Trafalgar Square: London's main square

Ever heard of Trafalgar Square? A huge square in the heart of London, which brings together tourists, street artists and a lot of culture in the nearby areas with excellent options for entertainment and leisure. This square is one of the places that cannot be left out of your itinerary in London and we will tell you why!

TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE

The incredible Trafalgar Square served as stables during the 14th to 17th centuries until these were moved to the area next to Buckingham Palace (we tell you about our visit to the stables in this post). During the 1830s, the square underwent a series of modifications, mainly with the construction of the amazing National Gallery, one of London's finest art museums and one of our favourites.

The name of the square is due to a tribute to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, which has tremendous historical importance for the country. This battle represented a turning point in the so-called Napoleonic Wars with the victory of the British navy over the French. Napoleon ended up being definitively defeated only 10 years later at the Battle of Waterloo, but the Battle of Trafalgar was one of the most important steps towards this happening a decade later.

In the middle of the square, there is a huge column, 52 meters high, called the Nelson column. Designed by William Railton, the column was built between 1840 and 1843. At the top is Admiral Horatio Nelson, one of the most important names in the country's history, who led the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he died after being hit by a French sniper. At the base of the column are four bronze lions, placed on the site in 1867. Other highlights of the square are two large fountains next to Nelson's Column that were incorporated in 1845.

ECONOMY IN LONDON: ACTIVITY CARDS

For those who want to do many things and visit many paid places in London, the suggestion is to purchase one of the cards that give you direct access to attractions and ride the tourist bus, saving a lot! O THE LONDON PASS is the most famous of them. The card can be purchased in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 days. It entitles you to admission to over 60 of London's top attractions and 1 day tour on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. In addition, the card offers more than 20 exclusive special offers at some of the city's shops and restaurants. See the full list of included attractions in this link. Price: from £69.

Read more: What to do in London – Complete itinerary of 5 days or more

 

The square has 4 pedestals for statues. In 3 of them are bronze statues of General Sir Charles James Napier in the southwest, Major General Sir Henry Havelock in the southeast and King George IV in the northeast. The fourth of the statues is temporary and changes constantly. Below is “The Gift Horse” by artist Hans Haacke. It was installed in March 2015, and represents a skeletal model of a horse. A curiosity is that it shows live the main quotations that are currently taking place on the London Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange.

The square has been used as a meeting point for street artists and political demonstrations. On normal days, it is always full of tourists who are resting on the steps of the place or admiring the beauty of the National Gallery that occupies a primordial position in the square. Trafalgar Square is one of the highlights of the holiday season, being used for the opening of the London Christmas Tree. In addition, it is an important center of annual New Year's Eve celebrations.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Take advantage of your passage through Trafalgar Square to discover other attractions that are located in areas close to the square. See some suggestions:

• London: Amazing Paintings at the National Gallery
• Covent Garden: shopping, food and culture in London
• London's "M&M World": The World's Largest Candy Store

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HOW TO GET

Access by subway is super easy and can be done through the lines / stations:

• Charing Cross Station: Northern Line (black) and Bakerloo Line (brown)
• Leicester Square Station: Northern Line (black) and Piccadilly Line (marine)
• Piccadilly Circus Station: Piccadilly Line (marine) and Bakerloo Line (brown)
• Embankment Station: Northern Line (black), Bakerloo Line (brown), District Line (green), circle line (Yellow)

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Read more about the UK:

• London: Historic Westminster Abbey
• London: The amazing and free British Museum
• England: Tower of London and British Crown Jewels