Leicester Square sits comfortably between Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden and is the centre of London's entertainment, social and people watching scene. Pronounced ´Lester Square´ it is a pedestrianised square just north of Trafalgar Square in the West End and is a hubbub of activity day and night. Even the history of the area is fun!
Named after the Earl of Leicester's mansion and surrounding Leicester Fields, it was further developed in the 1670´s and, with the likes of Frederick, Prince of Wales taking up residence here, it was once a very sort after and fashionable place to reside. But in the late 18th century the Turkish Baths moved in, gaming houses were set up and houses of ´doubtful reputation´ were scattered around the area. But this kind of scene brings entertainment and by the 1930´s movie mania had set in and the party just got bigger! After a long-awaited face lift in 1993, Leicester Square is now a tourist hotspot, the showbiz meca and more!
Lights, camera, action!! Being the centre of London's cinema entertainment, there are four cinema complexes within the square. Not only the perfect place for catching a film with friends and afterwards, or before, a bite to eat in one of the popular pavement cafes, but UK Film Premieres are regularly hosted in one of the cinemas and it really is a glamorous and special sight to see when Leicester Square is lit up like Hollywood - stars and all!
The Odeon Leicester Square - this is the largest of the bunch on the eastern side of the square and hosts most of the premieres, Empire is on the northern side & is the second biggest, Odeon West End is on the south side and Vue, previously Warner Brothers Village, is by the north east corner. There is also a great ´cult film´ cinema on nearby Leicester Place called the Prince Charles cinema. The price of a ticket to see a movie in Leicester Square isn't cheap, but as a treat now and then it's worth the extra cost.
The entertainment doesn't stop at cinemas. Jump outside of the square and you have the West End's theatrical world at your feet. The ´Official London Half-Price Theatre Ticket´ booth is located in Leicester Square and this is where you can buy cheap tickets to shows that are on that day. This is the only ´official´ half-price booth of its kind in the area so be careful with other stores and booths claiming the same fame.
Several nightclubs such as Hippodrome, Equinox and Maximus are jam packed on Friday and Saturday nights with suburban youths crowding the square before and after their evening of entertainment. Leicester Square is also home to Capital Radio's headquarters and London studios and indie music radio station XFM.
How does one get to this non-stop party shop?? Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus underground stations are the closest, but you can also get out at Charing Cross as Leicester Square is only a few minutes walk from Charing Cross Road.
One very special thing that hasn't changed since the 18th century is the busking in the square. All day every day buskers are entertaining crowds with their special, or not so special, talents and it's such a laugh. From very bad poetry to very good singing and percussion, a day is not complete in the square without stopping to throw some coins into a hat or guitar case.
A great meeting place for friends, an eye-boggling destination for tourists, a Haagen-Dazs store with the best of the double chocolate chip cookie dough brownie ice cream in the WORLD, Leicester Square is definitely the place that reminds you how much fun London really is.
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