Cleopatra's Needle is one of London's most surprising landmarks: a genuine ancient Egyptian obelisk, more than 3,000 years old, standing on the Victoria Embankment beside the Thames. Carved in Heliopolis long before Cleopatra's time, it was gifted to Britain in the nineteenth century and erected here in 1878, guarded by two bronze sphinxes.
Why see it
It is a direct, tangible link to ancient Egypt in the heart of London, hiding in plain sight on a riverside walk. The contrast of pharaonic granite against the Victorian Embankment and the modern river is unforgettable.
What to see nearby
The obelisk sits on the Thames-side walk between Embankment and Temple, within easy reach of the Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery and the gardens of the Embankment.
Visiting tips
It is free and visible at any time. Embankment and Temple stations are closest. Look for the shrapnel scars on a sphinx, damage from a First World War air raid.
