Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, London, public square in central London created in memory of the victory of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The site, formerly occupied by squalid housing and stabling for the king's horses, was cleared in 1832 and developed according to a scheme devised by the architect John Nash. Nelson's Column, a Corinthian column 46 m (151 ft) tall, was designed by William Railton and erected in 1842. It is surmounted by a stone statue of Nelson in full dress uniform by E. H. Bailey, which makes the monument just over 51.5 m (169 ft) tall when measured from the pavement to the top of the naval hero’s bicorne hat.

In 1867, statues of four lions, 6 m (20 ft) long and 3.4 m (11 ft) high, were cast in bronze from an original design by Sir Edwin Landseer and placed in the square. The fountains were remodelled in 1939 to a design by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens. On the north side of the square stands the National Gallery, and on the south side an equestrian statue of Charles I made by Hubert Le Sueur in 1633. Each of the four corners of the square is marked by a plinth, on which, to the south, stand statues of General Sir Charles James Napier and Major-General Sir Henry Havelock; and to the north, King George IV. A statue of William IV was originally intended for the fourth plinth but was never built due to lack of funds, and since 1999 it has been used as a showcase for contemporary sculpture. As well as being a popular tourist spot, Trafalgar Square is today the focal point of mass meetings and the traditional location of New Year celebrations.