Cenotaph Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Cenotaph. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• London Sightseeing Walking Tour with 30+ sights

• Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

• The Big Day Out - London Eye Ticket, London Hop-on Hop-Off Tour & River Cruise

• Private London Westminster Area Self-Guided Tour

• Monarchy and Politics in London - Self-Guided Walking Tours

The Cenotaph is a public war memorial, so it’s free to visit. However, there are plenty of tours that help you dive deeper into its historical significance. London walking tours that cover more than 30 attractions start from US$29, while hop-on hop-off bus tours that let you customize your own itinerary cost from US$39.

No, you can’t lay wreaths or flowers at the Cenotaph unless you are invited to do so during a ceremony. Anything left on the public memorial will be cleared away according to proactive security measures. You can, however, pay your respects during quiet contemplation, or donate to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, which supports the Armed Forces community.

The Cenotaph is dedicated to all those who died during World Wars I and II, so there are no individual inscriptions on the monument. Instead, the stone memorial simply reads, “The Glorious Dead,” along with the dates of the wars. It’s also decorated with carved laurel wreaths and flags from the Armed Services.

Every year on Remembrance Sunday in November, the National Service of Remembrance takes place at the Cenotaph in London. The service includes the Cenotaph Parade, in which more than 10,000 veterans march along Horse Guards Parade past the Cenotaph. Then, members of the royal family, politicians, and other invitees lay wreaths on the monument.

Yes, there are many other attractions near the Cenotaph, as it’s located on the landmark-packed stretch of Whitehall in central London. A few steps away is the monument to the Women of World War II, while you can see statues of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and more at nearby Parliament Square.