Trafalgar Square some unique facts
London is home to some of the most well-known landmarks in the UK, with Trafalgar Square the most popular of all the public squares in London. It is a popular attraction with locals and visitors and also serves as a meeting point.
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While in London, your travel list must include Trafalgar Square as one of the top landmarks to visit in the city. The design of Trafalgar Square was done by the ace architect, Charles Barry. Before the square was built in the area it housed royal hawks and the royal stables.
Some of the more unique facts about the square include:
Gets its name from a famous naval battle: No prizes for guessing as to how the square derived its name, from the famous Battle of Trafalgar. It is within convenient reach of the Hotel Park Grand Paddington Court London, so getting there will be easy. The Battle of Trafalgar was one of the greatest naval victories of the British Royal Navy against the combined armada of the French and Spanish fleets at the Cape of Trafalgar. The battle took place on 21 October 1805 and the square opened in 1844.
The square’s famous lions: One of the more attractive features of the installation is its magnificent lions that were made from bronze. The metal was reclaimed from the cannons captured from the French and Spanish armadas when they lost the Battle of Trafalgar. The lions were installed later in 1868 at the square and were created by Sir Edin Landseer.
See Nelson’s Column: The most prominent feature at Trafalgar Square is Nelson’s Column 14’6” and was extensively refurbished in 2006. It commemorates the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the legendary naval commander, who lost life in the battle despite emerging victorious.
Learn about its famous avian residents: Trafalgar Square was once home to pigeons in the thousands until the Mayor of London at that time banned feeding the birds in the 2000s. This was done with the hope of reducing their numbers, which has seen their population dwindle considerably. Still, they feature prominently in photography and historic paintings of the square.
Site of the annual Christmas festivities: There is an annual tradition of the Norwegian government presenting the British government with a Christmas tree. This is done as a token of appreciation on the part of the Norwegians for the invaluable assistance rendered by the British during the Second World War. If you are London during the Christmas period it is well worth a visit to the beautiful Christmas tree with its ornate decorations and lights.
The National Gallery: One of the foremost art galleries in the UK, the National Gallery lies in close proximity to Trafalgar Square. It lies to the north of the Square and could be visited after a tour of Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery houses the nations’ art collection and features works by some of the most celebrated artists of the likes of Raphael and Rembrandt, among other famous names.
