Memorial wall
Sightseeing attraction | London | England | United Kingdom
The "Memorial Wall" in London, better known as the National Covid Memorial Wall, is an impressive and emotionally charged sight dedicated to the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. This public memorial stretches over a length of more than 500 meters along the south bank of the River Thames and was launched in March 2021. It consists of approximately 245,000 hand-painted red and pink hearts, each representing a person who died in the UK with COVID-19 listed as the cause of death on their death certificate. The goal was to make each heart unique – a symbol of the individuality of the deceased – yet together create a strong visual statement.
The idea for this memorial emerged from a collaboration between the campaign group Led By Donkeys and the organization Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, founded by bereaved individuals to provide support and push for a public inquiry into pandemic policies. In March 2021, volunteers, including many grieving family members, began painting the first 150,000 hearts in just ten days. What started as a spontaneous action without official approval quickly evolved into a national symbol of remembrance. Bereaved individuals added personal messages, names, and dedications to the hearts, reflecting love, pain, and memory. Over time, more hearts were added to reflect the growing number of victims.
The design of the wall is simple yet powerful. Originally drawn with art pens, the hearts quickly faded due to the unpredictable London weather, prompting a small group of about ten volunteers – known as the "Friends of the Wall" – to repaint the hearts with durable wall paint and add new dedications. These volunteers, often themselves bereaved, travel from afar to maintain the memorial. They also collect dedication requests through social media and write them for those who cannot come in person. The wall stretches along a section of the Thames Path and is located opposite the Palace of Westminster, adding an additional symbolic dimension – a silent rebuke to decision-makers whose actions or inaction influenced the pandemic.
The Memorial Wall is more than just an artwork; it is a place of mourning, unity, and protest. For many families who have lost loved ones, it provides a tangible place to express their grief – something that was often impossible during the pandemic due to lockdowns and restrictions. The hearts tell individual stories: Some bear simple names like "Andy" or "Mum," while others carry longer messages like "You will never be forgotten." Viewed from the opposite bank, the hearts merge into a blood-red line visualizing the immense tragedy of over 240,000 deaths.
The story of the wall is also one of controversy and persistence. Although it began without the authorities' approval, it received widespread public support. Prominent figures like opposition leader Keir Starmer visited and praised it as a "remarkable monument." The then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson also visited, but only late in the evening and without meeting the families, sparking criticism. Originally planned to be removed after a certain time, bereaved individuals and supporters are fighting to keep it as a permanent monument. In March 2023, the Commission for Covid Commemoration recommended to the government to make the wall a permanent memorial, and discussions with various institutions are ongoing to make this a reality.
For visitors, the Memorial Wall is a moving experience. It is located near St Thomas' Hospital, where an older plaque also commemorates a previous health outbreak, and it fits into the historical significance of the Thames Path. The atmosphere is often quiet, occasionally interrupted by soft conversations or the rustling of flowers regularly laid down. On commemorative days like the anniversary of the first painted heart on March 29 or at Christmas, when candles are placed along the wall, people gather to mourn and reflect together.
The Memorial Wall represents the collective and individual grief of a nation and is a testament to the grassroots movement that created it. It urges not to forget the pandemic and to keep the stories of the deceased alive. As a landmark, it is unique – not a polished monument, but a living, evolving artwork shaped by the power of community and the depth of human emotions. It remains a place that provides comfort and raises questions – about loss, responsibility, and the way a society honors its dead.
