Sights · Our pick in London
Trafalgar Square
Nelson’s Column
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square was laid out in the 1830s and 1840s to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. His statue looks down from a column guarded by four bronze lions by Edwin Landseer. The square is a stage for celebrations and events, and the Fourth Plinth in its north-west corner shows changing contemporary sculpture. Charing Cross station is on the square.
Why it's on our list
- Nelson’s Column
- The Fourth Plinth
- National Gallery
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Trafalgar Square before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Trafalgar Square, as the crow flies.
- The Londoner0.2 mi4 min walk
- Corinthia London0.2 mi4 min walk
- Raffles London at The OWO0.2 mi5 min walk
- Ham Yard Hotel0.4 mi7 min walk
- The Savoy0.4 mi7 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Trafalgar Square are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- Charing CrossBakerlooNorthernNational Rail0.1 mi1 min walk
- Leicester SquarePiccadillyNorthern0.2 mi5 min walk
- EmbankmentDistrictBakerlooNorthernCircle0.3 mi5 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Hungerford Lane0.1 mi2 min walk
- Taxi rank, Whitcomb Street0.2 mi4 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- Leicester Square0.2 miWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Covent Garden0.4 miWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- London Eye0.5 miWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Westminster Abbey0.6 miWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- The British Museum0.8 miWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Buckingham Palace0.8 miWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Harrods1.6 miWalk 33 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- The Shard1.8 miWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Tower of London2.2 miWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 20 min
Main rail terminals
- Charing Cross0.1 miWalk 1 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Waterloo0.7 miWalk 14 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Victoria1.0 miWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Euston1.4 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.6 miWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)1.6 miWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- London Bridge1.9 miWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Liverpool Street2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Paddington2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min