Charing Cross, London

Charing Cross is a historic and significant location in the City of Westminster, London, situated immediately to the south of Trafalgar Square, with the towering Nelson's Column casting its shadow over the area. While it can be described as a road junction or central point, it's not technically a roundabout. Rather, Charing Cross serves as a central hub where several key thoroughfares converge: Whitehall, The Mall, Cockspur Street, The Strand, and Northumberland Avenue. It is one of the most iconic crossroads in the capital and a geographical and symbolic heart of London.

The Centre of London - Zero Mile

Charing Cross holds the unique distinction of being London's "Zero Mile" marker - the point from which all distances to London are traditionally measured. This longstanding practice underscores Charing Cross's centrality not just in terms of roads, but also in London's civic and historical identity.

Location Map of Charing Cross, London

The Origin of the Name

The name "Charing Cross" originates from the medieval village of Charing, combined with the Eleanor Cross that once stood on the site. The cross was one of twelve erected by King Edward I in memory of his wife, Queen Eleanor of Castile, after her death in 1290. The final and most elaborate of these crosses was built at the hamlet of Charing, completed in 1294, and it gave the location its enduring name: Charing Cross. The twelve Eleanor crosses marked the twelve locations that Eleanor's coffin rested on its funeral procession from Lincolnshire to Westminster. Of these, only three remain. The one in front of Charing Cross station is a re-located Victorian replica that was designed by architect Edward Middleton Barry. It replaces the original that was destroyed in 1647 during the English Civil War. This cross is larger and more ornate than the original.

The Equestrian Statue of King Charles I

On the spot where the original cross stood, there now stands the Equestrian Statue of King Charles I. It faces down Whitehall towards the site of his execution in 1649. The statue was commissioned in 1633 by Charles's Lord High Treasurer, Richard Weston, and sculpted by Hubert Le Sueur, a French artist. It is the oldest surviving bronze statue in London. After Charles's execution, the statue was ordered to be destroyed, but it was secretly preserved by a metalsmith named John Rivet, who hid it until the monarchy was restored in 1660. It was finally reinstalled on the site in 1675, where it has remained ever since - a fascinating relic of royal history and political drama.

Getting there

Charing Cross is easily accessible via the Charing Cross Underground Station, served by the Bakerloo and Northern lines. The adjacent Charing Cross railway station also provides overground services to south and southeast London and beyond.

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