This post is about visiting the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, including directions, hours, and detail about what you will see there.
- Where is the Albert Memorial
- About the Memorial
- Nearby Attractions
- Things to Do in Kensington
- Royal Albert Hall Tours
- Things to Do in London
WHERE IS THE ALBERT MEMORIAL
The Albert Memorial is located at Kensington Gardens, on Albert Memorial Road opposite the Royal Albert Hall.
Click on the map for a larger view.
To get directions to the Memorial from your departure point, we suggest using this link to Google Maps.
Nearest Underground Stations
- South Kensington
- Glouster Road
- Knightsbridge
Bus Routes
- 9, 10, 52, 70, 360, 452
Hop-On Hop-Off Buses
- Most hop-on hop-off tour buses have a stop near Kensington Gardens.
Open Hours
You can visit the Memorial when Kensington Gardens if open. The park is open from 6 am to dusk all year round.
ABOUT THE MEMORIAL
Commissioned by Queen Victoria to commemorated her beloved deceased husband, Prince Albert, the Albert Memorial stands majestically inside Kensington Gardens.
When Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, died unexpectedly in 1861 at the age of 42, Queen Victoria was grief-stricken.
She began to withdraw from the public, dressed only in black – a habit she would continue until the day she died – and began a huge effort to memorialize and commemorate her husband in any way possible.
The Albert Memorial is a visual explanation of how Queen Victoria regarded her husband. A team of people close to Victoria worked together on various ideas for a monument that would please the Queen.
Design and deliberation went on for years and it was not until 1863 that the design for the monument was formally approved by Victoria. The winning design was by noted architect George Gilbert Scott.
The memorial took over 10 years to construct and it opened in July of 1872. It stands 176 feet tall (54 m). The cost was £120,000 (around £10 million today).
Among the many architects who worked on the memorial were Henry Hugh Armstead, Thomas Thornycroft, Patrick MacDowell, John Bell, John Henry Foley, William Theed, William Calder, and many more.
TIP: The memorial is a stop on our pay-what-you-like Royal Kensington Tour.
Artwork Explained
Central to the memorial is the large, seated sculpture of Prince Albert himself. The final statue was cast in bronze and then decorated with gilt.
The figure is facing the Royal Albert Hall, tying in the two creations, both made to honour Albert.
The location of the memorial is meaningful in that it was built upon the site of The Great Exhibition of 1851, a once-in-a-lifetime event that celebrated the British Empire. In fact, his statue is holding a catalogue of The Great Exhibition.
The central part of the memorial is surrounded by the Frieze of Parnassus, with over 160 depictions of musicians, sculptors, painters, poets, and architects.
At the corners of the monument sit two allegorical sculpture sets. One depicting Victorian industry and science and the other showcasing the four corners of the earth (Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas).
The canopy is an intricate blend of dozens of pieces of sculpture of allegorical and historical figures, and statues representing the arts and sciences as well as Christian virtues.
The canopy has words surrounding it as follows: Queen Victoria and Her People. To The Memory of Albert Prince Consort. As A Tribute Of Their Gratitude. For A Life Devoted to the Public Good. Above all is situated gilded angels raising their arms, crowned by a gold cross.
There are countless things to do near the Albert Memorial. Our pay-what-you-like Royal Kensington Tour is a good way to see the memorial as well as visit nearby sights.
For a full list of sights, see our post on things to do in Kensington.
Also, you can use our self-guided walking tour of Kensington and Hyde Park for guidance.
One sight worth considering is Kensington Palace, home to Prince William and Kate Middleton, and at one time Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana.
You might like to stop by the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and pay your respects.
If you are with children, bring them to the Diana Memorial Playground. (See our post things to do with kids in London.)
South of the Memorial is the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. All three are free to visit.
Find out more about them from our post on free museums in London.
Royal Albert Hall is just across the street. You can take a tour of this famous venue.
Finally, if you feel like a walk, Buckingham Palace is about 30 minutes away on foot.
