Nelson's Column

Nelson's Column commemorates Admiral Horatio Nelson at Trafalgar Square in Central London.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in London
Trafalgar Square
A beautiful historic square in the heart of London and one of the city's top tourist attractions.
The National Gallery, London
One of the most famous art museums in the world, it houses work spanning from the middle ages to the modern era.
Parthenon Marbles
A collection of Classical Greek marble sculptures and architectural pieces from the Acropolis of Athens.
Turner's The Fighting Temeraire
The National Gallery houses several of Turner's larger than life paintings of seascapes and storms.
Bathers at La Grenouillere by Monet
Bathers at La Grenouillere, painted by French impressionist Claude Monet in 1869. Today the painting can be appreciated at the National Gallery, London
Mars and Venus by Botticelli
In1485 Italian painter Sandro Botticelli created Mars and Venus, today found at the National Gallery in London.

Related Tours

Royal London: Private Half-Day Tour with Changing of the Guard
Explore London’s most popular sites on this Royal London half-day tour, including spectacular parks, royal sites in Westminster.

On your private tour, you will, 

  • Experience the Changing of the Guard, one of the most popular attractions in the city.
  • Discover Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's office;
  • Walk by the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, an iconic symbol of London;
  • Hear fascinating British history and London's incredible past;
  • Walk around the Mall, St. James's Palace, and Horse Guards Parade;
  • Explore St James's Park, the oldest Royal Park created for sport-loving Henry VIII and a once-famous duelling venue;
  • See Buckingham Palace from the outside as you learn more about Royal History;
  • Finish your tour at Trafalgar Square, home to the iconic Nelson's Column, the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery.

Please note: that the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall. 
The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. every day except Sunday when it begins at 9.15 a.m. 

On your tour, your guide will reveal the secrets of the power and politics of Westminster, while seeing some of the most popular landmarks. Learn all about the Houses of Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and be inspired by its mighty history. 

Amble through the fabulous gardens and sights of St James's Park and have the opportunity to see the Changing of the Guard in front of magnificent Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837. 

This ceremony, seen by millions every year, is a must-see attraction in London. It takes place every other day between Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks, and is the perfect reminder of the tight relationship between the armed forces and HM the Queen.

Walk along the Mall and learn curious facts about British kings and queens, who turned the British Empire into the most dominant power on Earth. 

Your tour finishes with a walk through Trafalgar Square, where your guide will show you the best places to grab a bite to eat in the area or direct you to some of the world's most famous artwork, located only metres away in the National Gallery. 
Discover Westminster in a London Black Cab: Private 2-hour Tour
Explore the hub of British politics, power, and royalty on this two-hour private driving tour of Westminster and Central London in an iconic London Black Cab. With your expert private driver-guide, you will see all of Westminster’s historic landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey, as well as three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, two Tudor Palaces, and many others.

On your private tour you will:

  • See iconic sights including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the Palace of Westminster;
  • Marvel at the architectural wonders of St James' Palace, Westminster Cathedral, St Margaret's Church, and Westminster School;
  • Visit famous and lesser-known places including Downing Street, Central Methodist Hall, Banqueting House, Horse Guards, and the National Gallery;
  • Hear stories and scandals about Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, Marble Arch, Wellington Memorial, Lambeth Palace, the London Eye, and the River Thames;
  • End your tour with a drop-off at any preferred Central London location.

Discover the real history of power, politics, and monarchy in London on this express two-hour private tour of iconic London landmarks with an expert Cabbie who not only knows London like the back of their hand but is also a historian... with many royal and historic secrets to share with you!  

Whether you are interested in the British monarchy's royal palaces or the historic UK Parliament based at Westminster for over 1000 years, your expert guide is more than happy to spill all the gossip, alongside the history of any topic which may interest you. 

Hear about the Second World War, the Blitz and Churchill's magnificent speeches; or more historically Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament. Hear about King Charles I at Banqueting House, and his beheading at the Palace of Westminster. 

Learn about the secret tunnels beneath the streets of London used to protect the royals during turbulent times, and how democracy and Constitutional Monarchy work in the UK with the two Houses of Parliament: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Find out about the drunken sailors that brought back the body of naval Hero Horatio Nelson, who stands proudly atop Nelson's column. 

Learn about the ancient coronation rituals that have been taking place at Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror on Christmas Day 1066 up to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 and King Charles III. Admire the awe-inspiring Gothic architecture of the Abbey that has stood the test of time for over 1000 years. 

Your guide is ready to discuss anything you throw their way - including filming locations for Harry Potter, James Bond, and Downton Abbey, among many others. In short, for any curiosity, you may have about London today and British history as a whole, you're in great hands! 
The National Gallery of London: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Enjoy a privately guided tour of London's Trafalgar Square and the magnificent National Gallery, a stunning museum housing a vast collection of celebrated masters from the Italian Renaissance through to the French Impressionists, situated at the top of Trafalgar Square in central London, gazing down Whitehall towards the Houses of Parliament. 

On your private tour of the National Gallery you will:

  • Begin at the majestic Trafalgar Square, home of Nelson’s column and learn about the famous battle and Britain’s naval hero of the Napoleonic wars;
  • Enter the magnificent dating back to 1824 and home to some 2300 masterpieces;
  • Enjoy a fully guided tour of this beautiful neo-classical building, and admire the vast range of art ranging from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, the Romantics and Impressionists;
  •  See world-famous works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Vermeer, Caravaggio, Gainsborough and Reynolds, Turner, Van Gogh and Monet and many more.;
  • Learn about the history of the National Gallery itself, as well as the lives of the artists and detailed explanations of their work and influences;
  • Stop in front of Whistlejacket, the iconic horse by George Stubbs;
  • End at the National Gallery to continue exploring at your own pace.

    The National Gallery was first opened to the public in 1824 and is a magnificent neo-classical building, designed originally by William Wilkins whose vision was to create a "Temple of the Arts". It certainly looks like that from the exterior, but it has been added to and extended several times since its’ opening. It is now home to over 2300 masterpieces dating from the mid-13th Century to 1900. 

    On your private tour of its various wings, you will see some extraordinary works of art by some of the world's best-known and best-loved artists. Highlights include Da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks, the Rokeby Venus by Velazquez, and Mars and Venus by Botticelli. 

    You’ll see works by Raphael and Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Titian. Rubens, Rembrandt, Holbein, Vermeer, and Van Dyck including the famous equestrian portrait of the ill-fated King Charles I, The Fighting Temeraire by Turner, and then of course the mesmerizing wing housing the Impressionists including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Seurat and Monet. You’ll see works by Constable and of course the absolutely iconic portrait of the horse Whistlejacket by George Stubbs. 

    When you’ve satiated on some of the best art in the Western world, enjoy a warming drink with your private guide – and feel free to continue exploring the Gallery and gift shop at your leisure after the tour has ended. 
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