What monument is there in the centre of trafalgar square

15 Facts About Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square

Address: Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London WC2N 5DN

If you’ve been to Trafalgar Square in the centre of London, you’ll almost certainly have come across Nelson’s Column. The iconic monument was built to commemorate British naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It is surely one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, known to millions of people in the UK and around the world.

In case you’d like to learn a little more about the monument & enjoy, here are 15 interesting facts you may not be aware of:

1. Nelson’s Column was built between 1840 and 1843, after William Railton won a protracted competition to design the structure. The original decision to award Railton the contract was overturned, but his design emerged triumphant in the re-run.

2. The monument is built of the Corinthian order, a style of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It is characterised by slender fluted columns and elaborate capitals, which are decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls.

3. Nelson’s Column cost £47,000 to built in the 1840s, which is the equivalent of between £3 million and £4 million today. Most of the money came from private investors, with the Tsar of Russia footing more than a quarter of the bill on his own.

4. Nelson’s Column was constructed out of Dartmoor granite and weighs around 2,500 tonnes. It was originally meant to be built entirely out of sandstone, but the plan was changed shortly before construction started.

5. The 18 ft 1 in (5.5 m) statue of Admiral Nelson which stands on top of the column, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, is built out of sandstone rather than granite.

6. Part of Admiral Nelson’s shoulder was chipped when the column was struck by lightning during an electrical storm in 1896.

7. When the column was measured in 2006, during a £420,000 renovation, it was discovered that the monument is 14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) shorter than had always been thought. The actual height of Nelson’s Column, from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson’s hat, is 169 ft 3 in (51.6 m).

8. The original proposal was for a 203 ft (62 m) column, however construction plans were scaled back due to concerns over stability and cost.

9. The four bronze lions which sit at the base of Nelson’s Column were added in 1867, almost 25 years after the monument was erected. They all sit in same position, but are – to the surprise of many – not identical.

10. The four panels at the bottom of the monument each depict a scene from Nelson’s most famous battles: the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen, the Battle of Cape St Vincent and his death at the Battle of Trafalgar.

11. The panels were made from French guns which were captured and melted down. Four different artists designed each of the panel depictions: Musgrave Watson, William F. Woodington, John Ternouth and John Edward Carew.

12. In 2011, consultants employed by the Greater London Authority reported that ‘considerable damage’ has been caused by tourists climbing on the lions. The report called for a ban to be enforced, in order to protect the structures, although English Heritage opposed this course of action.

13. Had Adolf Hitler succeeded in invading the UK during the Second World War, he planned to relocate Nelson’s Column from central London to Berlin.

14. John Noakes, a presenter on BBC TV children’s programme ‘Blue Peter’, climbed Nelson’s Column in the late 1970s. He is just one of many people – including journalists, stuntmen and political protesters – to have scaled the monument.

15. Nelson’s Column was not the first civic monument erected in the admiral’s honour. A 44-metre obelisk was built on Glasgow Green in Scotland in 1806, just one year after Nelson’s death in battle and almost a quarter of a century before work began in Trafalgar Square. Other monuments can be found in Edinburgh, Forres, Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Hereford and Great Yarmouth.

Parking near to Trafalgar Square

Parking is limited at Trafalgar Square, which finds itself in central London’s congestion charge zone. However, there are a number of pay and display car parks within walking distance of the area and Nelson’s Column. These include:

Tube stations close to Nelson’s Column

For visitors to the capital staying at hotels in Paddington London, or in other parts of the capital, the closest Tube stations to Nelson’s Column are as follows:

The closest mainline station is Charing Cross, which is a four-minute walk from Nelson’s Column.

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If you’ve been to Trafalgar Square in the centre of London, you’ll almost certainly have come across Nelson’s Column. The iconic monument was built to commemorate British naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It is surely one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, known to millions of people in the UK and around the world.

In case you’d like to learn a little more about the monument, here are 15 interesting facts you may not be aware of:

1. Nelson’s Column was built between 1840 and 1843, after William Railton won a protracted competition to design the structure. The original decision to award Railton the contract was overturned, but his design emerged triumphant in the re-run.

2. The monument is built of the Corinthian order, a style of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It is characterised by slender fluted columns and elaborate capitals, which are decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls.

3. Nelson’s Column cost £47,000 to built in the 1840s, which is the equivalent of between £3 million and £4 million today. Most of the money came from private investors, with the Tsar of Russia footing more than a quarter of the bill on his own.

4. Nelson’s Column was constructed out of Dartmoor granite and weighs around 2,500 tonnes. It was originally meant to be built entirely out of sandstone, but the plan was changed shortly before construction started.

5. The 18 ft 1 in (5.5 m) statue of Admiral Nelson which stands on top of the column, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, is built out of sandstone rather than granite.

6. Part of Admiral Nelson’s shoulder was chipped when the column was struck by lightning during an electrical storm in 1896.

7. When the column was measured in 2006, during a £420,000 renovation, it was discovered that the monument is 14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) shorter than had always been thought. The actual height of Nelson’s Column, from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson’s hat, is 169 ft 3 in (51.6 m).

8. The original proposal was for a 203 ft (62 m) column, however construction plans were scaled back due to concerns over stability and cost.

10. The four panels at the bottom of the monument each depict a scene from Nelson’s most famous battles: the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen, the Battle of Cape St Vincent and his death at the Battle of Trafalgar.

11. The panels were made from French guns which were captured and melted down. Four different artists designed each of the panel depictions: Musgrave Watson, William F. Woodington, John Ternouth and John Edward Carew.

12. In 2011, consultants employed by the Greater London Authority reported that ‘considerable damage’ has been caused by tourists climbing on the lions. The report called for a ban to be enforced, in order to protect the structures, although English Heritage opposed this course of action.

13. Had Adolf Hitler succeeded in invading the UK during the Second World War, he planned to relocate Nelson’s Column from central London to Berlin.

15. Nelson’s Column was not the first civic monument erected in the admiral’s honour. A 44-metre obelisk was built on Glasgow Green in Scotland in 1806, just one year after Nelson’s death in battle and almost a quarter of a century before work began in Trafalgar Square. Other monuments can be found in Edinburgh, Forres, Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Hereford and Great Yarmouth.

Parking near to Trafalgar Square

Parking is limited at Trafalgar Square, which finds itself in central London’s congestion charge zone. However, there are a number of pay and display car parks within walking distance of the area and Nelson’s Column. These include:

Tube stations close to Nelson’s Column

For visitors to the capital staying at hotels in Paddington in London, or in other parts of the capital, the closest Tube stations to Nelson’s Column are as follows:

The closest mainline station is Charing Cross, which is a four-minute walk from Nelson’s Column.

10 Facts about Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most impressive spaces, but these ten facts about this famous destination will help you see it in a whole new light…

1. The Battle of Trafalgar

Ever wondered why it’s called ‘Trafalgar Square’ in the first place? The famous square within easy reach of the Park Grand London Paddington is named after the Battle of Trafalgar, one of Britain’s most famous military victories. The battle was fought on the 21st October 1805, though Trafalgar Square wasn’t opened until 1844.

2. Trafalgar Square Pigeons

The square was once known as the adopted home of thousands of pigeons, but in the early 2000s, the then-Mayor banned feeding them, in the hope of driving down numbers. Today, the population has dropped dramatically, but you’ll still see pigeons feature heavily in historic artwork and photography of Trafalgar Square.

3. Nelson’s Column

Arguably the true ‘centerpiece’ of Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column was built in commemoration of Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson, a famed naval commander who led British troops to win the Battle of Trafalgar. The column stands at 14ft 6 inches, and underwent a full refurbishment in 2006, helping to restore the monument to its former glory.

4. The Crown Estate

Trafalgar Square is part of the Queen’s Crown Estate, giving her de-facto ownership. The square is now managed by a combination of the Greater London authorities and Westminster City Council, who own the roads surrounding it.

5. Festive Traditions

The Christmas Tree at Trafalgar Square each year is a gift from the Norwegian government. This tradition is in honour of Britain’s involvement in assisting Norway during the Second World War, and if you’re staying at budget accommodation in London during the winter, it’s well-worth visiting this impressive piece of ongoing history.

6. The Fountains

Trafalgar Square is also known for its iconic fountains, which create a stunning water feature in the middle of the square. They haven’t always flowed as freely as they do today, however – in 2012, the fountains were turned off due to a summer drought.

7. Police Box

The square is home to the world’s smallest police box, located in the southeast of Trafalgar Square. In the 1920s, this police box featured a phone line which connected visitors to the local police station, but these days it’s used as extra storage space for the council. Nonetheless, it makes for a picturesque addition to the square during your stay at the Park Grand London Paddington.

8. The Lions

Trafalgar Square’s lions are crafted from bronze, reclaimed from melted cannons. These impressive sculptures were designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, and installed here in 1868.

9. National Gallery

The National Gallery is located to the north of the square. Founded in 1824, it includes one of the world’s most impressive picture collections, including works by artists like Rembrandt and Raphael.

10. Designing Trafalgar Square

The square itself was designed by architect Charles Barry, and prior to its installation, the area was known for housing a royal stables and royal hawks.

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What to See at London’s Trafalgar Square

Gautier Houba / TripSavvy

Trafalgar Square, a popular tourist destination, is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London. Trafalgar Square was designed by architect John Nash in the 1820s and constructed in the 1830s.

Tourists gather there, tour buses circle the central monument and political activists gather to demonstrate. Every December, Norway donates a marvelous Christmas tree to thank Britain for their part in the liberation from the Nazis and it is erected in the square.

The nearest tube stations to Trafalgar Square are Charing Cross and Leicester Square.

Trafalgar Square itself has many interesting sights including Nelson’s Column, The National Gallery, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, you can easily go shopping in Covent Garden, have a meal in Chinatown, see popular shows in the glittering West End, walk down Whitehall to Parliament Square to see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and walk down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

Getting to the square is simple. The nearest tube stations to Trafalgar Square are Charing Cross and Leicester Square.

Nelson’s Column

Nelson’s Column was built in Trafalgar Square in 1843. The monument commemorates Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The column measures just over 169 feet high from the base to the top of Nelson’s hat.

The base of the statue has four bronze relief panels cast from captured French cannons. They depict the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the death of Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar.

The four bronze lions at the base of the column were designed by Edwin Landseer and were added in 1868. You are allowed to climb onto the base of the sculptures for photo opportunities but cannot sit on the lions.

10 Things to see at Trafalgar Square

It’s one of London’s most iconic landmarks, and thanks to its central location, most tourists will pay a visit to Trafalgar Square. While at first glance it might seem that the square is a just a couple of fountains and a big column, there’s a lot more to the area and it’s worth stopping for a while to take a closer look around.

1. Nelson’s Column

It’s hard to miss Nelson’s Column. This enormous structure in the middle of the square was designed and erected to honour Admiral Horatio Nelson after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The monument comprises a granite column of the Corinthian order, topped with a sandstone statue of Nelson. It stands on a large pedestal, which is decorated with bronze relief panels. The panels were cast from French guns that were captured and depict images from Nelson’s career: the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and his death at Trafalgar.

Completed in 1843, the entire monument, from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson’s hat measures 169 feet and three inches tall.

2. The Landseer Lions

London has a lot of lion statues – around 10,000 according to some estimates. But, the most famous of these big cats are the four enormous bronze felines that have been guarding Nelson’s column since 1867. Named the after Edwin Landseer, the artist who created them, each of the Landseer Lions is around 20 feet long and 22 feet tall.

At first glance, the lions may seem identical, but if you look closely, you’ll notice slight differences in their manes, faces and how they’re positioned. When designing the statues, Landseer spent time at what is now London Zoo, observing the lions living there. He also obtained dead lions from the zoo to study in more detail. However, it’s believed that these specimens began to decay before he was finished, so some details are not accurate. Specifically, this explains why the feet of the lions resemble the paws of domestic house cats.

Climbing up to sit on the lions is a popular tourist photo op, but it’s generally recommended that everyone view the big cats from ground level. For one thing, they’re very high up and it’s not unusual for someone to be taken to hospital after a fall from these magnificent beasts. For another, the lions have suffered considerable damage due to the many thousands of people who clamber up them every year.

3. The Fountains

The two huge fountains were installed in the 1840s to help counteract the heat and glare from the paved square. They also helped with crowd control, as the large footprints reduced the number of people who could gather within the square.

Towards the end of the 1930s, new centrepieces for the fountains were installed. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, these were designed as memorials to Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beatty. Busts of the admirals were also planned to be installed in the fountains. However, these were placed against the northern wall of the square and water-spouting sculptures of Triton, mermaids and dolphins were created by William McMilllan and Sir Charles Wheeler for the fountains. Work was stalled throughout the second world war, and the finished fountains were not unveiled until 1948.

In 2009, the fountains were refurbished, getting new pumps capable of sending water 80 feet into the air. An LED lighting system was also installed, which enables the fountains to be illuminated in a range of colour combinations.

4. The Fourth Plinth

Sculptures now stand on plinths at all four corners of Trafalgar Square – however, until fairly recently the north-west plinth was empty. Known as the fourth plinth, this space is now used to display specially commissioned artworks that change on a fairly regular basis.

Since 1999, ten different works have been placed on the fourth plinth – these have included a marble sculpture of artist Alison Lapper, who was born with no arms and shortened legs, a giant ship in a bottle and a giant blue rooster.

5. Britain’s tiniest police box

At the south-east corner of the square, in what looks like an ornamental light fitting, you’ll find the UK’s smallest police box. It was commissioned to provide shelter for a single police officer and could also be used to detain up to two prisoners. However, today it serves a less glamorous purpose as storage space for cleaning supplies.

6. The National Gallery

At the north end of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery, an art museum that was founded in 1824. Its collection includes more than 2,300 paintings that date from the mid-13th century to 1900, including works by well-known artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Titian, Cezanne, Seurat, Monet, Bellini, van Dyck, van Gogh, Michelangelo, Turner, Constable and Canaletto.

7. Canada House

Sitting on the west side of Trafalgar Square is Canada House. This Grade II listed building is the home of the High Commission of Canada in London. It was built between 1824 and 1827 by Sir Robert Smirke, the same architect who designed the British Museum.

8. South Africa House

Located near the south-east corner of Trafalgar Square, this Grade II Listed Building was build by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts in the 1930s. It is the home of the High Commission of South Africa.

The building has been the site of various demonstrations over the years, but today it’s no longer as controversial. Instead, it is considered a focal point of South African culture in the UK. Nelson Mandela made appearances on its picturesque balcony twice – in 1995 and 2001. Be sure to keep an eye out for the golden sculpture of a winged Springbok at the corner of the building. It was designed by Charles Wheeler in 1934.

9. St Martin-in-the-Fields

An Anglican church on the eastern side of Trafalgar Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields has a Neoclassical design and was completed in 1726. The crypt below the church houses a cafe and the London Brass Rubbing Centre. The courtyard behind the church has another cafe, which providing a lovely place to relax on a sunny day.

10. The Admiralty Arch

This ornate archway provides road and pedestrian access between Trafalgar Square and the Mall. It was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria, and the Latin inscription at the top says: “In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910”.

The arch provides a ceremonial entrance to the Mall and often plays an important role in ceremonial occasions. The space inside the arch has served a number of purposes over the years and in 2000 the Cabinet Office moved into the building. More recently, a 125-year lease on the building was put up for auction as part of the government’s austerity measures and the winning bidder plans to turn it into a luxury hotel.

Bonus: Some sort of event!

Trafalgar Square has been a popular spot for demonstrations and events throughout its history. It’s still regularly used for political demonstrations and it’s also a popular spot for cultural events and festivals around the year.

A Christmas ceremony has been held every year in the square since 1947 – the event includes turning on the lights of London’s Christmas tree. The tree itself is presented to London by Oslo and is a traditional gift for Britain’s support of Norway during World War II. The Passion of the Christ is performed every Easter, while St George’s Day, Diwali, Eid, Canada Day and the Dutch Koninginnedag are just some of the other events that take place.

Even if there’s not a specific event going on in Trafalgar Square, you can almost always find street performers on the pedestrianised area between the square and the National Gallery.

Park Grand London Kensington is located 3.2 miles asway from Trafalgar Square.

A Guide to Trafalgar Square: History, Sights + Tips for Visiting London’s Iconic Landmark

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Trafalgar Square sits at the heart of London and is one of the city’s most important landmarks. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Trafalgar Square is a London icon. Plumped in central London – there’s a reason that it’s at the top of every tourist’s London sightseeing itinerary.

But how much do you know about Trafalgar Square? Sure, it’s home to Nelson’s Column, lots of statues and, of course, the National Gallery. But beyond that? Let’s explore.

Must-See Spots on Trafalgar Square

Nelson’s Column

Nelson’s Column is Trafalgar Square’s most famous statue – sitting proudly at the centre of the square – an impressive structure to pay tribute to the UK’s famous naval hero.

Trafalgar Square itself is named after the Battle of Trafalgar. Famously, this naval battle between Britain and the Napoleon-led France and Spain would claim the life of Admiral Nelson, but become his most famous victory.

So it made perfect sense to erect Nelson’s Column in the square named after his most famous battle.

The column was commissioned to be designed by four of the top sculptors at the time. The design itself, however, was chosen from a design contest. The competition was not without controversy, but eventually the design of William Railton was chosen.

At over 169 feet (51 metres), it’s dizzyingly tall – although not quite as tall as the original plans which stood ten metres higher.

Over the years, Nelson’s Column has remained Trafalgar Square’s most famous sight. It’s also been the subject of plenty of stunts – from being turned into a lightsaber to celebrate the release of the new Star Wars film, to numerous political statements.

The National Gallery

The National Gallery is one of the best museums in London – what’s more, entry is completely free. Since opening in 1824, the National Gallery has grown to be one of the most visited art galleries on earth.

In fact, only the Louvre, the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art welcome more guests every year.

You will find over 2,300 paintings inside the building, with works spanning the period from the mid-13th century straight through to 1900.

The scope of the collection is impressive – famous works include Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks.

Right now, the most exciting exhibition at The National Gallery is Poussin and the Dance, which is running until January 2022 and features works all by the iconic Baroque artist Nicolas Poussin.

The collection displays some of his most famous work, where he was revolutionary in capturing bodies in motion. You can check out the other exhibitions running at The National Gallery here.

Trafalgar Square Lions

The four lions guarding Nelson’s Column are one of Trafalgar Square’s unmissable sights. These four staunch stone beasts surround the column, dwarfing anyone who stands near them.

All very well and good, but there’s more to the lions than meets the eye.

The lions were sculpted by Edwin Landseer – who until he accepted the commission had never sculpted a thing in his life (no pressure then). He’d been given the project after the first lions by the original sculptor, Thomas Milnes, had been rejected.

It took Landseer ten years to craft the massive lions. He carefully studied lions in the zoo, as he had mostly painted dogs and horses during his career – he even had a dead lion sent to his studios so he could get a true to life portrayal.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned – the lion started to decompose before he’d finished the sculptures and he had to do a bit of improvisation. Guess that explains why they have a slightly odd look about them.

Luckily, they didn’t come under too much fire when they were finally revealed in 1867 and they have flanked the column ever since.

The Fountains

In the mid-1800s, it was decided that Trafalgar Square was looking a little too much like a concrete jungle – not to mention reflecting heat off the asphalt. The solution? Fountains.

The plan was also popular with the Government, who saw it as a way to decrease the likelihood of any pesky riots.

As such, two new fountains were designed and added to the square in 1841. The design, however, was pretty bland.

It wasn’t until the 1930s that it was decided it was time to jazz them up a little – Sir Edwin Lutyens took on the commission and got to work.

As such, new features including whimsical mermaids frolicking in the fountain were added, creating the fountains we know and love today.

The Trafalgar Square Statues

Clearly, sculptors have left quite the mark on Trafalgar Square over the years. As well as the lions and column, there are some other notable Trafalgar Square statues.

Around the square, there are four plinths for sculptures. Three of them have permanent “residents” – General Sir Charles James Napier, Major General Sir Henry Havelock and King George IV while the fourth hosts an ever-changing rotation of contemporary sculptures.

Perhaps more oddly, there’s also a statue of George Washington on Trafalgar Square.

It was a gift to the city of London from the state of Virginia in the USA, which is why today you will find him confidently perched outside of the National Gallery.

The Fourth Plinth

The three plinths are kind of interesting in that “oh, here’s a sculpture of a guy from the past” kind of way, but it’s really at the fourth plinth where things start to get interesting.

The fourth plinth sits on the northwestern edge of Trafalgar Square. Originally, it was supposed to be the site of a statue of King William IV. Fittingly for a project depicting a man with his own fair share of money woes, financial troubles put the kibosh on the project.

The plinth remained empty for more than 150 years. But in 1998, a solution was found. The plinth would serve as a showpiece for a changing display of contemporary art.

Since then, the Fourth Plinth Commission has been in charge of commissioning the fourth plinth’s artworks. Various pieces have had their time in the limelight, from a statue of the HMS Victory to an eclectic living artwork that saw more than 2,400 artists contribute.

Until recently, the statue is a recreation of a 2000-year-old statue of the deity Amassu, which was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.

Things got a bit lighter in July 2020 when a “whipped cream” inspired statue arrived – but with a drone and a fly on top.

The Fourth Plinth’s design is actually a scaled-up version of Heather Phillipson’s art entitled The End, and it was originally meant to go live in March 2020, until (surprise, surprise) lockdown got in the way and it was pushed back until the summer.

The World’s Smallest Police Station?

I’d often wondered what the tiny Tardis-like stone box was on Trafalgar Square. Was it so that Dr Who could pop into London for a spot of theatre and art whenever he pleased? Unfortunately not.

Then I heard rumours that it was the world’s smallest police station, so I decided to look a little closer.

Located on the southeastern corner of Trafalgar Square, it is about the size of a phone box, although it’s not the distinctive red in colour. You’ll know you’ve spotted it when you see the heavy door.

The micro-station was built in 1926 so that the Met police could keep a watchful eye on demonstrators who had begun to take to Trafalgar Square. It was originally a temporary thing, but they soon decided to make this station more permanent and installed lighting inside.

The narrow windows all around the building were meant to give panoramic views of any unlawful activity in the area and the light on top would flash, alerting nearby officers that back up was very much needed.

It’s hard to believe looking at its pokey size, but it was in use for over a century. Not only does the building offer a great view out of Trafalgar Square, but it was also big enough to house a police officer and a wretched crook!

Alas, before you go telling your friends you’ve seen the world’s smallest police station… it actually isn’t. Technically it was a lookout post, not a police station (those are officially designated) – but why let a technicality spoil your fun?

The Official Measures

Let’s be honest, the imperial system of measurement can seem quite baffling.

None of this centimetres and metres business, the imperial system relies on measurements including inches, links and feet.

When the system was devised, a set of ‘standard measurements’ were safely locked away as the one true record of how long each of these measurements was.

Unfortunately, the team learnt the lesson of “always have a back-up” the hard way when the standard measurements were destroyed by a fire at Winchester Palace. In their place, they made three new sets of measurements (which they hope match the originals).

One of those sets is now found at the bottom of Nelson’s Column. If you look closely, you’ll see the plaques noting different distances. It’s a pretty cool piece of London history right there.

St Martin in the Fields

London has many significant churches, so of course Trafalgar Square wouldn’t be complete without one. In this case, St Martin in the Field’s location and structure are both particularly interesting.

A church of some description has stood on the site since at least the 1200s, when there’s a record of a dispute that was mediated by the Bishop of Canterbury in 1222. However, the current Neoclassical building dates from the early 18th century.

In fact, the history of the site can be traced back even further than the squabbling churches of the 1200s.

While excavating the site, a Roman grave from around 410 AD was found, and lends some evidence to support the idea that the site’s spiritual history extends even further than first thought.

Whenever it began, today it is a beautiful church that is a must visit for those who love beautiful architecture. The building is Grade I listed, and inspired many American churches.

Another claim to fame for St Martin’s in the Field is that it was even mentioned in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four.

As well as the Church itself, there’s also a cafe and a gift shop. They even hold frequent(ish) jazz concerts and free lunchtime concerts that are always well worth popping into!

Many of the funds raised by the church’s events go to supporting homeless people in the area.

The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

It’s hard not to get caught up in the buzz of Christmas cheer. One of my favourite places to experience the warm and fuzzies that come with Christmas in London is at the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree.

It’s not just that the tree is beautiful – although it is – but also the backstory. Every year since 1947, the Norwegian Spruce tree has been donated by the City of Oslo in Norway as a sign of the country’s appreciation for Britain’s support during World War II.

Ah, friendship across the North Sea.

In late November each year, the tree is cut in Norway and then sent via boat to the English capital. Once it arrives, it is decorated, Norwegian-style, before it is revealed to the public in all its glory in early December. It remains on show until around 6 January.

As well as serving as a token of cross-country friendship, the tree is also the site of many beautiful carol performances. Most funds raised by these performances go to supporting various charitable works. It’s just feel-good all round, really.

History of Trafalgar Square

It would be easy to start the history of Trafalgar Square with the Battle of Trafalgar – however that would be to miss out some of the most interesting history of the square.

In fact, the history of Trafalgar Square reads much like an exhibit from the British National Museum. In the 1950s, building works revealed the skeletons of a number of great beasts under the square, including cave lions, rhinos and hippos.

It might seem hard to imagine the famous London square being stomped on by the hooves of giant mammals, but that was the case several millennia ago.

A little more recently, the area near the church of St Martin’s in the Field was used as a burial ground for the Romans. Although Trafalgar Square itself was beyond the walls of Rome’s London, it is thought that the area was still very much in use.

Want to Explore Roman London: Visit the London Mithraeum

King’s Mews

The area really began to grow in significance in the 13th Century, when the area was used for the “King’s Mews” – the King’s stables used to house the carriages and horses of the nearby Whitehall Palace and, curiously, the royal hawks too.

The King’s hawks enjoyed some pretty pricey real estate back in the day.

The Creation of Trafalgar Square

In around 1826, the idea for a large public square began to take shape. Plans were drawn up, and arguments were had over the name for the square.

Eventually, it was decided that the square would be named after the Battle of Trafalgar, an epic naval battle where the British, under the command of Lord Nelson, defeated the French and the Spanish in the Napoleonic Wars.

Good for Britain, but not so great for Lord Nelson – he was shot and killed aboard the HMS Victory.

After this, his body was displayed in what is now The Painted Hall for visitors far and wide to marvel at until January 1806, before he was finally laid to rest in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Despite this – or maybe because of it – he has gone down as an almost mythical war hero. The most dramatic statue on Trafalgar Square is devoted to him: Nelson’s Column.

Trafalgar Square Today

Over the years, Trafalgar Square has become the epicentre of many protests, a kind of living art gallery, and above all, a space for visitors and Londoners to enjoy.

So significant is Nelson’s Column for London, that during World War II the Nazis had planned to capture it and bring it back to Berlin. Luckily, they did not succeed, and it continues to be one of the most enduring symbols of London.

Practical Information for Visiting Trafalgar Square, London

Where is the Nearest Tube Station to Trafalgar Square?

The nearest tube station to Trafalgar Square is Charing Cross, which is just a few minutes walk from the heart of the square. Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Embankment Tube Stations are also less than a 10-minute walk from Trafalgar Square.

Best Tours

Taking a walking tour around Trafalgar Square is a great way to find out more about the history and significance of this London landmark.

Handy Tips for Visiting the Square

Trafalgar Square Map

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