The statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was buried at St Pauls Cathedral, stands high above the traffic at Trafalgar square. Originally created to commemorate Nelson's famous victory at the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic wars, the the statue is flanked by four bronze lions said to have been cast from the metal of reclaimed cannons from the French fleet.
Below Nelson, tourists gather to feed the frightening number of pigeons who sweep in and out of the crowds and across to St Martin in the Fields, a church which has been standing since the thirteenth century - worth a visit, especially for its stunning interior. The square is also overlooked by the National Gallery and Admiralty Arch.
It would seem all roads lead to Trafalgar Square, and most cars seem to end up there, in a perpetual traffic jam. Ironically Trafalgar Square is dead in the centre of London and the square is the point from which all distances to locations in the UK are measured.
Trafalgar Square has over the decades been a site for protest; from anti-nuclear demonstrations of the 1960's to the infamous 1990 Poll Tax Riots; as well as national celebration: a Christmas ceremony has been held annually since 1947.
If you are planning to visit Trafalgar Square, you are advised to get the tube (Charing Cross) and leave the car behind.
Nearest tube: Charing Cross (Bakerloo or Jubilee or North)