Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

Why visit

Laid out in the 1830s and 1840s to celebrate Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, the square is where London gathers for celebrations, protests and New Year. It is also where many visitors spend a morning in the National Gallery, then walk down to Westminster or along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

What to see

• Nelson’s Column: Admiral Lord Nelson stands on top, guarded by four bronze lions by Sir Edwin Landseer.
• The Fourth Plinth: an empty plinth in the north-west corner that shows a changing series of contemporary artworks.
• The National Gallery: free to enter, with paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire and Constable’s The Hay Wain.
• The National Portrait Gallery: just round the corner, with faces from Tudor kings and queens to modern celebrities.
• St Martin-in-the-Fields: the elegant church on the east side, known for its concerts and the café in its crypt.
• Admiralty Arch: the grand arch on the south-west side that leads onto The Mall.

The centre of London

A small plaque behind the statue of King Charles I, at the south end of the square, marks the point from which road distances to London are measured. Every December, a Christmas tree from Norway stands in the square, a gift given each year since 1947 in thanks for Britain’s help in the Second World War.

Tips

• The National Gallery is free, but special exhibitions charge for entry and are worth booking ahead.
• Visit early in the morning for photos without the crowds.
• Walk down Whitehall to Westminster, past Horse Guards and the gates of Downing Street, in about ten minutes.