Trafalgar Square is not just a geographical point on the map of London. It is the "drawing room of the city," as it is often called, a place where three main streets of Westminster meet — the Strand, Whitehall, and the Mall. It was here in 1945 that Winston Churchill announced the end of the Second World War, here that the country`s main Christmas tree is erected every year, and here that rallies, festivals, and public celebrations take place.
History: From a Royal Cross to the Main Square of the Empire
The history of this place began long before it became a square. In the 13th century, King Edward I ordered a memorial cross to be erected here in memory of his deceased wife, Eleanor of Castile. The cross stood for several centuries, until in 1647, during the revolution, it was demolished. Later, an equestrian statue of the executed King Charles I was placed on this site.
Trafalgar Square acquired its modern appearance in the 1820s, when King George IV commissioned the architect John Nash to redevelop this quarter. Funds were raised by subscription, and the square received its name in honour of the victory of the British fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In that battle, Britain lost not a single ship, but lost its commander — Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. It is to him that the main monument of the square is dedicated.
Nelson`s Column: 51 Metres of History
Nelson`s Column is the central element of Trafalgar Square and one of the most recognisable monuments in London. It was built between 1840 and 1843 to a design by the architect William Railton. The height of the monument is 51.66 metres, although for a long time it was believed to be taller — a laser survey before the restoration of 2006 clarified the matter.
At the top of the granite column stands a statue of Nelson 5.5 metres high, made of sandstone. The admiral`s face is turned to the south — towards the Admiralty and Portsmouth, where his flagship, HMS Victory, still stands. The top of the column is decorated with a bronze ornament in the form of leaves, cast from the metal of English cannons. The square pedestal is decorated with four bronze panels made from captured French guns — they depict Nelson`s famous victories.
There is a popular tale that in 1925 a Scottish swindler, Arthur Ferguson, managed to "sell" the column to naive Americans. And Adolf Hitler, according to rumours, planned to move the monument to Berlin in the event of a successful invasion of Britain.
The Four Bronze Lions of Trafalgar Square
At the base of the column sit four enormous bronze lions. They were created by the sculptor Edwin Landseer, and they were added considerably later than the column itself — in 1867. The lions became not just a decoration but a true symbol of the square. Local residents grew up climbing on these "stern cats," although signs now discourage this. Nevertheless, a photograph against the backdrop of the lions is a mandatory stop for a tourist.
The Fourth Plinth: Contemporary Art in a Historic Square
In the corners of Trafalgar Square stand four plinths. Three of them are occupied by permanent monuments: King George IV and Generals Henry Havelock and Charles Napier. But the fourth plinth remained empty for a long time. Since 1999, sculptures and installations by contemporary artists have been temporarily placed on it — roughly every 1–2 years a new work appears. Here one could see a giant blue cockerel and other provocative works. This makes the square alive and changing, rather than merely a frozen monument to the past.
The National Gallery: Art a Few Steps Away
On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery — one of the world`s leading art museums. It was founded in 1824, and the core of the collection was the assemblage of the banker John Julius Angerstein, consisting of 38 paintings. The Classical-style building was constructed in 1831–1838 to a design by the architect William Wilkins.
Today the gallery`s collection contains more than 2,300 paintings, covering the period from the 13th to the early 20th century. Here you can see works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Caravaggio, Turner, Monet, and Van Gogh. Among the most famous masterpieces are Van Gogh`s "Sunflowers" and Monet`s "Water Lilies." Admission to the main collection is free, which makes the gallery one of the most accessible cultural attractions in London. You should allow at least 2–3 hours for the visit, and it is better to come in the morning, when the halls are less crowded.
The Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields
In the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square stands the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields — one of the most famous parish churches in London. The first mention of a church on this site dates back to 1222, but the present building was constructed in the 1720s to a design by the architect James Gibbs.
Gibbs created the church in a Neo-Greek style: a six-column portico of the Corinthian order, a slender bell tower, and its spire crowned with a golden crown. Contemporaries sharply criticised the design, but over time it became a model for more than a thousand churches around the world — from the United States to India.
The church is interesting not only for its architecture. Buried within it are the famous furniture maker Thomas Chippendale, the chemist and physicist Robert Boyle, the actress Nell Gwyn, and other well-known figures. It also has a café in the crypt — beneath massive brick vaults, with affordable prices and live jazz music on Wednesdays. This is an excellent place to take a rest a few steps from the noisy square.
The Fountains and Everyday Life of the Square
The two large fountains on either side of the central part of Trafalgar Square are not only a decoration but also a place to rest. They were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and restored in the early 2000s. The fountains look especially beautiful at sunset or after nightfall, when the water is illuminated.
Trafalgar Square is also a place of constant events. Celebrations of Chinese New Year, the West End Live festival with open theatre performances, Ramadan events, and many other free events take place here. There is also the TKTS booth, where tickets for evening West End shows are sold at a discount.
Small Things Worth Knowing
• Britain`s smallest police station is hidden in the south-east corner of the square. It was formerly used to monitor protests and celebrations, and now it is simply an amusing historical detail.
• Nearest Underground stations: Charing Cross or Leicester Square.
• Best time for photos: morning or sunset, when the light is soft and there are fewer tourists.
• What is nearby: the National Portrait Gallery, Buckingham Palace (within walking distance), Covent Garden, and Westminster Abbey.
Trafalgar Square is a place where London shows itself from different sides: ceremonial and everyday, historic and modern, noisy and quiet. Here you can spend half an hour simply watching the pigeons and the people, or you can spend half a day moving from the gallery to the church, from the café to the crypt and back to the square. In any case, it is one of those points in London that cannot be passed by.
