The Trafalgar Square, located in the City of Westminster at the heart of London, was constructed between the 1820s and 1840s on the site of the former King’s Mews, a courtyard of equestrian stables of the British Royal Family. After the mews was shifted to Buckingham Palace by George IV, the area was redeveloped and designed by John Nash as a public square, which was opened to the public on 1 May 1844.

Considered the most famous public square of London, and well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century, the Trafalgar Square was named in 1835 after the remembrance of the British naval victory in the Battle of Trafalgar over France and Spain, off the coast of Cape Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

The Trafalgar Square, a large central area with roadways on three sides, is surrounded by the National Gallery to the north, Whitehall to the south, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church to the east, and The Mall to the south-west. While the South House, housing the High Commission of South Africa in London, is also located on its east, the Canada House, a Greek Revival Building decorated with sculptures of plants and animals, is on its west.

Situated at the centre of the Square, the 170 feet (52 m) tall Nelson’s Column, (Ref - Nelsons Column London) topped by a 17 feet (5 m) statue of Nelson, and guarded by four sculptured lions, dominates the popular Trafalgar Square. The column, crowned with the statue, was dedicated to the memory of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who was fatally shot during his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar on his ship HMS Victory.

The four bronze relief panels decorating the pedestal of the column represent the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen, and the tragic death of Nelson at Trafalgar. While the last of the bronze reliefs on the pedestal was not completed before May 1854, the four bronze lions that sit at the base of Nelson’s column and commonly known as the Landseer Lions, was created by Edwin Landseer, the famous painter, and were added in 1867.

The original plan of the square did not include the fountains, which were added in 1845, designed by Sir Charles Barry and built of Peterhead granite. However, the old  fountains were removed to make way for larger fountains, and after World War II, they were presented to the Canadian government, which are now located in Confederation Park in Ottawa, and Wascana Centre in Regina.

The new fountains were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1939, who had placed blue tiles on the base to give the water a bluish hue, and added dolphins, mermaids, and tritons to it. Today, the fountains play joyfully in the night, illuminated by LED lights, much to the delight of the visitors.

Trafalgar Square contains several commemorative statues and sculptures. The bronze equestrian statue of George IV, created by Sir Francis Chantrey, originally intended to be installed on the top of the Marble Arch (Ref Marble Arch London),  was placed on the eastern plinth in 1844. While the statue of Sir Charles James Napier, an officer and a veteran of the British Army's Peninsular, was installed in the southwest corner in 1855, the statue of Major General Henry Havelock by William Behnes was positioned in the southeast in 1861. The fourth plinth remained empty until 1999 when it housed the first series of contemporary artworks. Apart from that, there are several other statues scattered throughout different corners of the square.

A particular point in Trafalgar Square is considered as the official centre of London in legislation. Apart from the Bloody Sunday on 13 November 1887 when demonstrators protesting about unemployment and other issues had to face a violent clash with the Metropolitan Police and the British Army, it has also witnessed the culmination of the first Aldermaston March against Nuclear weapons, different anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. Today, one can enjoy numerous free and family-friendly Trafalgar events, supported by the Mayor of London. The events include multicultural festivals and religious celebrations, ranging from Pride in London festivities to Chinese New Year. The square becomes the centre of celebrations on New Year’s Eve, decorated with a Christmas tree, donated by Norway since 1947.