Must See London – the Square in London's Heart
Fun Things to Do in London Include Free London Tourist Spots
Sep 6, 2009
There are plenty of fun things to do in London – and everyone would enjoy them still more if they weren’t so expensive. But the tourist attractions of London don't all cost money, and the free ones are well worth a look. None more so than Trafalgar Square.
Apart from being one of the sights to see in London, Trafalgar Square is London's heart, a center both of national celebration and of political protest. On VE (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8th 1945, crowds packed the square to celebrate Winston Churchill’s announcement of the end of the war, while in 1990 the square was the epicenter of the poll tax riots, which left more than a hundred people injured.
Must See London: The National Gallery
It is also home to the National Gallery’s matchless collection of old masters. And like most museums and galleries in the land, it's free. Anyone could spend hours there – a lifetime wouldn’t exhaust its possibilities – but most people have other things to do with their lives, and would do well, therefore, to be selective. Glancing at everything is the best way of seeing nothing.
As an example, take Holbein: The Ambassadors, pristine after its 1997 restoration, repays careful study. This vivid painting of two envoys to the court of King Henry VIII contains elements which still puzzle historians, not least the bizarre shape at the bottom center, which morphs into a human skull if looked at sidelong. The best policy is to do some homework, and decide which of the National Gallery's thousands of paintings to concentrate on.
The gallery's main exit faces Trafalgar Square, and before descending its steps, the departing visitor should take time just to look. Because the square is much more than just another of the obvious London tourist spots.
Must See London: Trafalgar Square Itself, London's Heart
The focal point of Trafalgar Square is, of course, Nelson's Column, arguably the most iconic of all tourist attractions in London. From atop his pillar, England's greatest seaman stands guard for ever over his native land. The square is named after the battle in which he died at the very hour of the victory which finally ended Napoleon’s hopes of invading England. The visitor should have a good look at the statue from a distance, because little can be made of it by craning the neck from close up.
Looking out from the National Gallery, to the left is the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, down from which is South Africa House. Nelson’s Column hides much of interest on the south side opposite the gallery, but to the right, the western side of the square is dominated by Canada House.
Descending the steps to the left, visitors will see a statue which should look familiar to many, for it is of George Washington, and came as a gift from the state of Virginia. To honor Washington’s vow never to set foot on British soil, it stands on earth imported from the States.
Must See London: Nelson's Column
A walk down through the square, between the twin fountains, takes the visitor from an American hero to a British hero. Nelson's Column itself was completed in 1843, but the four immense lions which guard it did not appear until 1867. On a fine day, people are often to be seen astride the big cats, probably having their pictures taken.
Behind the watchful lions, the column’s pedestal has bronze panels on all of its four sides. Said to have been cast from the bronze of captured French guns, they depict scenes from Nelson's four greatest victories: St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar.
For many, Trafalgar Square is Nelson’s square. And yet it contains another statue which is arguably of still greater historical interest. It’s certainly a lot older.
Must See London: Charles I – the Monarch Who Lost His Head
Looking south from Nelson’s Column, a clock tower can be seen in the distance. This is Big Ben, part of the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament. It stands at the southern end of Whitehall, where, in January 1649, the beheading of King Charles I ushered in the republic of Oliver Cromwell.
That equestrian statue in the traffic island at the top of Whitehall is of the unfortunate king himself, facing towards his place of execution. Dating to 1633, it narrowly escaped being melted down during the republic, and was placed in its present location in 1674, by which time Cromwell was dead, and King Charles’s son had restored the monarchy.
London's Heart Beats On
And behind the statue – that is, on its Trafalgar Square side – a plaque set in the ground testifies that this is the place from which all distances to and from London are measured. This truly is London's heart.
So many of the London tourist spots – the museums and art galleries, the Tower of London, the London Eye – are really only there to be seen. But Trafalgar Square is different. London's heart, the home for ever of King Charles I and Lord Nelson, still beats today.
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