If you think you’ve seen everything London has to offer, it’s time to rethink. Even locals find themselves pausing around Trafalgar Square, suddenly struck by the contrast of old stone and neon jackets, student protests, and the silent gaze of a stone lion that’s been photobombed more times than Big Ben’s clockface. Maybe you’re just up from Brixton, or perhaps you’re a City worker dodging tourists on your lunchtime meal deal run, but if you’ve ever doubted whether Trafalgar Square could surprise your Instagram feed, just slow down and look closer. This legendary London landmark is bursting with perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.
The Iconic Backdrops: More Than Nelson’s Column
Let’s start with the obvious – but honestly, ‘obvious’ is popular for a reason. Nelson’s Column towers over the square at 51.6 metres. Every visitor snaps a shot with it, but few think to angle it with the backdrop of the National Gallery’s neoclassical pillars, or with the ever-present red double-decker whizzing by. Here’s a tip: late afternoon, as the golden hour sweeps across Whitehall, the sunlight slices between the Corinthian columns and grey stone lions, creating those long shadows you only get in London from November to March.
What people miss? The fountains. These are not just for a quick background blur. Photograph the shifting light on their turquoise waters from the north terrace, and you’ll see the reflections of London’s chaos flipped into stillness. Catch the living statues balancing perfectly still next to the roar of churning water. For extra flair, step out onto the pedestrianised areas during Lumiere London, when the fountains are lit up with wild neon light and the square pulses with crowds and Instagrammers after that perfect shot. That moment doesn’t just shout London – it screams it.
And if you actually want Nelson’s Column to yourself (or at least, without a clutch of selfie sticks poking in), get there just after sunrise. There’ll be delivery lorries and pigeons and barely anyone else. Bring coffee from Notes Café or Caffè Nero across the road, and capture the raw, misty space before the city wakes up. No filter needed.
Lions, Living Statues, and Artistic Mosaics
The four bronze lions by Edwin Landseer guarding the base are more than oversized climbable mascots; they’re as iconic as the Queen’s Guard, and every Londoner’s got a blurry childhood photo sliding down the back of one. Don’t just settle for the classic “child on lion” angle – get creative. Shoot upwards with one paw in the foreground for some drama. Or wait for a sunny day and snap the lions with their shimmering metallic manes against a moody sky.
Statue-spotters, Trafalgar Square rewards wandering. There’s George IV on his prancing horse, and shifting public art on the Fourth Plinth – one month it’s a towering dollop of cream topped with a drone, the next it’s a defiant thumb or a symbolic refugee figure. Snap a shot with the ever-changing art and tag #FourthPlinth; it’s a uniquely London Insta moment, and you’ll have a record of the city’s living debate about what belongs where and why.
Every Londoner knows about the costumed street performers, turning into human Yodas or floating magicians for a couple of quid and a chorus of school kids. If you arrive just before midday, you’ll find fewer crowds but catch the street artists gearing up. Get that quick burst photo of an artist mid-levitate, or a living statue catching an unsuspecting tourist off-guard. For something more subtle, look down – at the mosaics near the entrances, or the rainbow trail chalked onto the paving stones ahead of Pride in London each summer. It’s a moment of colour in the city’s grey pulse, ready to brighten your Stories.
Hidden Corners: Beyond the Main Square
You’d be surprised what’s tucked into the corners around the square – locals often beat the crowds by slipping into St Martin-in-the-Fields. This 18th-century church isn’t just good for a lunchtime concert – its crypt makes for haunting, atmospheric photos, all flickering candlelight and shadowed arches. Venture inside, point your camera upward, and frame the light filtering through the high windows. When the Crypt Café is open, grab a monochrome shot of your coffee amongst ancient tombstones.
For those in the know, the pocket park across the road, at the edge of Charing Cross, gives you a sweeping view of Trafalgar Square that most tourists miss. It’s especially good if you want the full vista – the National Gallery, the fountains, Nelson’s Column, and the constant swirl of London buses in one shot. Or head up to Vista at The Trafalgar St. James for a rooftop cocktail and a shot that’ll make your followers jealous, with London’s landmarks glowing far below.
Keep an eye out for special events: from Eid celebrations and Diwali lights to the epic Christmas tree shipped down every December from Oslo. At these moments, Trafalgar Square transforms. The Norwegian fir, draped in white lights, is as much a symbol of London as Brick Lane’s bagels or Borough Market’s cheese stalls. Photograph the crowds and the choir, or the empty square the day after, fairy lights still glimmering as London heads to work. Each season frames the square anew.
Locals’ Tips, Angle Tricks & Making the Most of the Moment
Nailing the perfect shot doesn’t mean elbowing through crowds. Londoners know to use those little moments – after a rain shower, when the pavement gleams and everyone’s ducked into Pret or Waterstones for shelter, snap the reflection of the lions in the puddles. On a rare snow day, grab a wide angle and catch the soft white blanket on Nelson’s head. When the marathon or a World Cup match passes through, capture the wild flags and sports fans spilling under the square’s arches – it’s peak London energy, and your feed will stand out from the pack.
Want something offbeat? Look for the lesser-seen details: the architectural flourishes around South Africa House, the blue-plaque history on Canadian Pacific Building, or the midnight glow of the National Gallery’s steps when lit from below. Use portrait mode to focus on those details, while still keeping the city’s buzz in view.
Finally, don’t forget what makes Trafalgar Square special isn’t just the grand monuments or scheduled events—it’s the offbeat street musicians, the kids blowing bubbles, and spontaneous demos that can pop up at any hour. London’s all about capturing movement and diversity, letting your camera document the heart of a city that never really sits still, not even at the centre of its most storied square.