Marble Arch

Why go

Historically, only members of the Royal Family and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery are permitted to pass through the arch; this happens only in ceremonial processions. Park Lane widening Park Lane was widened as part of the Park Lane Improvement Scheme of the London County Council and the Marble Arch became stranded on a traffic island.

What to look for

• The arch was completed in 1833.
• As part of the scheme gardens were laid out around the arch on the traffic island.
• The eponymous London Underground station is Marble Arch on the Central line.

The full story

The structure was designed by John Nash in 1827 to be the state entrance to the cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace; it stood near the site of what is today the three-bayed, central projection of the palace containing the well known balcony. In 1851 it was relocated and following the widening of Park Lane in the early 1960s is now sited, incongruently isolated, on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane and Edgware Road. The arch gives its name to the area surrounding it, particularly the southern portion of Edgware Road and also to the underground station. Design and construction Nash's three arch design is based on that of the Arch of Constantine in Rome and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.

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