.
Across the road you can have a drink and rest in The Elephants Head pub.
Closest tube station: Camden
You’ll need to catch elephant number 6, titled ‘Gran Elefandret’, quickly as it’s only on display until 8 October.
Frieze Sculpture is a free outdoor sculpture exhibition in the English Country Gardens in Regent’s Park (the southern end).
Closest tube station: Regent’s Park / Great Portland Street
Elephant number 7 can be spotted at the Albert Memorial.
This ornate statue located in Kensington Gardens, just in front of the Royal Albert Hall, commemorates the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner of the memorial. A majestic elephant represents Asia.
Closest tube station: South Kensington
The natural place to look for elephant number 8 is the Natural History Museum. See the life sized elephants and learn about elephants from different continents. You might even be able to buy an elephant souvenir 🙂
Closest tube station: South Kensington
Elephant number 9 can be found at Wat Buddhapadipa
This Buddhist Thai style temple was the first to be built in the United Kingdom.
Closest tube station: Southfields / Wimbledon
Can’t get enough of elephants?
You can also…
Find a pair of 17th century Japanese porcelain Kakiemon elephants in the Japan Rooms at the British Museum
Go to the Blue Elephant Theatre
Live in the Elephant Park residential area
Get yourself a work space in Hotel Elephant
Have a drink at the Elephant and Castle pub in Kensington
And finally
If you want to see the real thing, you need to venture out of the city to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Have we missed any?
