Address South Bank Lion Westminster Bridge Rd, The Queen's Walk, Westminster Bridge, South Bank, London SE1 7GA, UK

Carved in 1837 from Coade stone, the South Bank Lion was originally commissioned by James Goding to William Frederick Woodington. The former wished to see a magnificent lion atop his brewery, called the Lion Brewery, located in Lambeth.

Émile Zola, who lived at the Savoy, located opposite the establishment, was fascinated by this lion.

The factory flourished until the 1920s, when a fire broke out in 1931, seriously damaging the building. When it was decided to demolish it in 1949, King George VI decided to remove the statue and place it in front of Waterloo Station. A vast rescue operation began.

From 1951 to 1966, the lion will be painted in red, hence its nickname, still current, of Red Lion.

The statue remained on this site until 1966, when a building was erected next to the station. It was then moved to its current location on the south side of the Westminster Bridge.

A little surprise awaits future generations, a time capsule. At the back of the lion is a glass bottle into which several objects have been inserted such as two William IV coins, a Coade trading card, a 1966 coin, a copy of a letter from the Chairman of the GLC – Greater London Council – and a copy of an article on the Coade Stone by JH Holroyd.