Massive succulent ID

In a local front garden, there is a mahoosive succulent. It looks like a gigantic writhing octopus.
What might it be?
I'm glad it's not too close to me; it would give me nightmares.

 

Could you take a photo so that it may be identified ? It could be an Agave or an Aloe, or something completely different ... but without a photo it's difficult to say.

 

I might try but the front gardens are quite small. They might set it on me.

 

Take a big stick.

 

If it's massive, it's probably a hardy one, perhaps this
Aloe striaula


or this

 

More like the second one.

 

We have a few agave americana locally and one of those is absolutely enormous, 6x6ft +. There is a variagated version as well.

It's a reasonably common species so might be worth a Google.

 

I'm sure that's it. Thank you @Thevictorian

 

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I've got a reasonable sized one but they dont tend to be hardy around here unless you find the right spot, grow well in London though.

 

The one locally has been there for years and years in the front gardent with a prickley pear cactus and similar type plants. I'm guessing the owner prepared the soil with planting in mind.
It is never given winter protection and seems to sail though quite happily. I've not stood next to it but it looks enormous from the road, so I think it will probably flower soon.
There was a variegated one in the same area which did well with a shelter in the winter but after it outgrew that it never lasted another winter. I think it was the wet that did for it rather than the cold as it just turned to mush. It was probably 4-5ft at that time but I've heard the variagated cultivars aren't quite as hardy.

Edit, I'm in Norwich.

 

Yes, its mostly the wet that affects mine, I have to cover it from excess rain otherwise it ends up covered in black spots that take years to grow out.

I've seen them in coastal areas in Kent doing well on roundabouts, but inland without some protection its pretty limited.

London gets the extra heat from surrounding buildings as do many cities, its the combination of cold and wet that causes the problem.

Mine is growing up under the house eves so gets a bit of both protection wise, I even have to water it occasionally in summer if I want it to actually grow.