Trafalgar Square ★☆☆
London's main central square is flanked by top sights and pinned by Nelson's Column
Trafalgar Square is central London's public living room, sited right where the West End meets Westminster, a favorite gathering place, protest plaza, tourist turnstile, and the site of the London's semi-official city Christmas Tree during Yuletide.
(A note to past visitors who remember feeding the famous flocks of feral pigeons on Trafalgar. Feeding this mass of some 35,000 birds was outlawed in the early 2000s, and much of the flock was eradicated. Now only the usual amount of urban pigeons struts around.)
Tafalgar Square is flanked on the north by the grand neoclassical facade of the National Gallery, to the NE by the spire of St-Martin-in-the-Fields church, and around much of the rest by various grand Embassies and High Commissions (notably Canada House on the west—designed in the 1820s by Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum—and South Africa House on the east—designed in the 1930s by Sir Herbert Baker).
Neslon's Column and other Trafalgar statues
Between two large quadrefoil 1845 fountains frolicking with mermaids, tritons, and dolphins, the exclamation point rising from Trafalgar Square's center is the 52m (169-foot) Nelson's Column, erected in 1843 by William Railton to honor Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, hero of the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
The four bronze plaques around the base—cast from melted-down captured French cannon commemorate the Battle of the Nile, Battle of Copenhagen, Battle of Cape St. Vincent, and the Death of Nelson at Trafalgar.
The giant bronze Barbary lions guarding the column (and usually crawling with visitors) were added by Sir Edwin Landseer in 1867.
Also on the square are four plinths toped by statues: to the NE is King George IV, to the SW is General Sir Charles James Napier, and to the SE is Major General Sir Henry Havelock. The so-called Fourth Plinth to the NW stood vacant for decades, but is now host to a rotating series of contemporary sculptures.
The south end of the square is a traffic circle around the 1633 equestrian statue of Charles I, by Hubert Le Sueur.
The Admiralty Arch
Just off Trafalgar Square's SW corner rises the Admiralty Arch, designed by Aston Webb (who also did the facade of Buckingham Palace) at the behest of King Edward VII to commemorate his mother, Queen Victoria.
This arch is quite literally the gateway to Westminster, straddling the end of The Mall (rhymes with "pal," not "hall"), London's premier parade route, passing the north end of government row before making a beeline for Buckingham Palace. The asphalt of The Mall is stained crimson to serve as an eternal red carpet leading to the palace.
The tour starts at Charing Cross, in the Strand, right in the heart of London. A short walk leads you to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Hear how the Charing Cross commemorates an amazing royal wife, Eleanor of Castile (died 1290), and how the place used to mark the centre of London. It stands by the site of the factory where the 10 year old Charles Dickens was forced to work when family circumstances declined. Then, heading into Trafalgar Square, you’ll see and hear about the various statues of important historical figures, the Nelson’s column, the church of St.Martin in the Fields, the South Africa House and Canada House with its rooftop beehives. This is where Londoners march, make demonstrations and celebrations (especially in New Year’s Eve) and sing Christmas carols and so much more.
Then, enter the National Gallery which, with its 2,500 paintings is one of the richest and most important art collections in the world. Our highlights tour will give us a panorama of Western European art from the 1200s to the early 1900s. Your guide will cover all the major European schools of painting with masterpieces from Italy, the Low Countries, France, Britain, Germany and Spain.
You can tick many of the greatest artists off your list: Duccio, Giotto, Pisanello, Raphael, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio; Van Eyck, Van Der Weyden, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Reubens and Van Dyck; Claude, Poussin and some of the Impressionists; Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Stubbs and Turner; Holbein, Cranach and Durer; Velasquez, Murillo and Goya.
Note:If any rooms are closed or particular artworks are away on loan, the guide will make an equally wonderful alternative selection of masterpiece paintings to show you.
Numbers are limited to 15 on this small-group tour, ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.
Meet your guide near Trafalgar Square in London, and then set off on your 3-hour pub tour of London’s West End. Popular for centuries as the cultural heart of London, the West End is thronged with theaters, restaurants and galleries; no surprise then, that a thriving pub scene generated within it, and its historic pubs from bygone days are still every bit as popular today.
Start with a visit to a traditional 'boozer' near Trafalgar Square and soak up the ambiance of an authentic London ale house, serving beers, ales and ciders on tap. As you relax inside, your guide will regale you with insider secrets about some of the monuments nearby, like Nelsons Column – the impressive structure in the center of Trafalgar Square.
After sampling some of the pubs hearty ales, continue your tour with a stroll to Covent Garden – one of London’s most beautiful squares, with a bustling marketplace in the center. Many visitors head straight for the tourist pubs here, but your guide will introduce you to two of the best local pubs, just hidden down side streets, away from the hustle and bustle. Enjoy a traditional snack inside one of them, and hear about the history and culture of beer drinking in the UK and Europe, as well as the ingredients used in different beers like hops and wheat.
Continue to the heart of London’s ‘theatreland’ in Soho, passing iconic London venues like the Adelphi and the Shaftsbury Theatre, and then head inside a pub that’s popular for pre-show drinks. Hear about the city's impressive performing arts and music scene in this world-famous theater district while sitting back and sipping on another ale.
Your tour finishes at a pub in Seven Dials – the center point of London’s vibrant West End. Savor your last tipple of the tour and get recommendations about other great London pubs to visit independently!
Meet your guide at 2pm in central London, then stroll through the heart of the historic city to begin your 2-hour tour. Along the way, hear stories from London’s colorful past to the present day.
Discover the famous fountains and royal lions of Trafalgar Square, and learn the historic significance of Nelson’s Column. Gaze over top London landmarks including Big Ben and the National Gallery, both nearby, and see sides of the British capital many visitors miss.
Head onward through the center of Her Majesty’s Government — Whitehall and Downing Street — to Horse Guards Parade, where the Queen’s soldiers stand guard in their sentry boxes. In Parliament Square, capture beautiful views over the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster on camera.
Continue into bustling Covent Garden — where busy Londoners share the streets with curious visitors. Among the stone pillars, cobbled streets, and grand archways, discover stylish boutiques and traditional market stalls.
Then, visit a luxury hotel for a delicious English afternoon tea of scones, jam, clotted cream, sandwiches, and cakes — all served on fine china. At 4pm, when your afternoon tea comes to an end, conclude your tour in central London.
Photograph British heritage and tradition in Trafalgar Square- home of the world famous Landseer Lions, National Gallery, mermaid sculptures, elegant fountains and many fine statues and monuments. Capture street entertainers and pavement artists who create colorful chalk drawings for you to photograph and admire.
Walking at a leisurely pace you make your way to Leicester Square and photograph the gardens, the fountains and a great statue of William Shakespeare whose presence dominates the gardens. You take a short working break for refreshments (own expense) and to review progress. Then make your way to Chinatown, your expert photographer guides you to the best view points to photograph the colourful landscape of Chinatown. Marvel at colorful shop fronts full of exotic foods and delicacies. Be amazed by stalls crammed with colorful novelties and lanterns. You take your time to photograph the rich and authentic colors of Chinatown before making your way to Covent Garden. Explore the architecture of the Royal Opera House, quirky side streets and street entertainers before making your way to the extraordinary and colorful Neal’s Yard. At all times your personal photographer is there to guide and help you take outstanding photographs.
During the Private London Photography Tour learn how to:
- improve composition
- use light to its best advantage
- use depth of field
- create blurred backgrounds
- use shutter speed to create movement
- use shutter speed to freeze action
These might include Trafalgar Square
More toursTips
Given its surrounding sights, you are likely to cross Trafalgar Square anyway, but it is also a nice place just to hang around, sit by a lion or fountain, and give your feet and brain a break from the sightseeing. I'd budget at least 15–20 minutes.
