London Nose from the Admiralty Arch

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The London Noses or Seven Noses of Soho are an artistic installation found on buildings across London's cityscape. They are plaster of Paris reproductions of artist Rick Buckley's nose, sticking out from walls in a jarring and surprising manner. Created by Buckley in 1997, the noses were initially placed on about 35 structures like the National Gallery and Tate Britain, but now only around 10 remain. Buckley was motivated by London's widespread introduction of CCTV cameras and drew inspiration from the Situationists' philosophy. He installed the noses directly under the cameras, sparking a prank that went unpublicized at first. As a result, urban legends began to circulate to explain the sudden appearance of the noses. For instance, one rumor claimed the nose inside Admiralty Arch was intended as a mocking tribute to Napoleon, while another said it would be playfully adjusted by cavalry troopers from nearby Horse Guards Parade whenever they passed through the arch.