Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain that took place in 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.  

The statues and Nelson's Column (guarded by four lion statues) contained within are in commemoration of important figures throughout history including one of George Washington.  

The site of Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 13th century and originally contained the King's Mews (stables). A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999.  The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday in 1887, the culmination of the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. 

A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a center of annual celebrations on New Year's Eve.