Trafalgar Square Photos
Recommended Reviews - Trafalgar Square
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Trafalgar Square is a popular, well-known public square in London. Of course I had heard of it, but I didn't know where it was; however, I happened to come across it on my way to the National Gallery, as the National Gallery is one of the buildings located at Trafalgar Square. Also located across from Trafalgar Square is Canada House, the "High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom", which is the "the diplomatic mission of Canada to the United Kingdom" (I have no idea what that means, but cool, since I'm Canadian). As I hadn't set out to find Trafalgar Square, coming across it was a nice surprise. Before visiting the National Gallery, I took a look around, taking plenty of photos. At the center of the square was a fountain, and there were several sculptures and monuments, including Nelson's Column which commemorates British Royal Navy officer Horatio Nelson, a sculpture of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock (a British general), and four bronze lions. Being a popular tourist destination, Trafalgar Square was crowded, and it was difficult to get a photo of the lion sculptures without people climbing all over them. I don't know what the big appeal is about Trafalgar Square, and it's not somewhere worth making a trip just to see it; it's just a square with a ton of tourists and some lion statues. [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; London, England]
Trafalgar Square was established to honor the crucial Battle of Trafalgar that was key in winning the war against Napoleon. There is a long figure of Nelson's column, 4 lions, a water fountain, and rotating art installations throughout the year. This site is an important cultural area for public gatherings promoting freedom of speech. They also hold national events here. You will pass through this square if you go to the National Gallery.
Went here because it was in the final scene of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" as well as other movies and for its sheer name recognition. The huge lion statues are instantly recognizable and people were constantly taking photos in front of them. The square is also right in front of the National Gallery which makes it an understandable place for a meeting spot. The Square is named after a battle where the Brits defeated the French in the Napoleonic Wars. The Fourth Plinth is also interesting to look at since it constantly has a rotating art display and you don't know what you'll see when you visit. When we went, it was a bunch of face masks lined up in rows. I've seen photos of when it used to be a huge ice cream sundae. The story of the Fourth Plinth is that it was originally supposed to have a statue of a man on a horse, but they ran out of money, so it was left empty for a while until they decided to allow different artists to put up their works on it, which I think is actually way more interesting. As for the square itself, it's one of those places where you come, you see, you take a few pictures, then quickly move on to the next place.
Busy touristy historical square in Central London and a hub for cultural activities. There is a statue there of Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the battle of Trafalgar and large lion statues at the base of the column. The National Gallery museum is also here which is free to get in. Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus and Covent Garden are just a short walk away. We walked through Trafalgar Square at least a few times during our stay in London as it was the central point to all of the sites we visited.
Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, established in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The square's name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21st October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar. Definitely hard to visit London without hanging out in Trafalgar Square. I admit it has been a long time since I've been to London. I have great memories and you can believe me when I say it's a beautiful place to spend time soaking up the history and architecture.
Trafalgar Square is a very busy public square accented by the National Portrait Gallery in the background. The Charing Cross Tube station is right her, as was our comfy room at the Trafalgar St. James across the street. For the sights and activities that Gayle and I enjoyed during our 5-night stay in London, things don't get much more convenient than this. The square's name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21st October 1805. We didn't really hang out here much, although we certainly walked through a lot, enjoyed multiple people watching opportunities, and practiced not getting hit as we crossed several streets in the immediate area. The coolest thing was National Portrait Gallery's light show one night that was part of its 200-year anniversary celebration.
Trafalgar Square is a historic public square in the heart of central London. It was built to commemorate Lord Horatio Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar in 1805. Named after the famous Battle of Trafalgar, this iconic landmark holds many historical and cultural significance. Trafalgar Square is one of our favorite places in London. And there are like tons of things to see here (yup) 1. Nelson's Column: a towering monument dedicated to Admiral Lord Nelson, one of Britain's greatest naval figures. 2. The Lion Statues: Four majestic and absolutely massive lion statues sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer guard the base of Nelson's Column. 3. The National Gallery: Dominating the north end of Trafalgar Square is the imposing bulk of the National Gallery, one of the world's finest art galleries. 4. The Fourth Plinth: It has become renowned for its temporary art installations (for example- the giant cherry with cream, fly and drone) 5. London's Smallest Police Station: a lamppost has become famous for what is supposedly London's smallest police station. 6. Inclusive Traffic Lights: a load of alternative icons on the green pedestrian crossing lights surrounding Trafalgar Square. They were installed in 2016 to demonstrate TfL's support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans (LGBT+) diversity in London. 7. The Fountains: The fountains in Trafalgar Square were installed after the Square's original layout for practical and political reasons. London's largest and most important public square is a must-stop and one of the most iconic spots on any visit to the English Capital. Trafalgar Square is considered the geographical center of London, with all distances in the city being measured according to their distance from Charing Cross, located at one corner of the square. For nearly 200 years, Trafalgar Square has been a London institution. Flanked by the National Gallery, the square features two fountains, several busts, and bronze lions at the base of Nelson's Column. The column, which honors Admiral Horatio Nelson for his success at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, stands 16 feet tall. At its base, bronze panels detail some of Nelson's battles and the two lions are there to protect the monument.
Very nice place to visit, hang and explore the old London. The gallery has a long line to get in so we didn't get the chance to go inside. Overall, the visit was pleasant and very informative. It gives you the feeling and idea on how lives were lived during the earlier years. Truly, a remarkable place to visit.
7 years ago
Decided to take my younger brother and his girlfriend on a trip to London 3 years ago. I had went for my 28th birthday. We had stopped on evening in Trafalgar Square and climbed on top of the lions before heading off to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. I loved that it was within walking distance to shops and museums. Has plans to come back to London very soon. read more
I'm a Londoner and work in the area. On a sunny day Trafalgar Square is the place to be, to relax and have some lunch and most of all people watch. Trafalgar Square also hosts a number of events, last year I came to see a free weekend of musical theatre and just this weekend gone there was a massive pillow fight. As a tourist, it's simply a must-see in London - the challenge is trying to climb up onto the lions back so you can have a cool picture taken! It's trickier than it looks! read more
The Square is flanked by the National Gallery on the north side, the South African High Commission on the east side, and opposite that, on the west side, Canada House. Traffic used to flow around the Square, but the road in front of the National Gallery has been pedestrianised, creating a large terrace, housing a lift, and a cafe and public toilets underneath the wide steps which leads down to the square and its fountains. I love coming here. Always something going on in this Square, all day and every day. Not just a tourist attraction. It has a wide range of activities all year round with events, and international festivals and celebrations, such as St Patrick's Day, Pride, and Chinese New Year. As well as a filming location, the Harry Potter film premiere started here, and many rallies and demonstrations finishes here. The New Year starts and ends here too. You can even catch an opera or ballet screening live from the Royal Opera House, or watch the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday to celebrate the start of Easter. All the events are free. Now a Fourth Plinth has been added. Home to contemporary art ranging from Nelson's Ship in a Bottle (now outside the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, which I happily contributed to the fundraising to get it there and keep it in this country) to a naked man standing on the plinth. Presently, there is a giant blue cockerel on the Fourth Plinth. In the past, it was not a good place to linger long, as it used to be an area full of pigeons, and people could buy a cup of corn to feed them. All they did was get fat, make a mess and damaged Nelson's Column, and where people were very likely to get droppings landing on them! But since the renovations, and it being illegal to feed the pigeons there, they have now gone elsewhere, it has meant a much cleaner and nicer environment for all who visit. read more
Ah Trafalgar Square. One of London's Ionic landmarks. I love this place. When I first moved to London it was less pedestrian friendly. Now it's so much better. There is so much going on here. From street performers, tourists taking photos of the four lions, National Gallery. It's amazing in all seasons. Wrapping up against Winter's chill to sunbathing on a Summer's day. The view from the stairs of the National Gallery is breathtaking too. You can see Big Ben, Nelson's Column & the whole of Trafalgar Square. There are for plinths around Trafalgar Sq. 3 are always there. The fourth has different artwork. Currently it's a dinosaur. It used to be a blue rooster. My favourite ever one wax a book with a tree of knowledge growing out of it. The square can be closed off sometimes for big London events. So make sure you check out what's going on before you go. A must see. read more
7 years ago
Lovely place to visit and worth the trip. My boyfriend had a great time meandering through the statues and checking out the huge gold lions. It's a very picture-worthy location. Four stars only because it is tourist-heavy and there is a decent bit of construction in the surrounding area at the moment. Would still visit if we did the day over again, but would have been better without the scaffolding all around us. read more
10 years ago
We walked to Trafalgar Square, a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London. Its name commemorates the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain. read more
13 years ago
Alright, square is a square, and even if I would like to, I wouldn't be able to find something to do there throughout the whole day, except walking, enjoying the sun, taking pictures, sitting on lions, and walking in National Galleria. Although there is a lot of stuff to do though, if you are gonna go on the left/right from the square: pubs, restaurants, Buckingham and Churchill War Room, people are spending the whole day sitting near the fountains - so the square is pretty crowded. So, my suggestion will be just take the pictures of Admiral Nelson Statue and the giant bottle with the ship inside, ride the lions (or whatever suits you), and crash into the first pub! And then, you'll be totally satisfied with your day and Trafalgar Square, enjoying your Grey Goose :) read more
7 years ago
If you've ever dreamt about riding a lion, you can do so here and capture it on IG (or else it didn't happen). You're technically not allowed to climb up the monument and ride the lions, but all the obnoxious tourists do. Now, I'm not condoning that you desecrate the monument. It's actually a shame to see damages on the statues from all the lion selfies. Which brings me to my next point. It's really difficult to get a decent photo of the monument when it's swarmed with selfie taking tourists. However, I'm still giving this attraction a 5 star review because the monument really is grand and majestic. read more
15 years ago
10 years ago
Trafalgar Square is one of the most famous and popular Square in London, the beautiful National Gallery adds extra charm of this place. Many events, sometime even demonstration will choose this place as their location, many street artists like to perform here, this place is never boring. Plus it is just couple blocks away from the Piccadilly Circus, it is quite nice way to walk from here to there. There're couple quite nice sculptures around this square and two lovely fountains. Although it doesn't have much green field, it is quite nice place to just sit down and enjoy the local life. I really like the atmosphere here a lot, and there are many different people around. read more
Well as far as landmarks go, this one is ok. I liked the super-tall monument to Admiral Nelson and the water fountain is probably great when it's running - which it was not. Those lions - don't get me started, but they are beautiful! Everyone must take a picture with a lion. There's more to see around the square, so I will be back. read more
After the news was announced about the new Princess of Cambridge's birth.. We decided to celebrate! Going to Trafalgar was cool. It was filled with people break dancing, taking pictures & DJing. The crowds came to celebrate the royal birth. The Water Fountain was dyed pink too! read more
8 years ago
Trafalgar Square is a pretty cool place for everyone to gather and hangout. It has great old architectural buildings surrounding with a very cool fountain directly in the middle. To me, there really isn't anything else that interesting about the square other than the history. I do believe that one should go if they are in the area just for the experience. My family and I are glad we did! read more
11 years ago
Trafalger Square is an iconic London landmark. I had the privilege of attending recently to attend Africa Day which fell on my birthday. The event was a amazing!! I love the use of space with dance and circus acts utilising the Square. With food, clothes, jellwery stalls around the square. Also with the stage in front of Nelsons statue. I was really surprised that Trafalgar Square the had lavatories- and decent ones too. Roll on Africa Day 2016. read more
12 years ago
I got to check out Trafalgar Square during a beautiful clear blue sky summer day. There were a lot of people out and about, local and tourists relaxing and strolling around the fountains and the stores around the area. It has two gorgeous fountains in front of the National Gallery. Lots of perfect photo op. If you are tired, you can just sit around the fountain and take a break and watch people and street performers around the area. There are a lot of souvenir shops and cute restaurants around the area and be sure to check out the National Gallery (free!). read more
8 years ago
Trafalgar Square is a great place to make a quick pit stop or spend a couple of hours just hanging out. There's a lot to look at and it's iconic London. Check out the famous lion statues and enjoy the hustle and bustle of London. read more
My husband & I stopped here on our first day exploring London. It was a beautiful sunny day and peaceful. The countdown for the 2012 Olympics is housed here. Such a beautiful square to sit and relax and take in being in such a history-filled city! read more
One of my favourite parts of London, Trafalgar Sqaure is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. It is situated in the City of Westminster. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of commemorative statues and sculptures in the square, while one plinth, left empty since it was built in 1840, The Fourth Plinth, has been host to contemporary art since 1999. The square is also used for political demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year's Eve before everyone went down to the London Eye Trafalgar Square is owned by the Queen in Right of the Crown and managed by the Greater London Authority, while Westminster City Council owns the roads around the square, including the pedestrianised area of the North Terrace. read more
Visited March 2015: "Historic must see" We past this place on our way to finding our hotel, and I knew I wanted to get back here. We spent some time there, and took several pictures of the Square and the National Museum. We also came back later in the evening to take some night shots. read more
9 years ago
4 years ago
During my five day jaunt in London, I visited Trafalgar Square twice. While it did seem to be a popular congregating spot-I think there are better places to plant your bum. Why did I go twice then? The first time I was looking for the tube. The second time I was looking for the National Gallery (located right behind the square). Being the ignorant American, I was a bit lost trying to reason how the traditional fountain went with the vibrant blue rooster...It does seem to be a great place to people watch while sipping on some tea or just lounging in the square. There were various street performers trying to nab people's attention. read more
11 years ago
18 years ago
I got my fifteen seconds of fame in Trafalgar Square. When my posse and I came here to watch a free film last autumn we were on the cover of Metro the next day. It was awesome. Trafalgar Square is generally awesome. There are always events going on (most of them free) and even when there's nothing spectacularly occurring here it's like a little sanctuary in the midst of a bustling city. I love the architecture, the monuments and the way the National Gallery adds to this sense of opulent grandeur. If you work around this area and it's a sunny day, have your lunch in Trafalgar Square, but beware of the pigeons. read more
16 years ago
This is such a classic spot in London. It's right in front of the National Gallery, and it's really pretty. There are fountains and sculptures all around, and Irma great to just sit on the steps or on the side of the fountain and take in the city. My husband and I went here at night and it was really peaceful. Everyone should visit here at least once--and then go into the National Gallery! It's free :) read more
More info about Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square Reviews in Other Languages
Review Highlights - Trafalgar Square
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
10 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
10 years ago
14 years ago
4 years ago
7 years ago
13 years ago
13 years ago
14 years ago
12 years ago
Trafalgar Square - landmarks - Updated July 2026
Browse Brands
Browse Articles
People who viewed Trafalgar Square also viewed
Piccadilly Circus
229 reviews
Mayfair
Kensington Palace
150 reviews
Kensington Gardens, Kensington, Hyde Park
Tower of London
837 reviews
Aldgate, The City
Buckingham Palace
506 reviews
Buckingham Palace
Big Ben
553 reviews
Westminster
Tower Bridge
531 reviews
Aldgate, The City
Marble Arch
29 reviews
Mayfair, Hyde Park
Waterloo Bridge
29 reviews
Chiswick House & Gardens
18 reviews
Chiswick
Hampton Court Palace
161 reviews
Hampton