Charing Cross

About Charing Cross
Charing Cross is located at the junction of the Strand and Whitehall by Trafalgar Square and is referenced as the area by the mainline station between Embankment and Covent Garden. It derives its name from a memorial to Queen Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward the First who died in 1290. Her body was to be taken from Lincoln to Westminster Abbey for a state burial. The grief stricken King decided that twelve memorial crosses would be installed at each stopping point of her funeral procession. The last was placed in the manor of Charing – now Trafalgar Square – hence Charing Cross. The original Charing Cross was destroyed in 1647 and the statue of Charles I now resides it its place. You can find a Victoria replica outside Charing Cross station.