Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
A 145-foot-high monument, bearing a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson guarded by lions, marks the spot considered the center of London.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Covent Garden
Whether you're headed here to check out the multitude of shops, theaters, cafes, pubs, and restaurants, or simply to be among the multitude of people who pass through this pretty part of town, you'll love soaking up the festive and historic atmosphere in and around Covent Garden. Even if you don't have tickets to the opera or a show at one of the many famous theaters here, don't be surprised if find yourself captivated by some impromptu act of a street performer wowing the crowds in Covent Garden's Piazza. If you do have tickets, you'll be pleased to note that many of the local eateries accommodate theatergoers with prix fixe menus, early dinners, and later than usual opening hours. 


How to get there
  • Charing Cross • 1 min walk
  • Leicester Square • 5 min walk
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See what travelers are saying

  • Winston
    160 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just a stroll
    Great place all kinds of shops and food in area. Historical statues pretty busy with people hanging out or enjoying day. Good place to stop and get a beer or a bite. Close to Portrait Museum.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 28, 2023
  • Louise M
    Castle Rock, Colorado3,867 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must-do in London
    Trafalgar Square is a must-do in London. It is like NYC, where the city never sleeps. It is overwhelmingly the high-end shops in every big city, along with some good ethnic food and great sights.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 29, 2023
  • GertieGert
    London, United Kingdom229 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    As a Londoner I didn’t recognise this super-clean square!
    Oh dear, here I am a Londoner who hasn’t been up to Trafalgar Sq for years! Well, on retirement I decided to get out there and act like a tourist and I was SO impressed with this super-cleaned up area! Only three pigeons strolling around who a fellow “tourist” told me hadn’t got the memo as they allegedly send up a bird of prey at dawn to warn off the pigeons - if it’s true what a great idea! I don’t dislike wild life but they used to ruin Nelson’s Column and the fountains which now look pristine! I highly suggest a visit here - and to stroll around discovering little pockets of extra history too!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 23, 2023
  • Madan Gopal M
    Bengaluru, India7,963 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic Square.
    We got down from hop on hop off bus at this point to explore and experience. This is an iconic public square with rich history and heritage. Located in the City of Westminster, this beautiful square attracts tourists and locals. As we went there during Christmas we could feel the vibrancy and all the activities. We could also see a beautiful Christmas tree donated by Norway which has been a traditional practice for decades. The Nelson's Column is another great attraction. A must visit to understand the history of centuries.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 8, 2024
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia13,536 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Statue of a great man and leader
    Trafalgar Square is a special site in the center of the city of London. We have visited this special site several times and explored this area. Among the outstanding thing from the English history is the tall statue of Horation Nelson. Nelson won an exceptional navy battle against France. His triumph has never been forgotten in England; he died during this battle. Nelson's statue is worth a trip to the busy Trafalgar Square. We loved. our trip here, the Trafalgar Square is marvelous for visitors and locals..
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 28, 2024
  • The_Concierge_8
    Trinidad and Tobago3,710 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Plenty Vitamin P! Tribute to Horatio Nelson is a very cool area with a nice entertaining, happy vibe! LOVED THE LIONS!
    Nothing truly prepares you for your first sight of Trafalgar square. Apart from the historic importance and tribute of the space, I've never seen so many imposing statues all together, especially those magnificent lions! There was music around us from street performers and it was a really cool vibe and lots of social activity. It's a great place to just stretch your legs and relax during sightseeing the city, have a packed lunch and a drink, listen to music and get some Vitamin P; that is people-watching.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 10, 2024
  • laneyislay
    148 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lovely spot - not to be missed
    I loved Trafalgar square! It's such a lovely, relaxing place. We were there on a lovely sunny day - we sat on the steps, watched the world go by while listening to the performers singing. The fountains are lovely as are the statues. The perfect spot for a visit with friends, I could have sat there for hours!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 16, 2024
  • Cheekycockney190757
    Basildon, United Kingdom11,432 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great location near other equally great attractions
    Visited twice in January 2024 on separate visits. As a location, it's easy to reach if you're in London. A lot of attractions are nearby so we walked from Leicester Square on one visit and on another went onto the Mall and back to Westminster. The main attractions are Nelson's column, fountains and sculptures. One of which is the statue of Charles I which is London’s oldest bronze statue. It was originally commissioned by the Lord Treasurer for his house at Roehampton in 1630 but was put into hiding during the Civil War. It was re-erected at its present site by Charles II in 1675. Lots of traffic which to cross is quite confusing, so be careful and look both ways. I visited during the day and night and on both visits felt safe. Nearby is the National Portrait Gallary just behind the National Gallary. as well as the London Coliseum.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 24, 2024
  • gfsc5
    Perth, Australia1,787 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gathering spot
    This landmark square with the very famous Nelson's column is a very popular spot to meet. Lots of people gathered around. Lots of lovely old building surround the place and well worth a visit.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 19, 2024
  • Joshane615
    Australia616 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see!
    Trafalgar Square is a must see when in London. Our hotel was a few minutes walk away and the perfect location so we went here a few times during our stay. Every time we were blown away. It is an absolute beautiful Square. The fountains are lovely.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles8,258 reviews
Excellent
3,949
Very good
3,290
Average
882
Poor
99
Terrible
39

Andrew
Baltimore, MD643 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
This square really is impressive compared to your normal city promenade. There are signs telling people to stay off the statues but tons of folks are climbing all over them. I wouldn't recommend it. A gorgeous place for pictures though. Very cool fountain and great architecture all around.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ian C
London, UK23,724 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Solo
It was my first visit into Central London since the lockdown. While I was there for work reasons, I took a little time to explore places I enjoy nearby such as Trafalgar Square.

Relatively quiet at this time of day, it was a joy to explore, admiring the architecture of the National Gallery, St Martin in the Fields, the different embassies and commercial buildings which surround the Square, plus of course the fountains, the various statues and the memorable column and statue of Nelson himself.

The lions at the base of Nelson's column were having a touch of conservation and there were remnants of the pavement artists, but I guess it was too early in the day for them.

Written July 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

N1459UDpatriciaf
Salt Lake City, United States9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Besides a great place to mingle and people watching, there are many things to do and choose from. We found it quite fun to watch a young man making flags from all the countries out of colorful chalk. Then people could throw a coin on the country you are from. You can grab a beverage, food, go to the National Gallery of London and other sites of interest. I love the many statues, lions and all the cars and buses driving around. The weather was mild and very enjoyable.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,237 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
Trafalgar Square is a grand meeting place in the centre of London.

It is a short walk from Leicester Square and the West End. Charing Cross Railway station is also close by along with the Tube station which is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines. It's also a short walk away to the Palace of Westminster and the River Thames. The National Gallery is on the edge of the square and is free to visit if you enjoy art. You can also walk along to Mall to Buckingham Palace and Green Park.

In the centre of the Square is Nelson's Column which has a statue of Horatio Nelson atop it.

It's a focal point in London and well worth checking out.
Written December 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mcmonScotland
Girvan, UK806 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We visited midweek in January. We were here early and it wasn’t very busy. An iconic location to start a London tour. A great photo op with Nelson’s Column and the sculptures on the four plinths; Charles James Napier, Henry Havelock, George IV, and the fourth plinth changing aperiodically. You’ve got the National Gallery and the Portrait Gallery if you are so inclined. St Martin’s Church (go to the Cafe in the Crypt) is nearby. There is Whitehall Road leading to the Houses of Parliament and going through Admiralty Arch, the Mall leads to Buckingham Palace.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ian C
London, UK23,724 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
Venice has its Piazza San Marco; London has Trafalgar Square, the great piazza at the heart of the city, but being London it is nore austere and formal.

Surrounded by embassy buildings by the likes of Canada and South Africa and with the National Gallery and St Martin in the Fields at the north, the square sweeps down into Whitehall in the south.

While the most dominant monument is Nelson's Column, there are lots of other statues to explore, not least the Fourth Plinth, and don't miss the fountains.

For many, this is the heart of London and there are many special events held here.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonathan C
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia168 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
Visited on a Saturday daytime when the weather was great. Street performamces, music and lots of people enjoying the fountains and the famous views made for a wonderful atmosphere and a great place to chill at any time during the day.

Well worth a visit
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karenpammy2016
San Francisco, CA1,239 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Nice to walk all around the Trafalgar Square area despite how busy it is as it is the central area of London that divides the west and east ends. There were a lot of gates up all around Trafalgar Square and we were unable to walk into the fountain area nor up to the two lions sitting at the entrance area. It appeared that they were setting up the area for some public function as there were stacks of gates ready to be assembled.
We walked all around and over the the 4th plinth where an unique modern piece of art work is displayed and is regularly updated. Presently there was a statue of a huge cupcake with frosting and a cherry with a huge ant crawling on it. It was a sight to photograph with as it was really big, colorful, and a distinguishing piece of art work. Well worth the walk over to it!!
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gaurav C
New Delhi, India2,959 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019
One of the Landmarks of the City of London is this public square called the Trafalgar square..full of tourists throughout the day..The square is named after the Battle of Trafalgar..The National Gallery is located just besides it..It has a nice big fountain as well..
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jeffryb
Keysborough, Australia366 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Frafalgar Square celebrates the defeat of the French fleet by Admiral Nelson and the Royal Navy at Trafalgar. The Square is one of the busiest intersectons in London. At the centre is Nelson's Column, 170 feet (50 metres) tall. At one side is the National Gallery, holding one of the world's great art collections.
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Trafalgar Square - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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