Trafalgar Square - part of our national heritage (Trafalgar Square)

Member Name: chrisc92

Product:	Trafalgar Square
Date:	23/07/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The site is free and there's lot to do around the area

Disadvantages: The site might be free but not all the exhibitions at the national gallery are

No trip to London is complete without visiting the key sites, and there are isn't many more significant than Trafalgar Square.

Whether it's to see the National Gallery, St Martin-In-The-Fields, Canada House, marvel at Nelson's column, to feed the thousands of pigeons or just marvel at the area it is an awe inspiring site.

Many of the site seeing buses include Trafalgar Square as part of their tour, and it is also very accessibale from the numerous bus stops and tube stations (including Charing Cross and Leicester Square.

At the centre of it all is Nelson's column which was completed in 1844, many years after the famous battle and completed after the less famous column in the Caribbean. Created by William Railton it was meant to honour Admiral Nelson for his heroic victory and his sacrifice at the Battle of Trafalgar of 1805. In total the colum is 51.9 metres high, and the sandstone statue of Nelson 5.2 metres was sculptured by Edward Baily. The 4 lions at the base of the column are said to protect Nelson's column and were sculptured over 4 years by Sir Edward Lanseer. Bronze plaques and the decorative elements at the top of the column are from captured/sunken ships with the plaques depicting some of Nelson's major victories.

The other significant feature at the centre of the square is the fountains and statues of mermaids and mermen (the latter completed in 1948 some 104 years after the mermaids).

It is also used for public displays, by film producers, and is a prominent feature of any amateur photograph album of tourists visiting the capital.

I love visiting the square not just for its elegance and heritage, but like many I have paid out a kings ransom in feeding those sodding pigeons! There is a lot to the area and is a place that you could spend many hours - including those on a very cold and wet December 31st waiting for Big Ben to strike.

It is a place I would defintely recommend on any visit you plan to London.

Summary: A must for any serious tourist visit to London