Trafalgar Square in London

Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England. 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. The square is also used for political demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year's Eve.

The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".[1]

In the 1820s the Prince Regent engaged the architect John Nash to redevelop the area. Nash cleared the square as part of his Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. The present architecture of the square is due to Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845.

Type Square
Managed by Greater London Authority
Country England
Region London
UK Grid square TQ 299 804
Address City of Westminster, London
Postcode WC2

The northern area of the square had been the site of the King's Mews since the time of Edward I, while the southern end was the original Charing Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall, coming north from Westminster. As the midpoint between these twin cities, Charing Cross is to this day considered the heart of London, from which all distances are measured.

In 1826 the Commissioners of H.M. Woods, Forests and Land Revenues instructed John Nash to drawe up plans for clearing a large area in front of the King's Mews. His plans left open the whole area of what is now Trafalgar Square, except for a block in the centre, which he reserved for a new building for the Royal Academy. The Charing Cross act was passed in 1826 and clearance of the ground started soon after. [3] After the initial clearance things moved slowly. A plan for the laying of the square was approved by the Treasury in 1837, but not put into effect. In April 1840, a new plan, by Charles Barry was accepted, and this time construction started within weeks

A major redevelopment of the square to plans by Foster and Partners was completed in 2003. The work involved closing the main eastbound road along the north side, diverting the traffic around the other three sides of the square, demolishing the central section of the northern retaining wall and inserting a wide set of steps leading up to a pedestrianised terrace in front of the National Gallery. The construction includes two lifts for disabled access, public toilets, and a small café.