Video:Around Trafalgar Square

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Transcript:Around Trafalgar Square

Hi. I'm Laura Porter, I'm the About.com Guide to London travel. Trafalgar Square is a world-famous landmark. You'll want to see Nelson's Column and many want to climb on the four lions at the base. The National Gallery takes up the north side of the square and is always free and has many artworks by big names such as Renoir, van Gogh and Canaletto.

George Washington Statue at Trafalgar Square

But not everyone notices the statue of George Washington outside the National Gallery. When you're standing in front of the gallery the statue to the right.

George Washington originally worked for the British military, but ended up fighting against them when the people of the USA rebelled when they wanted to stop paying high taxes to the British. Washington apparently said, "I will never set foot in London again!" so when this statue was sent to London from Virginia in 1924, dirt was brought with it and that's what he's standing on.

World's Smallest Police Box in Trafalgar Square

Also in Trafalgar Square, in the southeast corner, is the world's smallest police box. There's only room for one inside and these days it is used as a storage room by the cleaners. Trafalgar Square has always been a center for protests so the tiny police box was built into the original plans as a lookout post so the authorities could keep a check on the many marches and protests.

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