Admiralty Arch, London

The Mall-London鈥檚 answer to a Parisian boulevard (if Paris had fewer croissants and more royal pageantry). This grand, tree-lined stretch was laid out in the early 1900s as a grand tribute to Queen Victoria. Gliding elegantly along the top edge of St. James鈥檚 Park, it is perfect for parades, pomp, and the occasional royal wave.

At one end of the Mall, rising like a stone eyebrow over the road, stands Admiralty Arch. It鈥檚 not just one arch-oh no-it鈥檚 five: two for pedestrians, two for cars, and one exclusive center arch, which is rolled out only for state occasions or when the King鈥檚 feeling particularly dramatic. Until 2012, the Arch moonlighted as a government building and even hosted the Prime Minister whenever No. 10 needed a makeover. Presently, it鈥檚 undergoing conversion into a luxury hotel, complete with a jaw-dropping 拢150-million penthouse-basically Buckingham Palace without the job.

And now, a small detour into the bizarre: look closely at the inside wall of the right-hand car arch (as you face The Mall), and you might spot... a bronze nose. Yes, the nose. Not a lost statue part or prank gone wrong, but a fully intentional nose installed by a rogue artist in 1997. No one really knows why it鈥檚 there, though some whisper it鈥檚 a tribute to the Duke of Wellington鈥檚 famously generous proboscis. What we do know is that the Royal Horse Guards still give it a lucky rub as they pass by-maybe as a sign of their admiration for the Iron Duke or maybe simply because even in a city of secrets, superstition always gets the last laugh...

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Admiralty Arch
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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