Trafalgar Square

On any tourist trip to London, there are certain things that are of a must see necessity value on any sightseeing tour. Along with historic residences and buildings such as Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral, no visit to London would be complete with a trip to Trafalgar Square. Such is the fame of the area, it gains a position on the London Monopoly board as the most expensive of the red units, granting it eternal fame.

Trafalgar Square is essentially a concrete square, set aside from the main road and rimmed with buildings. It is in central London and is close to other landmarks such as Westminster and the London Eye. The name “Trafalgar” is to commemorate a British naval victory during the Napoleonic Wars, namely the Battle of Trafalgar.

The north of the square is home to the Royal Mews, the traditional stable and now automotive garage for the royal family. Also at the north is the National Gallery, and to its east St. Martin in the Fields Church. To the south is Whitehall, east is the Strand and the square joins with The Mall at Admiralty Arch.

Trafalgar Square, however, is best known for being the location of Nelson’s Column. It consists of a large stone column, which is topped by a statue of Horatio Viscount Nelson, a much celebrated admiral who commanded the British at the Battle of Trafalgar. It is one of the most recognizable London landmarks.

At the foot of the Column are four huge bronze lions, the metal from which is said to be have been taken from the defeated French fleet, though this is unconfirmed. They stand next to fountains which were installed in 1939 and are dedicated to two other naval heroes, Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beaty. At each corner of the square, there is a plinth. Currently, three of the four plinths hold statues: the north-east plinth features a statue of George IV, the southwest Sir Charles James Napier (a famed British general) and the southeast Henry Havelock (again, a British general). The fourth plinth has no permanent statue due to insufficient funds during the time of the build – it was originally meant to hold a statue of William IV. Several contemporary artists have had their work temporarily atop the fourth plinth for a time, and no permanent memorial plans are in place for the plinth.

Perhaps the most lasting image of Trafalgar Square is its associated pigeons. At one time, the flock was said to number over 35,000. However, fears for health and safety were raised and the flock is now culled or moved when it becomes too large. Although many tourists assume they will be able to feed the pigeons – as is depicted in so many films – the practice was actually outlawed in 2000. Pigeons are actively discouraged from Trafalgar Square in modern times, often with the use of trained falcons.

Trafalgar Square itself, however, remains an iconic London symbol. It is a celebration of British naval triumph and might; something so important to a land surrounded by sea.