Trafalger Square by UG Ardener (Creative Commons)
Well, hello! The missus told me you and yours were going to take a trip to London this year. London’s a great place to visit, my friend. You want to know some good places to visit? Well, then sit back and pour yourself a pint, and I’ll tell you all about one of my favourite places I’ve visited in Jolly Old England – Trafalgar Square.
Humble Beginnings
Trafalgar square started as the King’s Mews and served well as a stables region until it was given a new purpose sometime after the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Originally, the area was to be known as King William the Fourth’s Square, but apparently famed English architect George Ledwell Taylor thought that Trafalgar Square would be a less ostentatious name. Evidently the monarchy agreed, and the area became known as Trafalgar Square.
The Controversy of Nelson’s Column
Nelson’s Column, one of the most famous sites of the square, didn’t make everyone happy – least of all the square’s designer, Charles Barry. Barry felt that in his opinion the area should be free from all works of art. Poor old Barry didn’t win his argument, and the foundations for Nelson’s Column had already been laid anyway.
The Square Opening Day and Now
Trafalgar Square opened on 1 May, 1944, though it opened without working fountains and with some of the scaffolding still in place around Nelson’s Column. Since its opening, the square has been a popular place for natives as well as visitors and is a sort of political and societal focal point.
Statues, Fountains and…Pigeons – Oh My!
I can see that I’m boring you to tears with my tales of days gone by, my good friend. In that case, let me move on to something a bit more fun. What sorts of things are you going to see when you’re standing there in Trafalgar?
Pigeons! Crazy little blighters they are, and Trafalgar used to be literally crawling with the little beasts. When we travelled there in – what was it – 2000 or so, they covered the place. Though from what I’ve seen of late, the pigeon problem has been taken care of and the square is largely free from the once-ubiquitous foul fowl.
People feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square by Billy Hicks
Where pigeons gather, so too do statues it seem. Perhaps it’s the other way around, but never mind that. At any rate, Trafalgar Square has some beautiful statuary to look at including three plinths containing statues of George IV, General Sir Charles James Napier and Major-General Sir Henry Havelock. There’s a fourth plinth as well, but the statuary there often changes and is used to show specially commissioned works. Of course, those are only the largest statues; there are plenty of others to see in Trafalgar Square. It’s still my theory that the statues somehow attracted all the pigeons, however.
On the east and west side of the square are two beautiful fountains, one a memorial to Lord Jellicoe and the other to Lord Beatty. These fountains are lighted, nowadays using LED lighting to reduce energy costs, and can spray water some 80 feet into the air. Yes, better bring your togs.
Events
Trafalgar Square isn’t just a pretty plot of land to look at, folks. The square is much beloved by the London people and is used for a variety of events, both official and unofficial, including:
- New Year’s celebrations
- Victory In Europe Day celebrations
- An annual Christmas ceremony that includes the largest Christmas tree in London
- Various political demonstrations throughout the ages
- The display of various sports events and sports-related events
Getting There Is Half the Fun
How I envy you; to be able to lay eyes upon this beautiful London landmark for the first time…to walk among those statues, to breathe in the history of the square itself, to gaze in loving wonderment at the lighted fountains and to visit the National Gallery. Of course, it would be in your best interest for you to find the best price on flights to get to London; may I humbly suggest you click here to find a good price.