Jan Smuts

The statue of Jan Smuts stands in Parliament Square, a bit of a surprise if you're not actively looking for it. There he is, bronze and imperious, watching over the lawns where tourists queue for the Houses of Parliament and snap photos without really noticing him. Smuts was a South African military commander and statesman who became Prime Minister twice - the sort of figure British imperial history is absolutely riddled with, but one most visitors have never heard of.

You're not going to spend hours here. Ten minutes, maybe fifteen if you read the inscription properly and let yourself think about the weight of colonial history. The square itself is the real draw - it's hemmed in by Westminster Abbey, the Supreme Court, and Parliament, so you're standing in the thick of it all. The statue catches morning light beautifully if you're into that sort of photography.

History enthusiasts with a taste for the murkier corners of British imperial legacy will find it worth a pause. Kids? They'll be bored witless. Walkers will appreciate the square as part of a larger Westminster loop rather than as a destination in itself.

It's free, obviously - it's a public square. If you're staying at Lovat Parks just over a mile away, a day trip into central London will naturally include Parliament Square. It's not worth traveling across the city for specifically, but it's there, quietly insistent, when you do.