Marble Arch
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Address:
Marble Arch
W1H 7EH London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)
NileGuide Expert tip:
Visit on a Sunday and drop in at adjacent Speaker's Corner to hear lively debate!
Description:
This triumphal arch was designed by John Nash, the greatest architect of the early 19th century, to symbolize the victories at Trafalgar and Waterloo, and it originally stood in front of Buckingham Palace. One of London's most repeated misconceptions is that it was moved to its present Hyde Park location, amid huge embarrassment, because it was too narrow for the Royal Coach to fit through. In fact it was moved when the Palace was redeveloped in 1851 and it simply didn't fit into the new shape of things. The story arose when Nash fell out of favour and his critics attempted to discredit him; even today the lie lingers on.
Map:
