Places to See, things to do, and the Latest on Travel

TRAFLGAR SQUARE MAKEOVER

[caption id="PlacestoSeethingstodoandtheLatestonTravel_img1" align="aligncenter" width="747"] A new plaza and staircase connect Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.[/caption]

[caption id="PlacestoSeethingstodoandtheLatestonTravel_img2" align="aligncenter" width="120"]

The Trafalgar Square staff circa late 1850s.[/caption]

One of London’s most popular outdoor spots is now easier for pedestrians to enjoy. A grand staircase has replaced the street between the Square and the National Gallery of Art, and new pedestrian crossings on the other streets bordering the Square make approaching it on foot less risky. In the summer months, visitors will enjoy concerts, street entertainment, and a cafe with open-air seating. Web: www.london.gov.uk.
To celebrate Trafalgar Square’s newest incarnation, the National Portrait Gallery—off the north-east corner of the Square—is showing “Circling the Square” in its Studio Gallery through February. The exhibition displays photographs of Trafalgar Square over the course of 160 years. Free. Tel: 0207306 0055. Web: www.npg.org.uk.