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Leicester Square (London)

Description: By night Leicester (pronounced Lester, as in the Adams Family) Square is one of the busiest spots in London. Buskers ... more

Leicester Square (London) ... entertain the crowds with anything from an impromptu song to a political rant, tourists pay good money to have their faces ridiculed by cruel cartoonists and suburban kids queue to dance the night away at the Hippodrome, Equinox or Maximus. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, the whole pedestrianised area can seem like one big, youthful party. It wasn't always like this. Before the local council's long-awaited clean-up of Leicester Square in 1993, many locals avoided the area, mainly due to the small patch of grass at the centre of the square which was a haven for junkies. Now that's closed in the evenings and it is safe to wander through without tripping over piles of old, used needles. Today a copy of the Shakespeare memorial in Westminster Abbey stands in the centre and a statue of Charlie Chaplin looks on from the edge next to busts of Sir Isaac Newton, William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds - all of whom lived in the area during the 18th century. But it wasn't until the mid-19th Century that the square began to be recognised as a playground for entertainment, with Turkish baths, oyster rooms and music halls sprouting up all over the place. Then in the 1930s movie mania set in and cinemas replaced the old-time attractions.

Newest Review: ... a premiere to see the film might cost quite a lot but generally when there is no big event, it is affordable (Around £10 for adult) and is an experience in itself! I went to the Bond World Premiere, although did not get tickets, it was extremely enjoyable with live performances and interviews... also lucky to meet the beautiful Gemma Arterton and get her autograph. If that isn't your thing, ... more

... nearby there are lovely restaurants, Pizza places, and a nice Italian Ice cream parlour on the corner! Often there are also street artists and performers so it never feels quiet! ~~~CHINA TOWN~~~ China Town is also located very near Leicester Square, ...more

Read Reviews for Leicester Square (London)

Leicester Square (London): Leicester Square- Let's go round again (675 words)
by - written on 28/06/09 (Very useful, 34 readings)
Rating:

Leicester Square is in Central London, Zone One, near Picadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, and could be regarded as the centre of London, where all the buzz and hotspots are! Whilst Oxford Street is home to shopping, Leicester Square is home to entertainment, nightlife and fun! Extremely accessible via the Picadilly and Northern line by Tube, or by foot from any nearby underground station, such as Picadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Charing Cross. There are also many bus routes going through those areas, as well as taxi service! Here's what you can do near Leicester Square ! ~~~LEICESTER SQUARE~~~ Cinema lovers will love Leicester Square, as it ... Read the complete review

Want a great night out? (203 words)
by - written on 23/04/09 (Useful, 15 readings)
Rating:

Leicester Square is a great place to go to if you wish to go shopping, clubbing, drinking with friends, or even watch a movie. There is lots to do around the area and especially if you are a woman, I'm sure you could spend ages looking around and browsing through the stores. Things are a bit expensive around this area though so be careful on spending as it wont be too easy to really catch a bargain. This area also comprises on many "big name brands". The nighlife in this area is also great and there is really a ide variety of clubs to choose from, depending on what type of music you wish to listen / dance to. If you cannot seem to make ... Read the complete review

Leicester Square (London): No taste of London here guvnor (276 words)
by - written on 23/11/08 (Very useful, 57 readings)
Rating:

The one thing you will rarely find in Leicester Square is a Londoner, at least not a Londoner on a night out that is, the vast majority of the people found in Leicester Square are tourists, there are locals but these are mostly there to hustle tourists into parting with their money or they are upon to some other mischieve. Leicester Square is in the heart of the West End theatre district and does have quite a lot to offer if you know where to look, it is easy to get to with the Picadilly and Northern Line passing through the tube station. It is a network of quite tight streets and there is largely pedestrianised area leading up to Picadilly itself and you are ... Read the complete review

One of London's finest tourist traps. (277 words)
by - written on 25/09/06 (Useful, 449 readings)
Rating:

It always horrifies me when friends or acquaintances make the suggestion of meeting up in Leicester Square. This is usually a popular meeting place for those who aren't well acquainted with London. Unsurprisingly, Leicester Square is also a popular meeting point for those Ciao member reunions. Quite simply, Leicester Square is a tourist trap with nothing to offer but its name. Cinemas are overpriced with tickets costing more than £10/person, twice that of most cinemas in London. The restaurants are dirty, offer poor menus and again over priced. Once I made the mistake of going to the Aberdeen Steak House. The steak was inedible, the dated interior was in need ... Read the complete review