Nelson's Column and the National Gallery at the heart of London.
Open accessfree to visit at any reasonable time
Trafalgar Square is central London’s great gathering place, laid out in the 1830s and 40s around Nelson’s Column and the fountains, with the National Gallery filling the north side. It’s owned by the Crown but the Greater London Authority manages it day to day, and you can walk through at any hour — it’s as much a stage for rallies, festivals and New Year’s Eve crowds as somewhere to sit with a coffee under the lions. The Thames Path runs along the river a short walk south.
