London’s famous public squares

Anie Jonas
3 min readJan 8, 2020

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London has some of the most captivating tourist spots in the world ranging from the medieval to the modern that make it a very thrilling holiday destination. These include some prominent public squares that are landmarks in their own right. With the surge in population over the past century there has been a growing demand for more open spaces. The major squares in London were added to the cityscape in the 18th and 19th centuries that have been renovated and maintained on a regular basis to stay attuned to the times.

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Some of the top public squares worth visiting in the city include:

Parliament Square:

Just opposite the historic buildings of Parliament is the eponymously titled square. Home to the British government machinery it is popular with visitors and tourists to hang out in the area when they visit the Houses of Parliament. There are several statues of world leaders installed at the square. They include Lincoln and Churchill among other leaders’ statues that are installed from time to time. A very historic site, it is a great place to spend time and learn about the history of Britain. The square was created in the 1800s and is an excellent location from which to grab breathtaking views of The Elizabeth Tower (erroneously referred to as Big Ben) and Westminster Abbey. Since it is a short distance from the London Eye visitors can later head over to the attraction and take a ride aboard a capsule to get even more spectacular aerial views overlooking the city and its landmarks.

Trafalgar Square:

The most well-known square in London, Trafalgar Square is a popular attraction in the city. It celebrates the incredible victory of the British naval fleet against the combined might of the French and Spanish navies in the famous Battle of Trafalgar. The square has been the site from numerous demonstrations and protests over the years. The main attraction at the square is Nelson’s Column guarded by four majestic bronze lions. There are many other attractions in the vicinity including the famous National Gallery that houses Britain’s national art collection. A visit to the city must definitely have Trafalgar Square on the checklist of places to tick off.

Leicester Square:

Like its counterpart Times Square in New York, the square is famous for its glowing signboards of advertising and is one of the most iconic symbols of the city. The area is a draw with movie lovers with several cinemas located in the area. Leicester Square also plays host to movie premieres. Unlike Trafalgar Square, with its more formal setting and installations, Leicester Square has a more informal feel and look to it and is a nice spot to hang out with friends or family. Apart from the square itself, there are a host of other interesting spots to explore in the neighbourhood.

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