George Square, Glasgow

Flanked on one side by the magnificent City Chambers and on another by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board , George Square was laid out in the 19th century and is dominated by an 80 foot column, with a statue of Sir Walter Scott on top. On a sunny day, clusters of people sunbathe amidst statues of such august personages as Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Robert Burns, James Oswald, James Watt, William Gladstone and Robert Peel. The Cenotaph war memorial is also around and the square itself saw bloodshed in 1918, when crowds rioted during a protest against the 56 hour working week. As the only large open space in the city center, it's often used as a venue for celebrations.