VICTORIA CLOCK TOWER
The little silver clock at the heart of Victoria, a pocket-sized piece of London dropped into one of the smallest capitals on earth. Locals call it Lorloz, and the whole town still meets around it.
A clock with a story
Stand at the crossing of Independence Avenue and Albert Street and you are at the centre of Victoria, and the centre of Victoria is this slim silver clock tower. It was raised in 1903 to mark the moment Seychelles was made a Crown Colony in its own right, no longer governed as a distant dependency of Mauritius. For a scatter of islands finding its own feet, a clock at the crossroads was a statement.
The design is not an accident. It is a small copy of the clock tower known as Little Ben that stands near Victoria Station in London, itself a nod to Queen Victoria, who had died two years earlier. The Seychelles version was cast by the English foundry Gillett and Johnston and shipped out to the islands. Look closely and you are looking at a piece of Edwardian London, painted silver and standing under a tropical sun.
Lorloz and daily life
Generations of Seychellois have used the clock as their meeting point. Say you will wait by Lorloz and everyone knows exactly where you mean. Around it sit the landmarks of the old capital, the covered Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market a short walk one way, the cathedral and courthouse close by, banks and shops filling the streets between. It is the natural place to start a walk through town.
The clock has a gentle reputation for keeping its own time and falling silent for long stretches over the years, which the town seems to regard with more affection than frustration. It is small, it is a little imperfect, and it is entirely Victoria’s own.
Seeing it well
This is a photo stop rather than a half-day, and it works best folded into a wider wander through the capital. Come on a weekday morning when the market is busy and the streets have their proper rhythm. Give yourself an hour to take in the clock, the market and the colonial buildings around them, and you will have seen the living heart of Seychelles rather than just ticked off a monument.
Know before you go
| Where | Junction of Independence Avenue and Albert Street, central Victoria, Mahe |
| Built | 1903, to mark Seychelles becoming a Crown Colony |
| Cost | Free, a public landmark on the street |
| Time to allow | A short stop, or an hour with the market and old town |
| Nearby on foot | Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, cathedral, courthouse, main shops |
| Best time | Weekday morning, when the market and streets are liveliest |
What visitors say
★ 4.2 · 1,383 Google reviews★★★★Clock Tower is located in Victoria which is the smallest city in the world (capital of Mahé). You won’t miss this iconic landmark as its in the center of the highway just in front of the I❤️Seychelles sign. You can walk …
Janelle Laguatan-Perez · via Google
★★★★★The Clock Tower in Victoria, Seychelles is an iconic landmark right in the heart of the capital, often called the “Little Big Ben” for its classic design and charming presence. Surrounded by the hustle of small shops, lo…
Mauritian_feed · via Google
★★★★Erected in 1903 in memory of Queen Victoria who passed away 2 years prior. This is a symbol of the last colonial power Great Britain. Clock might look small but you have to take yourself back in the day when this was tow…
Tas A · via Google
★★★★★During my walk around Victoria city, I came across this charming clock tower, locally nicknamed ‘Lorloz’ and often called the ‘Little Big Ben’ of Seychelles. Interestingly, it arrived from England in nine separate pieces…
Mahima Patel · via Google
The clock is the start of the old capital, and a half-day Victoria walking tour joins it to the market, the cathedral and the Hindu temple with someone who knows the stories. Stay in town to explore on foot.
See the old capitalHalf-day Victoria city discovery tourfrom €180 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market · St Paul’s Cathedral · Bel Air Cemetery
Pair the clock with the market one block away and the cathedral just up the hill. Together they make a proper half-hour walk through the old capital rather than a single quick snapshot.
