Trafalgar Square, London

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The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars.

At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of contemporary art.

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Ok, I give in. here I am on Trafalgar Square. It has changed so much, become smaller to my eyes, though Horatio Nelson still towers above everything. The Landseer Lions still guard him, but today the fountains were being renovated and the flocks of pigeons are no more. On a sunny but cold spring day there were a lot of people around, many sitting on top of the lions, though for how long as the Heritage Security were preventing people from sitting on the walls.
June 2009 update: Diosh and I found ourselves at Trafalgar Square. It was a hive of activity. People still sitting on the lions, the fountains working, a few pigeons around,and some ducks in the fountains too.

Now there is anew attraction- the living painting by 'Van Gogh', in plants.

I don't know if this has always happened or if it's just because Mayor Ken Livingstone didn't want to be remembered for bringing in congestion charging (which has cut traffic by 30% then by adding bus lanes increased traffic in other areas by 50% and to get people to ditch their cars and use public transport increased the prices of buses trains and the tube), but going to Trafalgar square on the weekend is like visiting times square in new york at new years. Throughout the year it's host to many festivals such as St paddy's day (where they made the fountains spew out green water), chinese new year, divali (hindu festival) and many more. The general emphasis of these festivals is to promote their cultures and i've been to a few and they're usually a good laugh, although if it's cold it doesn't seem to be as good...

I would check first though because sometimes it's reserved for protests and not festivals.

It's easily accessible from leicester square, covent garden and charing cross, and just look out for a large old school building with pillars and everything (The National Gallery) and a huge open space with two fountains and nelsons column (large column with a little man on top of admiral nelson to remind the French of the battle of waterloo)

It took more than 10 years to build the Trafalgar Square from 1829 into the 1840s. It was to commemorate the victory of the Spanish Cape Trafalgar battle in 1805 lead by Admiral Nelson. The square, a neo-classical designed by John Nash is surrounded by artistic buildings that include St Martin’s In The Fields and National Gallery. Around the base are 4 huge bronze lion statues designed by Landseer.

The Nelson’s Corner in the center of the square has a fountain and a 185 feet high pole with a 17 feet high statue of Nelson at the top.

Entrance: Free

It s a good place to people watch at any time, especially since the north end in front of the National Gallery has been pedestrianised.

Its best to visit when something is going political or entertainment.

It was laid out during the middle nineteeth century, and is dominated by Horatio Nelson on his column. Britain greatest naval hero, who died on board his ship, HMS Victory, admidst his and England's greatest visctory at sea, the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The National Gallery on the northern edge provides a good view along Whitehall towards the Houses of Parilament with its charismatic clock. You can here the chimes of big ben if you listen carefully!

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Trafalgar Square, one of London's many icons. In the centre of the square stands Lord Nelson's Column (Lord Nelson was an Admiral of the British Navy, the column is as tall as the highest mast on the ship he commanded, the H.M.S Victory: 185 feet high). There are fountains and it is a popular place for tourists and locals alike (although there are mainly tourists here in the summer).

At the time when I was at Trafalgar Square (the first time) the 2004 Athens Olympics were on - so they had numerous mini-Olympic sporting events set up around the square.

When I was here in August 2007 there were some book stalls set up in the square, nice to have a bit of a look through.

I must have passed this police station at least a hundred times and never noticed it. Only when I went on the Excentric London Walk and the guide pointed it out I saw it. It's hidden in a lamp post on Trafalgar Square. The tour guide said before the age of mobile phones a policeman was on duty in there, where he had access to a landline phone in case of an emergency on the very busy square.

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When I started out on my VT "career" some years ago, I had more or less decided I was not going to do tips on the most "touristy" things in London but I have come to the conclusion that it is slightly perverse to write tips on really obscure things if you do not balance your page with the things that people normally associate with this wonderful city. So here it is.

I haven't done it but I would guess that if you were to do an internet search of "London" the top four venues would be Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. I intend to deal with the latter here. Yes, it is true, if you are visiting the city, I will be very surprised if you don't visit it. Some years ago, I worked about five minutes walk away and it was merely a place to walk across to get from point A to point B. I suppose familiarity breeds contempt to an extent. Putting that aside, it is an impressive place and must rank in world tourist terms with Times Square in New York, St. Peters in Rome and Tianemman in Beijing.

Dominated by the statue of Horatio Lord Nelson, the national maritime hero, it is an open pedestrianised square flanked on one side by the National Gallery and the other by Admiralty Arch leading to the Mall. It has numerous features - the fountains, the statues, the lions, and the slightly odd fourth plinth. The fourth plinth was originally intended to house a statue of King William IV but the statue was never commissioned as they could not get the funds. Basically, nobody liked him! In recent times, the plinth has been th subject of much debate and currently relatively short term installations are displayed there.

If you visit London, you are sure to come here. Just remember not to feed the pigeons!