Leicester Square

History and Significance

Leicester Square (pronounced “Lester” by locals, much to tourists’ confusion) has been London’s entertainment epicenter since the 17th century, though it’s gone through more reinventions than a West End understudy. What began as a posh residential square for aristocrats (including the Leicester family who gave it its name) transformed into a Victorian pleasure garden, then a 1920s cinema mecca, and today exists as a neon-drenched crossroads of global pop culture.

The square’s history reads like a theatrical drama:

• 1670s: Aristocrats build grand townhouses around a manicured garden

• 1850s: Becomes London’s first electric light district (shocking visitors with its “artificial sunshine”)

• 1920s: Over 20 cinemas operated simultaneously, earning the nickname “Flicker Alley”

• 1980s: Falls into seedy decline, overrun with pickpockets and porn cinemas

• 2010s: £15.5 million renovation scrubs away the grime (but not all the character)

Today, Leicester Square is where Hollywood premieres unfold under searchlights, where street performers battle for attention, and where tourists from every corner of the globe collide in a glorious, chaotic celebration of entertainment.

Main Attractions and Activities

The Big Five

• The Odeon Luxe: Britain’s largest cinema screen, hosting royal premiere galas where A-listers walk the red carpet over the underground station vents (creating that Marilyn Monroe shot effect)

• The Shakespeare Fountain: The square’s ornate centerpiece, perfect for people-watching between acts

• TKTS Booth: Discount theatre tickets for same-day West End shows (cash only, arrive early)

• M&M’s World: Four floors of candy-coated madness that somehow always has a queue

• Lego Store: Featuring a giant Tube train and Big Ben built entirely from plastic bricks

Hidden Gems

• The Alley Theatre: Tiny 50-seat venue hidden down a side alley, doing experimental works

• W Hotel’s Secret Bar: Rooftop cocktails with prime square-viewing vantage

• Swiss Glockenspiel: Hidden above the Swiss Centre, plays tunes at noon and 6 pm

• Handprints in Cement: Hollywood-style walk of fame for British stars near the Empire cinema

Free Entertainment

• Street Performers: From living statues to breakdancing troupes (licensed, so quality is high)

• Premiere Nights: Check railings for upcoming dates – you might spot Tom Cruise

• Christmas Lights: The square’s tree and decorations are surprisingly lavish

• Film Festivals: The BFI London Film Festival transforms the area every October

Visitor Experience

Step into Leicester Square and you’re immediately hit with sensory overload – the sizzle of street food stalls competing with honking pedicab horns, the blinding flash of tourist selfies bouncing off chrome surfaces, and the ever-present hum of a dozen languages being spoken simultaneously. The air carries whiffs of popcorn, perfume samples from the nearby shops, and that unmistakable big-city electricity.

The crowd is a beautiful mess:

• Theatre-goers clutching Playbills and rushing to the 7:30 pm curtain

• Cinephiles debating Marvel vs DC outside the megaplexes

• First-date couples awkwardly meeting by the fountain

• Hen parties in matching tutus heading to nearby Soho

• Film crews shooting on location (the square appears in everything from Bond to Bridget Jones)

Staff at the major venues maintain professional cheerfulness despite the constant crowds, while the licensed street performers have the weary patience of people who’ve heard every “Make the statue move!” joke a thousand times.

Tips for Visitors

1. Timing is Key: Mornings (before 11 am) are surprisingly quiet; evenings are pure energy

2. Theatre Ticket Hack: TKTS booth sells same-day discounts, but smaller theatres often have better last-minute deals at their box offices

3. Food Strategy: Avoid the tourist-trap restaurants – head to nearby Chinatown or Covent Garden instead

4. Seating Savvy: The square itself has limited benches – claim a fountain edge spot early

5. Premiere Intel: Check Leicester Square’s official website for upcoming red carpet events

6. Underground Shortcut: Use the Tube station’s exit 3 to emerge right by the TKTS booth

7. Safety First: Keep valuables secure – pickpockets love distracted tourists

Accessibility and Facilities

For such a crowded space, accessibility is decent:

• Step-free access throughout the main square

• Tactile paving for visually impaired visitors

• Accessible toilets in the Odeon cinema and the W Hotel

• Hearing loops are available at major cinema box offices

The public facilities are clean but basic. For proper meals with accessible seating, the nearby Hippodrome Casino or National Gallery restaurants are better bets than square-side eateries. Cash is still king at the TKTS booth and many street food vendors.

Unique Features

What makes Leicester Square special:

• The Lightbulb Moment: First place in Britain to have electric street lighting (1882)

• The Underground Cinema: Secret 40-seat screening room beneath the Odeon

• The “Square” Reality: It’s circular (blame Victorian redesigns)

• The Celebrity Trees: Each planted by a different star during premieres

• The Hidden History: Plaques mark where Mozart performed and Dickens lived nearby

Overall Impressions

Leicester Square is London at its most theatrical – a stage where every visitor becomes both audience and performer. It shouldn’t work – the crowds, the commercialism, the constant construction – yet somehow this messy mashup of high culture and tourist kitsch captures the city’s spirit perfectly.

You’ll leave with your ears ringing from street performers’ amplifiers, your phone full of absurd selfies with living statues, and your pockets perhaps lighter from impulse buys at the candy megastores. But you’ll also carry that unique buzz that only comes from standing at the crossroads of global entertainment.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The beating heart of London’s entertainment scene – always something happening

• Fantastic people-watching from the fountain steps

• Last-minute theatre deals can save serious money

• Great transport links with multiple Tube lines meeting here

• Free entertainment from licensed street performers

Cons

• Overwhelming crowds during peak times

• Overpriced, mediocre food options in the immediate vicinity

• Aggressive promoters handing out flyers for comedy clubs

• Limited seating in the square itself

• Construction seems perpetual (check for disruptions)

Leicester Square is London in concentrated form – brash, historic, commercial, creative, and endlessly entertaining. It’s not the place for a quiet afternoon, but for that electric feeling of being at the center of everything. As the famous theatrical saying goes: “If you can make it here…” Well, in Leicester Square’s case, you’ve already arrived at the main event.

Just watch your wallet, embrace the chaos, and maybe – if you’re lucky – catch a glimpse of some star arriving for a premiere. After all, this is where the magic happens, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Curtain up!

Location

Places to Stay Near Leicester Square

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