public square built area known commemorates british naval victory napoleonic wars france spain took place october coast spain site square significant landmark 13th century originally contained moved buckingham palace area redeveloped progress slow death square open nelson column centre guarded lion statues number commemorative statues sculptures occupy square fourth left host contemporary art square community gatherings political demonstrations including bloody sunday march anti war protests campaigns climate change christmas tree donated square norway erected days christmas day square centre annual celebrations new year eve known feral removal century geography owned queen right crown managed owns roads square including area square contains large central area roadways sides terrace north roads square form major road running west square surrounded way traffic system works completed reduced width roads closed northern traffic nelson column centre square flanked designed sir replacements granite canada guarded monumental bronze lions sculpted sir column statue commanded battle surrounding square north east south west mall leading buckingham palace south strand east passes church tube station northern lines exit square lines separate stations line called square linked renamed construction jubilee line rerouted westminster tube station nearby tube stations embankment connecting district circle northern lines leicester square northern lines london bus routes pass square history building work south square revealed deposits findings dating approximately years ago remains cave lion straight elephant site significant location 13th century edward reign area site running north original strand city met coming north westminster reign western end strand comes practice keeping hawks old word fire rebuilt stables remained moved buckingham palace clearance development divided great smaller north crown stables large block built designs site occupied commissioners forests land revenues instructed draw plans clearing large area south kent stable block far east plans left open area square block centre reserved new building plans included demolition redevelopment buildings lane strand construction road called street churchyard cross act passed clearance started soon nash died soon construction started progress square named commemorating ascent throne decided square named suggested architect commemorating nelson victory french spanish napoleonic wars clearance development progressed slowly built north design treasury approved plan laying square effect april following death new plans accepted construction started weeks barry major consideration increasing visual impact widely criticised lack dealt complex sloping site main area level street strand constructing foot high terrace roadway north steps end leading main level proposed similar solution central flight steps provided sculpture lighting stonework granite decided included layout estimated budget excluding paving sculptures earth removed level green park square originally surfaced replaced stone 1920s opened public nelson column nelson column planned independently barry work approached government proposing monument victor funded public subscription erected square competition held won architect proposed feet inches column topped statue nelson guarded sculpted lions design approved received widespread objections public construction went ahead beginning height reduced feet inches column completed statue raised november bronze column completed lions original design added sculptor asked lion died london zoo brought studio took long complete sketches corpse began parts improvised statues resemble cats lions barry unhappy nelson column placed square july foundations laid told parliamentary select committee opinion desirable area wholly free objects art remained base years upper remained place nazi developed secret plans transfer nelson column berlin expected german invasion related britain fallen redevelopment major month redevelopment square led foster partners sub completed work involved closing eastbound road north traffic sides square central section northern retaining wall wide set steps terrace construction includes lifts disabled access public toilets café access square gallery crossings northeast northwest corners statues monuments barry scheme provided sculptures north square bronze equestrian statue sir originally intended placed marble arch installed eastern remained century statues installed 19th century general sir south west corner sir south east mayor london suggested replacing statues figures familiar general public fourth 21st century north west corner square fourth specially commissioned artworks scheme initiated continued appointed mayor london new sculpture gift horse designed installed fourth march model horse skeleton live display statues north wall square lord sir lord installed conjunction square commemorate second world war sea lord admiral unveiled alongside april south site original bronze equestrian statue charles cast placed present position statues lawn statue west george_washington replica work east gift installed statues erected 19th century removed pioneer smallpox set south west corner square sculpted showed sitting chair relaxed pose inaugurated ceremony presided prince albert moved general erected foot high pedestal removed sited years later following suggestions local paving board barry agreed installed counteract effects reflected heat asphalt surface commissioner woods forests welcomed plan reduced open space available public gatherings reduced risk assembly fed wells connected tunnel water pumped steam engine housed building gallery decided replace pump new designed sir memorials lord lord initially intended placed fountain surrounds placed northern retaining wall project completed second world war cost old ones presented canadian government located ottawa regina programme restoration completed pump system replaced capable sending foot jet water air led lighting system project different combinations colours installed reduce cost lighting maintenance coincide summer olympics square famous feral feeding popular activity began square construction completed feed sellers known victorian era birds presence contentious stonework flock estimated peak considered health hazard stall seller sold bird seed tourists inflated prices february sale bird seed square stopped measures introduced discourage including use birds prey supporters continued feed birds mayor enacted ban feeding square september passed banning feeding birds area nelson column repaired years damage cost events new year years celebrating new year gathered square despite lack celebrations arranged lack official events partly authorities concerned encouraging cause display centred south bank thames provided alternative new year celebrations organised conjunction charity began event control crowd numbers christmas christmas ceremony held square year norway spruce fir presented norway capital city oslo london christmas tree token gratitude britain support world war war time support norway prince country government lived exile london war christmas tree decorated lights switched seasonal ceremony usually held days christmas day open public attracts large number people switch usually followed nights christmas carol singing performances events twelfth night christmas tree taken recycling threatened abandon event save decision reversed tree selected head oslo municipal forest shipped north_sea port road tree feet tall recently feet protesters tree man tree hours new year eve party scheduled place arrested tree repaired tree removed sections trunk tree suspended crane political demonstrations square social political focus visitors developing history figures national heroes country foremost place historian written construction venue political demonstrations great rally campaign social reform working class began square ban political rallies remained effect 1880s emerging labour movement particularly began holding protests february known black monday protesters rallied unemployment leading riot larger riot bloody sunday occurred square november march protesting awe began square significant demonstrations modern era held square september included philosopher protesters rallied peace war nuclear weapons march crowd demonstrated involvement vietnam war marching square 1980s continuous anti protest held outside began demonstration attended people ultimately caused rioting surrounding area recently anti war demonstrations opposing afghanistan war iraq war large held shortly terrorist bombings london thursday july december participants occupied square weeks took place copenhagen billed base direct action climate change saw actions protests stem occupation march square occupied crowd protesting proposed budget cuts night situation turned violent riot police protesters damaged portions square november terrorist attacks paris held crowds sang french national anthem held banners support city country year anniversary october holds parade honour admiral lord nelson british victory combined fleets spain france holds silence square event armistice day november remembrance died war event includes music poetry readings culminating playing post minute silence sport 21st century location sporting events victory june people gathered watch england national football team world cup quarter final brazil giant video screens erected occasion square england national rugby union team december celebrate victory rugby world cup september england national cricket team victory ashes series july square hosted announcement london bid host summer olympics countdown clock erected march engineering weather related faults caused stop day later hosted opening ceremonies course subsequent races uses london location featured film television productions swinging london era late 1960s including casino doctor filming sketches cartoon backdrop bbc comedy series flying circus square square metres turf days campaign london authorities promote green spaces city july building works leicester square world premiere final film harry potter series held mile red carpet linking squares fans camped square days premiere despite torrential rain premiere held squares square recorded topography london published gives town north marine road cricket ground barbados named better known british namesake renamed commemorate national heroes barbados life scale replica square pakistan tourist attraction centre local residents
Trafalgar Square