Art and Architecture: A Guide to Trafalgar Square's Treasures in London

When you walk into Trafalgar Square in London, you don’t just step onto a paved plaza-you enter the heart of the city’s cultural identity. Surrounded by grand buildings, towering monuments, and ever-changing art, this space has been a stage for protests, celebrations, and quiet contemplation since the 1840s. It’s not just a tourist hotspot; it’s where Londoners gather on Christmas Eve for carols, where students sketch the statues on lunch breaks, and where visitors from Tokyo to Trinidad pause to take in the city’s soul.

The Lion and the Column: Nelson’s Monument and Its Meaning

At the center of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson’s Column, a 52-meter granite pillar crowned by Admiral Lord Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The statue, carved from Craigleith sandstone, isn’t just a tribute-it’s a symbol of Britain’s naval past. Look up, and you’ll see the four bronze lions at its base, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer and cast in 1867. They weren’t easy to make: the original models were sculpted from clay, then melted down and recast after a failed attempt. Today, they’re so iconic that kids in Camden and Brixton still climb them (though it’s officially banned).

What most people miss is the base: four relief panels made from captured French cannons, each depicting a key moment from Nelson’s career. One shows him at the Battle of the Nile, another the moment he fell at Trafalgar. These aren’t just decorations-they’re war trophies turned into public storytelling.

The National Gallery: Where London’s Art Collection Lives

North of the square, the National Gallery is one of the most visited art museums in the world-and it’s free. That’s not a trick. The UK government funds it so that anyone, from a student in Peckham to a retiree in Hampstead, can walk in and stand before Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Turner’s Rain, Steam and Speed. The building itself is a neoclassical masterpiece, designed by William Wilkins in 1838. Its grand portico and domed ceiling were meant to rival the Louvre, but with a distinctly British restraint.

Inside, you’ll find over 2,300 paintings spanning 700 years. If you’re short on time, head straight to Room 34 for Constable’s The Hay Wain, a painting so tied to English rural life that it’s been on postcards since the 1950s. Or check out Room 41, where Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne hangs, a masterpiece that once belonged to a 17th-century English king.

The Fourth Plinth: London’s Living Art Gallery

While the other three plinths hold statues of British generals, the fourth one has been left empty since the 19th century. In 1999, the Royal Society of Arts turned it into a rotating platform for contemporary art. What you’ll find here changes every 18 to 24 months. In 2005, it was a giant yellow duck by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman. In 2015, it was a 12-meter-tall silver horse by Mark Wallinger. In 2022, a bronze statue of a Black British soldier, Another Place, sparked national conversations about empire and memory.

Right now, in early 2026, the plinth holds London Eye-a mirrored sculpture by Yinka Shonibare that reflects the sky and the people around it. It’s a perfect metaphor: Trafalgar Square doesn’t just display art-it holds a mirror to London itself. Locals come here to debate, take selfies, or just sit on the steps with a coffee from the nearby Fortnum & Mason kiosk.

The Fountains and the Fish: A Quiet Ritual

Two large fountains flank Nelson’s Column. They’re not just decorative-they’re functional. Installed in 1845, they were originally meant to provide clean water for horses and carriages. Today, they’re a quiet counterpoint to the bustle. On sunny afternoons, you’ll see couples sitting on the stone edges, feet dangling in the water. In winter, the fountains freeze over, and kids from Islington skate on the ice, just like they did in the 1980s.

And yes, there are still fish. Not real ones-plastic ones. Since 2009, the National Gallery has placed a pair of fiberglass carp in the fountains each summer. They’re painted in bright blues and reds, and they’re a favorite for photos. Locals know them as “the Trafalgar carp.” No one knows why carp, but they’ve become part of the square’s rhythm.

Street Life and the Pulse of London

Trafalgar Square is never quiet. In the mornings, you’ll find artists from Camberwell College sketching the column. At noon, the National Gallery’s free guided tours start, led by volunteers who’ve spent years studying every brushstroke. On weekends, musicians from the Royal Academy of Music play jazz, folk, or classical pieces-sometimes with a ukulele, sometimes with a cello.

Look around at the people. You’ll see tourists from New York snapping photos of the lions. You’ll see office workers from Canary Wharf taking a breather between meetings. You’ll see elderly couples from Southwark sharing a sandwich from a Pret A Manger. You’ll hear accents from Birmingham, Belfast, and beyond.

It’s this mix that makes Trafalgar Square more than a monument. It’s a living room for London.

How to Visit Like a Local

• Go early or late. The square is busiest between 11am and 3pm. Arrive before 9am or after 7pm to avoid crowds and catch the soft light on the statues.
• Bring a sketchbook. The National Gallery offers free drawing sessions on Tuesdays. Bring your own pencils-no cameras allowed inside the galleries, but sketching is encouraged.
• Grab a coffee from the kiosk. Forget Starbucks. The best coffee in the square comes from a small stall run by a family from Ealing. Their flat whites are strong, and they remember your name.
• Check the Fourth Plinth schedule. The Royal Society of Arts updates its installations online. If you’re planning a visit, make sure you’re seeing the current piece.
• Walk the perimeter. The square is small, but the surrounding streets hold gems: the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields (free concerts every Tuesday), the South African High Commission (with a hidden garden), and the old London County Council building, now a luxury hotel with a rooftop bar.

Why Trafalgar Square Still Matters

London has changed. The Tube is busier. The skyline is taller. But Trafalgar Square remains. It’s where the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee parade ended in 2012. Where crowds gathered after the 7/7 bombings. Where climate activists chained themselves to the lions in 2023. It’s not just art. It’s not just history. It’s where London comes to remember, to protest, to celebrate, and to be still.

Next time you’re in the city, don’t just pass through. Sit on the steps. Look up. Listen. This is where London speaks.