YeinJee's Travel Journal

Trafalgar Square is just a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Circus. The square was under renovation; in normal days it should be crowded with tourists and Londoners. It is a popular hangout location for London youth, who often referred to the square as Traf.

Trafalgar Square was built in 1820s (completed in 1840) to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar (or Cabo Trafalgar, 1805), a glorious British naval victory against a combined French and Spanish fleet.

The square used to be a favourite spot for pigeons; when I was there in 2001, the pigeons’ droppings were covering the floor, fountains, statues and nearby buildings. The feeding of pigeons is not allowed since 2003, and that probably contributed to their significant reduce in numbers. I am not sure how the Londoners felt, but I missed those pigeons; for me it’s part of the square.

At the centre of Trafalgar Square is the Nelson’s Column; built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson who died in the Battle of Trafalgar. The granite column itself is 151 feet tall; and the 18 feet statue of Lord Nelson stands on top of the column.

Admiral Horatio Nelson, or Lord Nelson, is one of the greatest naval heroes in UK history. Nelson is famous for Battle of Nile (1798) and Battle of Trafalgar (1805). He was injured in the Battle of Trafalgar and died after the British fleet achieved their victory.

Nelson was given a state funeral and entombment in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The bullet that killed Nelson was taken out from his body and is currently in display at Windsor Castle.