Trafalgar Square was first conceived by John Nash, 1752 to 1835. It is often referred to as the finest in Europe. The original idea was to link Whitehall with Bloomsbury and the British Museum. It was to be named after the king, William IV. However on the suggestion of a property owner in the region, Mr George Ledwell Taylor the king agreed to name it Trafalgar Square, a popular move at the time.

On the north side the National Gallery was designed by Nash and erected by William Wilkins. It was on the site of the Royal Mews which had been in place for a century. The layout was the work of Charles Barry but he did not approve of Nelson’s Column. His idea was for a grand flight of steps from the north side with statues of Wellington and Nelson. The House of Commons decided otherwise and a column was designed by William Railton. It was begun in 1840. The two fountains were replaced by ones designed by Lutyens which were installed in 1948.