Trafalgar Square – The Center of London

Trafalgar Square is often considered to be one of the center of London from which the distance of all other places are measured. This is a very symbolic and well visited tourist trap as well as a common sight for many commuters and strollers on their way to work in Central London.  The name celebrates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), which was a British naval victor of the Napoleonic Wars against France.

The center of Trafalgar square is a tall statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson who led the British to Victory at the Base of the statue. The column on which the statue stands is 169 feet and three inches tall. The pedestal is decorated with four bronze plaques made from captured French Guns.  The four plaques show the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Death of Nelson, which occurred in the square. The statue is guarded at it’s base by four very large lions that act as symbolic guardians.

The fountain in the center of the square is shaped like clover. They have been shut off several summers in a row thanks to prolonged drought in Britain that required the saving of water.

Trafalger square also has four plinths, three of which feature statues of English Kings.  The fourth one is a vacant pedestal upon which various sculptors present work. As of 2013 that is there is called Hah/Cock created by Katharina Fritsch and that is a sculpture of a cockerel intended to symbolize strength.

Aside from statues Trafalger square is also known as the home of thousands of wild pigeons. It is now forbidden to feed them as they are festooning the square with droppings.

Trafalgar Square is also a center of bus routes. Seventeen bus routes stop and criss-cross through the square making it the center of London traffic.  The Square used to be surrounded by many busy roads but in 2003 the Square was pedestrianized to prevent accidents.  This has also help make the square a plea for community events, political demonstration and the celebration of public holidays.

Every year a huge Norwegian Spruce is placed in the center of the square as a Christmas tree. It is a gift from Norway in honor of Britain’s commitment opt protect Norway during World War II.  And speaking of World War II Hitler had planned to relocate Nelson’s Column to Berlin as a trophy if he ha won the war.