Trafalgar Square, London

Trafalgar Square in London is one of the most recognisable places in the world and a great place to spend some London time . Nelson's Column is undoubtably the focal point of the square, standing at 145 feet tall, it provides a fitting monument to Britain's greatest naval hero. London's most famous square was designed by John Nash, but there have been various additions at different times over the years. The fountains were added in 1845 and their mermaids and dolphins in 1920. Edwin Landseer's lions were put in place to guard the base of Nelson's column in 1868. The bronze bas-reliefs around the lower part of the monument depict some of Nelson's famous maritime victories (Battles of St. Vincent, Copenhagen, the Nile and death scene from the Victory and are cast from cannon captured by Nelson). Nelson is the height of three men at the top of his great column and is said to face his right in salute to his fleet which is represented by effigies of his ships which adorn the lights lining The Mall. The four corner pedestals boast two soldiers and a king - George IV and the commanders Major General Sir Henry Havelock and General Sir Charles Napier. The remaining plinth on the North-Western corner is still vacant at the present time and waiting for a hero. It has been the temporary home of three modern sculptures, including Rachel Whiteread's "Plinth".   London is planning a special free concert on the Mall to celebrate the Olympic handover ceremony. See: Visa London 2012 Party  Around Trafalgar Square National Gallery - free entry Tel: 020 7747 2885 (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) National Portrait Gallery - free entry Tel: 020 7306 0055 (www.npg.org.uk) St Martin-in-the-Fields church - Charles II, was christened here. Both Nell Gwyn and Jack Sheppard (The highwayman) are buried here. Many free concerts are held in the church at lunchtime. Tel: 020 7839 8362 (www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org) Nearest Underground (tube) Station: Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) - entrance on Trafalgar Square. The following tube / London Underground Stations are just a short walk from Trafalgar Square: Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines) Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, District and Circle lines) Bus Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453 go past Trafalgar Square. The following routes start/end near the square: 53, N2, N5, N18, N20, N21, N26, N29, N41, N47, N50, N89, N91, N97, N279, and N381, (Many of London's night buses serve Trafalgar Square).

Trafalgar Square highlights

Trafalgar Square is bordered by Admiralty Arch in the southwest corner which leads into the Mall. To the south is the fine statue of King Charles I on horseback looking down Whitehall to where his scaffold stood and to the east is the lovely church of St-Martin-in-the Fields with its tall spire. The National Gallery is on the north side of the square, Canada House on the west side and the stately South Africa House and the Strand to the east. In 2003 the redevelopment of the north side of Trafalgar Square was completed. The work involved demolishing part of the wall and building a wide set of stairs. The new stairs lead to a large terrace or piazza in front of the National Gallery, in what was previously a busy road. The pedestrianisation of the Square has been a huge success and the Square is now a wonderful place to spend time, relax, people-watch and wile away some time on a nice, sunny day. In recent years Trafalgar Square has become the location to the climax for victory parades for the England national rugby union team in the 2003 Rugby World Cup on the 9th December 2003. The 13th September 2005 was also the climax of the victory parade for the England national cricket team victory against the Australia national cricket team in The Ashes. Many visitors to Trafalgar Square, pass by London's smallest police station without even noticing. The light on the top of the box reputedly comes from HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship.