Marble Arch is a white-marble-faced triumphal arch at the western end of Oxford Street, where the street meets Park Lane and Edgware Road.
- Location: Marble Arch, London, W1C 1LU
- Arch site: open daily from 8 a.m.; closing times vary by season
- Hyde Park gates: open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight
Where Marble Arch Stands
Marble Arch stands at the meeting point of Oxford Street, Park Lane and Edgware Road, beside Hyde Park.
The site has two islands: a western lawn with a planting bund and an eastern plaza containing the arch. A 27-foot bronze horse-head sculpture by artist N. Fiddian-Green is also part of the site. York stone paths connect the grounds to Edgware Road and Bayswater Road.
Oxford Street meets Edgware Road and Park Lane at Marble Arch, at the shopping street’s western end. This junction is therefore a useful place to orient yourself before walking along Oxford Street or heading into the park.
A Short History of the Arch
Marble Arch began as a planned state entrance for Buckingham Palace before being moved to its current location.
John Nash designed the arch in 1827 as the state entrance to the cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace. In 1851, it was moved to its present site on the initiative of architect and urban planner Decimus Burton, who had once been Nash’s pupil.
After Park Lane was widened in the early 1960s, Marble Arch became a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane and Edgware Road. Its position today reflects that change in the surrounding roads.
Walking to Marble Arch
A Pavilion stay for a Marble Arch walk puts the arch about a 12-minute walk away, making it a short outing or a starting point for a longer walk.
At the site, the eastern plaza brings you to the arch, while the western island offers a lawn and planting. The paths connect towards Edgware Road and Bayswater Road. If you plan to head into Hyde Park, its pedestrian and vehicle gates open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight each day throughout the year.
The Royal Parks identifies Marble Arch as a Central line Underground station serving Hyde Park; Lancaster Gate is another Central line station serving the park. London Paddington is the closest mainline station to Hyde Park, about 500 metres north of West Carriage Drive.
Access details differ by location: Westminster City Council describes the Marble Arch site as wheelchair accessible and welcomes dogs, while AccessAble says the Underground station is accessed by steps only. AccessAble also notes that the south side of Oxford Street and West One Shopping Centre can be reached only by steps or escalators.
If you’re planning a fuller city day, the London route from Paddington offers a separate itinerary.
Hyde Park and Oxford Street Nearby
Hyde Park and Oxford Street meet at Marble Arch, so you can combine time in the park with a walk along the shopping street. Hyde Park adjoins Kensington Gardens, making the route to Kensington Gardens from Paddington another green-space walk to consider.
Hyde Park’s gates open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight every day throughout the year. The Royal Parks announces temporary gate closures for events or maintenance on its Hyde Park webpage. Oxford Street begins its westward connection here, with Park Lane and Edgware Road meeting it at the same junction.
Westminster City Council gives the arch site’s opening pattern as daily from 8 a.m., with closing times that vary by season. Check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Which Underground line serves Marble Arch?
Marble Arch station is on the Central line. Access to the station is by steps only.
Can you take a dog to the Marble Arch site?
Yes. Westminster City Council welcomes dogs at the site.
How do you reach Hyde Park from Marble Arch?
Marble Arch is identified as a Central line station serving Hyde Park.