One of London's finest tourist traps. (Leicester Square (London))

Member Name: shuttlex

Product:	Leicester Square (London)
Date:	25/09/06 (449 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Tourist trap, dirty, polluted, expensive, unfavourable crowd

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 of renovation and the restaurant looked like it needed a visit from health and safety. Needless to say I didn’t leave a tip. Such restaurants are pretty much expected in a tourist trap.

The biggest problem with Leicester Square is the types of people and crowds it attracts. Firstly, police are present everywhere due to the large number of druggies, drunks, pick pockets, thieves and those who are due for anti social restraining orders. Then we get the gangs wearing trainers, tracksuits, tank tops and chains. Not only are such people a ghastly sight, they are a loud nuisance who spend their time loitering around video arcades and gambling casinos.

It always amazes me to see tourists who have come to Leicester Square all dressed up for the evening. Obviously they read the tourist guide but didn't quite realize this isn’t the place to be. Quite simply, Leicester Square is a tourist trap, a place which is best avoided.

Summary: Best avoided.