George Canning

The statue of George Canning stands in Parliament Square, a rather imposing bronze figure that most tourists walk straight past without a glance. He was Prime Minister for all of 119 days in 1827 before dying in office - one of only two to meet that particular end - which says something about either his bad luck or the stress of the job.

If you're into 19th-century politics and the Greek independence movement, Canning's your man. He pushed hard for recognising Greece's fight against Ottoman rule, which earned him respect abroad even if domestic politics in Westminster gave him ulcers. The sculpture itself, tucked among the other parliamentary grandees in the square, is competent enough but won't set your heart racing.

This is really a spot for proper history nerds rather than casual visitors. You'll spend maybe ten minutes here, tops - it's the sort of place you'd include on a walk around Westminster rather than deliberately plan a visit for. Parliament Square itself is worth an amble though, with all the significant figures on display and the Gothic Revival architecture of the Houses of Parliament dominating everything.

Nearby Lovat Parks offers decent accommodation if you're basing yourself in London for a proper historical tour. The square's free to access and open all hours, so you can swing by whenever suits. Best visited as part of a broader Westminster wandering rather than as a destination in itself.