Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London. Open Daily. Free Entry
Details
Accessibility:
Trafalgar Square is flat and easily negotiable with a wheelchair. Public toilets, including disability facilities, are situated on the west side of the square at the base of the central staircase. They are open daily from 9am to 8pm and a 20 pence charge applies. From the north terrace, the toilets and the square can be accessed by a lift, although when last surveyed in October 2017, the lift was not functioning.
The nearest public car park, which includes disability spaces, is Q-Park Trafalgar, which is located at Spring Gardens, St. James's, London SW1A 2BN.
Sadly, there is no Shopmobility motorised scooter hire in central London, however, all of the latest-built taxes and buses must be disability accessible. The one exception to this is the No.15 London heritage route which runs with the iconic old AEC Routemaster double-decker bus (built between the 1950s and 1960s) which has a rear open entrance to enable passengers to get on and off quickly.
Brief Description:
Trafalgar Square was created in 1812 by John Nash as a cultural space for the public, although it only got its name in 1830. It is home to several monuments, both historic and modern, including Nelson’s Column, iconic stone lions, and the famous Fourth Plinth, which showcases commissions by contemporary artists.
In July 2003 a huge project to transform Trafalgar Square was completed, this pedestrianised the north terrace so that the square is now linked to the National Gallery.
Trafalgar Square also hosts many cultural events, protest rallies, performances and shows throughout the year and is also home to the biggest Christmas tree in London - an annual gift from the city of Oslo in Norway.
Further Information:
Address:
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Telephone:
+44 (0)207 983 4000
Email:
None available.
Website:
https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/our-building-and-squares/trafalgar-square
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/283774-trafalgar-square#yti4WkEXb60hqPvE.97
Opening Hours:
Open daily.
Directions:
Trafalgar Square is located where Pall Mall and the Strand meet, also known as the A4. It is on the north side of the river Thames.
The nearest tube station is the Charing Cross Station (on the Bakerloo and Northern Lines) and the nearest train station is Charing Cross.
OS TQ300804
Transport:
The London Congestion Charge Zone runs from Monday to Friday and motorists have ample signage to alert them to the entry points; only vehicles that are registered by the DVLA as ‘Disabled Tax-Exempt’ are NOT liable to the Charge. Disabled Tax-Exempt drivers can also use the Dartford Crossing without charge. The tunnel is a river crossing to the east of London which links the north and south of the M25 orbital motorway. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) automatically identifies the registration number plate of these vehicles so that their owners do not need to take any additional action.
If travelling by car, for specific directions it is best to use a satnav, but please be aware that the route may take you in and out of the Central London Congestion Charge zone. It is best to approach Central London using public transport.
There is an excellent public transport system throughout London and Greater London. For more information on buses, trains (including the Tube), airports and river traffic please contact Transport For London on 0343 222 1234 (Textphone 0800 112 3456). For further details on accessible services please see the website: https://tfl.gov.uk/
Amenities:
Trafalgar Square includes ‘The Café on the Square’ which serves sandwiches, cakes and pastries, as well as a selection of teas, freshly brewed coffee and alcoholic drinks. It is open daily from 9am - 6pm in the summer and from 10am - 5pm in the winter and is located at the bottom of the central staircase, to the right as you face the National Gallery. It is wheelchair accessible and has a low-level counter and induction loop. Also close by is St Martin-in-the-Fields church which has a café in the basement accessible by lift, and standard and disability toilets, and the National Portrait Gallery, which also has a full range of toilets; both of these venues, like the National Gallery, have free entry, so that visitors to Trafalgar Square have plenty of places to go if the weather becomes inclement.
Travel Information
For further travel information please see: www.traveline.info
Or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
NB London ULTRA-LOW EMISSION ZONE
This started on 8 April 2019 in the Central London Congestion Charge Zone, and will extend to the whole of the London area within the
M25 Motorway from 25 October 2021.
For more details please see:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle-35896
Vehicles registered with a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles' tax class will benefit from a grace period after the ULEZ starts until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle doesn't change tax class, and this also applies to a 'disabled' vehicle registered outside the UK.
Location
Nearest Venues
80 metres*
97 metres*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.