London/Leicester Square

The area around Leicester Square (LESS-tuh), often called the West End, is the entertainment heart of London. The area also includes Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. == Understand == === Chinatown === Chinatown is centrally located in the West End, along and around Gerrard Street off Leicester Square. It spreads into Wardour Street at one end and Newport Place at the other. London's Chinatown may not be quite as large as those in Bangkok, New York City or Sydney, but it is still a great place to dine out in the evening, authentically Chinese and definitely different from anywhere else in London. === Trafalgar Square === Trafalgar Square is a large public square commemorating Lord Horatio Nelson's victory against Napoleon's navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The central monument within the square is a single tall column on which the figure of Nelson stands gazing over London and is one of the great iconic images of London. His monument is surrounded by four colossal lions designed by artist Sir Edwin Landseer, and a series of large fountains. Much more than just an open plaza, Trafalgar Square is famous as the location of a large number of important buildings and institutions that surround the square and fill the streets surrounding it. Trafalgar Square also marks the northern end of Whitehall, the centre of British government. In 2003 Trafalgar Square was renovated and expanded to link up directly with the National Gallery on the north side of the square - a great improvement to the traffic which once completely encircled this, the largest public square in the West End. The early 18th-century church of St Martins in the Fields stands at the north-east corner of the square. Just by the church, Charing Cross Road gives access to the fabulous National Portrait Gallery, and leads on further to Leicester Square, Soho and the famous collection of bookstores on the road itself. To the south, Whitehall leads to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street. Christmas time sees the erection of a large Christmas tree within the square, the annual gift from the people of Oslo, capital of Norway, as a token of gratitude for Britain's help in World War II. The tree provides a focus for Christmas carols, performed by different groups to raise funds for voluntary and charitable organisations. Trafalgar Square is also traditionally the scene of lively celebrations for Londoners on New Year's Eve, though an increasingly heavy police presence has meant that some antics (drunks leaping into the fountains) have all but disappeared. Trafalgar Square has also served as an outdoor venue for concerts and VIP appearances, courtesy of the Mayor of London's Office, which is keen to see Londoners use their public spaces better. Visitors to the square on an ordinary day may also discover small (and not so small) scale demonstrations and public speakers - the Square is a convenient gathering place near to, but not directly threatening, the seat of British Government down the road at Westminster. === Leicester Square === This smallish London square is the site of most British film premieres and the square itself is surrounded by terrifyingly expensive cinemas — tickets for an evening screening will cost upwards of £17, 3D screenings will cost upwards of £15. At night, Leicester Square becomes exceptionally busy with tourists and locals, visiting the surrounding clubs and bars. In the northwest corner of the square is a musical clock, incorporating a Swiss glockenspiel, that is popular with tourists. It was popular enough that its remodelling and restoration was a requirement when permission was given for the demolition of the Swiss Centre in 2008, of which it had been a part. The TKTS half-price ticket booth is on the south side of Leicester Square for cheap tickets for theatre performances. == Get in == === By Tube === The district is served by the following tube stations, all in Zone 1: Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines) – is served by a Tube station of the same name just off the north east corner of the Square on Charing Cross Road. The station is on both the Northern and Piccadilly Lines and acts as a convenient place to start any exploration of London's West End. Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) – Chinatown is a short walk from both Picadilly Circus and its Tube station of the same name. Walk east along Shaftesbury Avenue, before turning right at Wardour Street, watch for the ornamental gates — and Leicester Square stations. Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) – is the nearest Tube station to Trafalgar Square and on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines. === By train === 1 Charing Cross mainline station in Covent Garden serves the south-eastern region of England. === On foot === This is a small district which lends itself perfectly to exploration on foot. == See == 1 Trafalgar Square (Nearest tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ). The main, central square of London, Trafalgar Square is associated with celebration and demonstration - it is the site of London's lacklustre New Year celebrations, and in 2003 was the site of the triumphant homecoming of the British Rugby team from the World Cup, and a centre for demonstration against Britain's involvement in the Iraq War. The square has been associated with the many hundreds of pigeons that used to be found here, but in 2003 a bylaw was passed to make it illegal to feed them. Nelson's Column, surrounded by the four bronze lions can be found here, on the south side of the square. The north-west plinth in the square was intended to hold an equestrian statue of William IV, but remained bare since 1841 due to insufficient funds. Since 1999, it has been used to display controversial contemporary sculpture. 2 National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, WC2 5DN, ☏ +44 20 7747-2885. 10AM-6PM daily except F until 9PM. Houses the British national collection of western European art dating from the 13th to 19th centuries. A truly awe-inspiring collection, notable works include Hans Holbein's The Ambassadors, Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Constable's The Haywain. The vast majority of art is free of charge to visit. Temporary exhibitions are generally fairly costly, but invariably well researched and presented. The audioguides are very comprehensive, have comments on most of the paintings in the museum, and are free though this fact is not advertised. A donation is suggested. In addition to courses, workshops, lectures and other events, the National Gallery has free talks and tours every day. Free. 3 National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Pl, WC2H 0HE, ☏ +44 20 7306-0055. Sa-W 10AM-6PM, Th F 10AM-9PM. The National Portrait Gallery is just around the corner from the National Gallery and is an entertaining way to learn about British history since the Tudors. Visitors walk around the gallery chronologically, viewing portraits of notable figures from British history - from Henry VII, painted by Hans Holbein, to Blur, painted by Julian Opie. Free except some non-permanent exhibitions. 4 Canada House (just off Trafalgar Sq). The High Commission of Canada immediately opposite to Trafalgar Square maintains a regular art exhibition featuring Canadian artists. Free, but there is a security checkpoint. 5 Piccadilly Circus (tube: Piccadilly Circus BAK PIC ). At the junction of five major roads, Piccadilly Circus is the home of the famous aluminum statue of Eros, which sits atop a fountain. The monument is officially known as Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and initially wasn't supposed to depict Eros, but different god Anteros. The north side of Piccadilly Circus holds an enormous display board of electric advertisements, including Britain's biggest illuminated display (the widest in the world), advertising Coca-Cola. 6 Leicester Square Garden. Relax and unwind in the garden, and gaze at the activity going on all around, while listening to the buskers, street entertainers and preachers performing in the area. At the centre of the square is a fountain with a statue honouring William Shakespeare, and the benches that surround the fountain are dotted with other fun statues—you can take your picture sitting next to Mr. Bean, or standing with Charlie Chaplin. (updated Sep 2020) 7 Chinatown. The main sights to see in London's Chinatown are the expressions of Chinese culture and Eastern ambience in Chinatown, and for a good Chinese meal. There are few souvenir shops for tourists and no museums or temples. Chinese arches (Paifang), at each end of Gerrard St and at the entrance to Macclesfield St. The three ornamental Chinese arches are worth a look. Chinatown phone booths. Chinatown does incorporate some entertaining combinations of British and Chinese culture, such as the phone booths with pagoda-style sloping roofs. == Do == Leicester Square is one of London's true entertainment hotspots. === Cinemas === Leicester Square square hosts most high-profile London cinema premieres, on which occasions it is fenced and crowded beyond comfort by people desperately trying to take a look at their celebrity of choice. ==== Mainstream ==== 1 Empire, 5-6 Leicester Sq, WC2 (tube: Leicester Sq NOR PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7437-1234. M-F until 5PM £5; M-F after 5PM £7.50-9; Sa Su £7.50-9. 2 Odeon Leicester Square, Leicester Sq, WC2 (tube: Leicester Sq NOR PIC ), ☏ +44 870 5050 007. Includes the Odeon Mezzanine and Odeon West End. This particular Odeon is famous for its red-carpet film premieres. M-F until 5PM £5-6.50; M-F after 5PM £10; Sa Su £11. Vue Cinemas, Leicester Sq, WC2, ☏ +44 871 224 0240. ==== Arthouse ==== Curzon Soho Cinema, 99 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 5DY. Voted "London's Number 1 Cinema" by Time Out readers, great bar and a fantastic art-house program. 3 Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Pl (down a side street to the north, just up from the Häagen-Dazs). The cheapest and in some ways most interesting cinema in the area. They screen the latest films, and also have an interesting selection of foreign and art house films. They often have theme nights. Get hold of the program at the door or on the internet and consider buying the discount-granting yearly membership if you plan to come back a few times. New release: M-F matinees £5-9; evenings, weekends, bank holidays £9.50-12; repertory: £6-10. (updated Nov 2018) === Theatre === Along with neighbouring Covent Garden this is the capital of London's theatreland and the most famous London theatres are in this district. Check individual theatre websites or the official London theatreland website for current programmes and never neglect the official half price ticket booth in Leicester Square: 4 TKTS (half-price ticket booth), Leicester Square (Tube: Leicester Sq. PIC NOR Booth is on the south side of the square in the clock tower building). M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Tickets can only be bought in person so do not try to contact by telephone. At times, there may well be long queues, so be prepared. There are many other ticket offices in the area claiming to be "the official" or "the original" half-price ticket office. Be wary of them as they often have high service charges, and have been known to sell counterfeit tickets. Most of the booking office numbers given below will only work from within the UK. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website. 5 The Criterion Theatre, 2 Jermyn St, SW1Y 4XA, ☏ +44 844 847 1778. 6 Harold Pinter Theatre, 6 Panton St, SW1Y 4DN, ☏ +44 870 060 6637. 7 His Majesty's Theatre (called Her Majesty's Theatre during a female monarch's reign), 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL, ☏ +44 844 412 4653. 8 Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BX, ☏ +44 844 847 2475. 9 Piccadilly Theatre, Denman St, W1D 7DY, ☏ +44 844 871 7618. 10 Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry St, W1D 6AS, ☏ +44 870 850 0393. 11 Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk St, SW1Y 4HT, ☏ +44 845 481 1870. === Casinos === Visitors over the age of 18 (with valid ID) can consider patronising the area's casinos to gamble. 12 The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn St, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH, ☏ +44 20 7769-8888. 24 hours. A former theatre, now home to a large casino with live cabaret shows and a steakhouse restaurant. Also sells souvenirs, poker chips and plaque keyrings that can be purchased from the cashier. If you stay here long have a look at the Hippodrome Rewards card. (updated Jun 2019) === Other === Chinese New Year: 29 January 2025. Follows a lunar calendar, so the next is Wednesday, 29th January 2025 starting the Year of the Snake. Expect firecrackers, drums and weaving dragons around Gerrard St., Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. Gerrard St. can get very crowded, as the dragon dancers collect goodies hung from windows above the shops. (date needs updating) == Buy == There are several attractions at Swiss Court which used to be a hub with a Swiss bank and shops selling chocolate, amongst other amenities. While these were removed back in 2007 the heritage is retained with a decorative large clock and a glockenspiel restored in 2011. 1 M&M's World, 1 Swiss Ct, WC2H 7DG (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7025-7171. The largest sweet shop in the world. Unlike the New York City store, you can only buy the "regular" M&M flavours here, albeit in a wider variety of colours than you would usually find. There is also a wide array of other merchandise available such as homeware and clothing. In the back of the store is an M&M printer which enables you to print text, a logo or even your own face on M&Ms! (updated Dec 2018) 2 The Lego Store, 3 Swiss Ct, W1D 6AP (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7839-3480. The world's largest Lego Store, with a massive Big Ben (yes, they mean the clock tower and not the actual bell -- feel free to tut loudly) sculpture made of building blocks, a Tube entrance arc, and a full scale Tube carriage model -- including Lego figures you can take a picture with! (updated Dec 2018) === Books === Waterstone's flagship branch is near Piccadilly Circus and is apparently Europe's largest bookshop. 3 Waterstone's Piccadilly, 203–206 Piccadilly, W1J 9HD (tube: Piccadilly Circus BAK PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7851-2400. M-Sa 9AM-10PM, Su 12:30-6:30PM. 5 floors of books of all kinds, plus a cafe in the basement and a restaurant on the top floor. The store has long hours and comfortable seating, so you can potentially spend hours in there. (updated Jun 2019) == Eat == All sorts of food are available. While London's Chinatown boasts some of the city's best Chinese food, quality and value vary enormously between individual restaurants. While some consistently win awards, others seem to be regularly being refurbished following visits from the local Environmental Health department. Unless you're on an extreme budget, it is worth paying a little more for quality food and service. Be careful especially with the common all you can eat deals. There are several buffets in Chinatown and cheerful, and you get exactly what you pay for. Some of them have a larger selection of dishes, but quality varies and can be a lot to be desired. If you do mind, Hong Kong Buffet has the highest price, but is tastier and you can be sure you're not eating lower quality meat. === Budget === 1 Wong Kei, 41-43 Wardour St, W1 (opposite the western end of Gerrard St), ☏ +44 20 7437-3071. A Chinatown institution. Popular with Londoners and visitors alike and possibly the best value Chinese restaurant in the whole of London. Spread across four floors, this restaurant is infamous for its surly, abrupt service and this has become part of the experience of dining there. Depending on how drunk you look, the higher up the building you will be sent. Tea is complimentary, though somewhat bland. Set meals present excellent value for money, some being under £5. The sweet and sour pork is remarkably good. 2 Mr Wu (MW Buffet), 58-60 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6LS, ☏ +44 20 7287-8883. A buffet restaurant (updated May 2022) 3 Misato, 11 Wardour St. Japanese (updated May 2022) 4 Lo's Noodle London Ltd, 6 Dansey Pl. (updated May 2022) 5 LEON Shaftesbury Avenue, 62 Shaftesbury Ave. (updated May 2022) 6 The Moon Under Water - JD Wetherspoon, 28 Leicester Square. (updated May 2022) === Mid-range === 7 The Portrait Restaurant, at the National Portrait Gallery, ☏ +44 20 7312-2490. Offers spectacular food accompanied by spectacular art on the 5th floor of the National Portrait Gallery. A must-do dining experience. 8 Tokyo Diner, 2 Newport Pl (At the eastern end of Lisle St, near the Prince Charles Cinema). noon-midnight. Offers excellent and well-priced Japanese food. (updated May 2022) 9 Vantra Vegan, 5 Wardour St, W1D 6PD, ☏ +44 20 7287-5222, info@vantra.co.uk. M–Sa noon–3PM, 6–10PM; Su noon–3PM, 6–9PM. Friendly, quiet vegan restaurant near the edge of Chinatown. Try the mock meats. £10–16 (Sept 2020). (updated May 2022) ==== Chinatown ==== 10 Leong's Legend, 39 Gerrard St, W1D 5QD, ☏ +44 20 7434-0899. Daily noon–9PM. Serves Taiwanese fare. Chilli crab and omelette dishes are specialities. (updated May 2022) 11 C&R Cafe Restaurant, 4 Rupert Ct, W1D 6DY (tucked down an alley off Whitcomb St), ☏ +44 20 7434-1128. Tu–Su noon–10PM, closed M. Worth checking out for cheap Malaysian-Singaporean eats. (updated Apr 2021) ==== Buffets ==== 12 Hong Kong Buffet, 14 Lisle St, WC2H 7BE, ☏ +44 20 7434-4127. M-Sa noon–11PM, Su noon-10pm. (updated May 2022) === Snack === 13 Golden Gate Cake Shop, 13 Macclesfield St, W1D 5BR, ☏ +44 20 7287-9862. 10:30AM–9PM. Place Chinese cakes on a tray and take them to the cashier. (updated May 2022) === Splurge === == Drink == There are relatively few decent places to drink in this district and visitors would do better to head north into Soho or east in Covent Garden, for a better selection of bars and pubs. However, if your legs are weary, there are a number of convenient drinking places: === Pubs === 1 Cork and Bottle Wine Bar, 44-46 Cranbourn St, WC2H 7AN, ☏ +44 20 7734-7807. More of a wine bar than a restaurant, the extensive wine list features selections from Australia and California. They offer reasonable cuisine to wash down this full bodied wines. 2 De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar, 11 Macclesfield St, W1D 5BW (north from halfway along Gerrard St), ☏ +44 20 7437-2494. Dutch-themed pub with an excellent selection of beers. It is often crowded, but has a good atmosphere and a comedy club. 3 O'Neill's, 33-37 Wardour St, W1D 6PU, ☏ +44 20 7494-9284. Irish chain bar lost in the heart of Chinatown. Three levels with a houseband on busier nights, who always seem to play the same U2 and Kings of Leon songs. (updated Feb 2021) 4 Waxy O'Connor's, 14-16 Rupert St, W1D 6DD (or 13 Wardour Street), ☏ +44 20 7287-0255. Irish-themed pub with a fibreglass tree inside it and a pulpit. It is almost invariably unbearably crowded. The smaller 5 Waxy's Little Sister, 20 Wardour St, W1D 6QG (opposite it), ☏ +44 20 7287-8987. is generally quieter and more relaxed. Check out the upstairs bar that allows ordering via the silent waiter. (updated Feb 2021) === Clubs === 6 Ruby Blue, 1 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BP. Smart themed rooms and a balcony overlooking Leicester Square (updated Feb 2021) 7 Tiger Tiger, 29 Haymarket, SW1Y 4SP. (updated Feb 2021) 8 Zoo Bar & Club, 13-17 Bear St, WC2H 7AQ, ☏ +44 20 4505-5444. (updated Feb 2021) == Sleep == Very few visitors stay in this district and the options which are available are not particularly good value. This is a district to visit, not to stay in. 1 Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel, 31-36 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LH, ☏ +44 20 7839-9399, reshamp@radisson.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Small luxury hotel furnished in a sleek, contemporary design. From £263. 2 Thistle Piccadilly, Coventry St, W1D 6BZ, ☏ +44 845 3058330. Affordable and centrally located but a tired property. From £159. 3 The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gdns, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS, ☏ +44 20 7870-2900, fax: +44 20 7870-2911. Hilton's first boutique hotel in London. The boardroom was apparently used for the first James Bond film Dr. No. From £240. 4 Premier Inn London Leicester Square, 1 Leicester Place, Leicester Square, WC2H 7BP, ☏ +44 871 527 9334. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Premier Inn are a popular mid-range budget hotel chain, but in this location you're unlikely to find a night for under £100. From £98. 5 Haymarket Hotel, 1 Suffolk Place SW1Y 4HX (100 yards east of Trafalgar Sq, tube: Charing Cross), ☏ +44 20 7470-4000. Lovely stylish place at the top of Pall Mall, great comfort and cuisine. B&B double £320. (updated Sep 2020) == Connect == == Go next == Leicester Square is a small and very central district; a very short walk can take you to many other areas of London. Soho is just north, past Chinatown, with fashionable night life and eclectic shops. Covent Garden is just to the east, with more entertainment and shopping opportunities. Westminster is just to the south, past Trafalgar Square, with its mix of government offices, parks and historic buildings. Mayfair-Marylebone is to the west, past Piccadilly Circus, with more up-market places to shop.