Trafalgar Square

What to expect

Trafalgar Square is named after Nelson's 1805 naval victory and was laid out in the 1840s to Charles Barry's plan. Nelson's Column stands in the middle, guarded by four bronze lions added in 1867. Two fountains, redesigned in the 1930s as memorials to two admirals, sit on either side. The square opened to the public in 1844 and has been London's gathering place for celebrations and demonstrations ever since.

It is an open, pedestrian-friendly square with steps leading up to the National Gallery on the north side. You can sit by the fountains and watch street performers. Look at the fourth plinth in the corner: it has no permanent statue and instead hosts new artworks that change every year or two. St Martin-in-the-Fields church stands at the north-east corner.

Don't miss

• Nelson's Column
• The four bronze lions
• The two fountains
• Contemporary art on the fourth plinth
• St Martin-in-the-Fields church

Tips for your visit

• Climb the steps in front of the National Gallery for an overview of the whole square.
• Visit early in the morning or in the evening, when the day crowds thin out.
• From here you can walk down Whitehall to Big Ben or along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
• It is a free, open-air stop that takes 15 to 30 minutes, longer if you add the National Gallery.