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The West End is the quintessential entertainment area of London.
To know
The West End comprises the areas of Leicester Square, Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus is Trafalgar Square.
Chinatown
Chinatown is located in the center of the West End around Gerrard Street just off Leicester Square, reaching as far as Wardour Street on one side and Newport Place on the other. This area may not be as large as those of San Francisco or Vancouver but it's still a great place to go to a restaurant with friends and colleagues. The authentic Chinese restaurants here are distinctly different from those found in other areas of London.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar square is a large public square commemorating Lord Horatio Nelson's victory over Napoleon's navy which ended the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The central monument within the square is a tall column on which Nelson's statue. rises, scanning London; one of the most iconic images of the city. this monument is surrounded by four colossal lions and a series of large fountains. Much more than an open square, Trafalgar Square is also famous for the important buildings and institutions that surround it. In addition, the square marks the north side of Whitehall, the heart of the British government.
In 2003 the square was renovated and enlarged to connect directly with the National Gallery museum on the north side. This also brought about a big improvement to the traffic that completely surrounded it. St. Martins in the Fields church, from the early 19th century, is located in the north-east corner of the square, just off Charing Cross Road from which you can access the fantastic National Portrait Gallery and then up towards Leicester Square and Soho. To the south, Whitehall leads to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament buildings and the overprotected street where the prime minister's residence is located, 10 Downing Street.
During the Christmas period, a large Christmas tree is erected here in the center of the square, an annual gift from the inhabitants of Oslo as a thank you for the help given during the Second World War. Trafalgar Square is traditionally also the nerve center of the New Year celebrations even if with a reinforcement of the presence of the police, some traditions have disappeared, such as that of drunks if they threw themselves into the fountains. More recently the square has been the outdoor stage for events, concerts and political demonstrations. On normal days, visitors to the square may encounter small demonstrations, as the seat of government is not far away.
Leicester Square
The square is home to most of the UK premieres of great films and is home to a number of fairly expensive multiplex cinemas, tickets for which can cost between £ 15 and £ 17 per seat. In the evening it becomes very popular with a mix of tourists and Londoners who head to the nearby bars and nightclubs. On the northwest side is a (rather out of tune) musical clock built like a Swiss glockenspiel, so important that when permission was granted to demolish the Swiss Center in 2008 it was forced to renovate. On the south side is the box office for TKTS last minute theater tickets.
How to orient yourself
Leicester Square: full screen map.
How to get
By subway
Leicester Square it is served by an underground station of the same name, located in the north east corner of the square on Charing Cross Road. The station is located on sections of the Northern and Piccadilly lines and is a great place to start exploring the West End.
Chinatown it is within easy reach of both Piccadilly Circus stations (on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines) and Leicester Square stations (Piccadilly and Northern lines). To reach it from Piccadilly Circus head east on Shaftesbury Avenue turning right on Wardour Street.
The closest "tube" station to Trafalgar Square is Charing Cross on the Northern and Bakerloo lines.
Piccadilly Circus it is served by the station of the same name.
| Metro lines passing through Leicester Square |
| Bloomsbury ← Soho ← | OR  IS | → Covent Garden → Southwark and Lewisham |
| Bloomsbury ← Soho ← | No.  S. | → Covent Garden → South London |
| West London ← Westminster / Mayfair and Marylebone ← | OR  IS | → Covent Garden → Bloomsbury |
On the train
Trains departing from Charing Cross Station serve the South East region of England.
How to get around
The best way to visit this district is on foot.
What see
- 1 Trafalgar Square (Tube station: Charing Cross). London's main central square, Trafalgar Square is associated with celebrations and demonstrations. Famous for its New Year celebrations, in 2003 it welcomed the return of world cup winning rugby players and a series of anti-Iraq war demonstrations. In the past it was also famous for the number of pigeons that frequented it, but a 2003 law issued by Mayor Ken Livingstone made it illegal to feed these birds. The statue of Nelson surrounded by the four lions is located here. The north-west pedestal has been empty since 1841 and today, modern art works are exhibited that change periodically.
- 2 National Gallery Museum, Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DN.
Free. 
Sat-Thu 10: 00-18: 00, Fri 10: 00-21: 00. Inside it houses the collection of Western art that goes from the fourteenth century to the present day. An exhibition of beautiful and valuable works that must be seen. Temporary exhibitions are paid and generally well set up. The audio-guides are well made and full of information and pleasantly accompany you during the visit, they are free even if the gallery does not advertise it. At the entrance there are collectors for voluntary donations. They also organize courses, workshops, lectures and various other events. There are free guided tours every day. - 3 National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE, ☎ 44 20 7306 0055. Free. Sat-Wed 10: 00-18: 00, Thu-Fri 10: 00-21: 00. The National Portrait Gallery is located just around the corner from the National Gallery and is a fun way to learn about English history from the time of the Tudors. Visitors walk through the gallery in chronological order admiring portraits of famous people from English history, from Henry VII painted by Hans Holbein to Blur painted by Julian Opie.
- 4 St. Martins in the Fields Church, 8 St Martin's Place, WC2. Classical church which is opposite the National Gallery. Since the Second World War, homeless people have found shelter here and it is a tradition that continues today.
- 5 Edith Cavell Memorial (Edith Cavell Memorial), St Martin's Pl WC2. Statue in honor of the heroine of the First World War.
- 6 Piccadilly Circus (Tube station: Piccadilly Circus). At the intersection of five main streets, Piaccadilly Circus is where the famous aluminum statue of Eros stands on a fountain. The north end of Piccadilly Circus has a huge electronic screen that rotates advertisements.
- 7 Leicester Square Garden. Park where you can relax and lie down observing what happens around while listening to musicians, street artists and preachers.
- 8 Chinatown. Here you can observe the Chinese culture rooted within the metropolis and you can stop and eat in the numerous good restaurants. Few souvenir shops and no museums.
- Chinese arches (Paifang), On both sides of Gerrard Street and the Macclesfield Street entrance. The three ornamental arches are worth seeing.
- Telephone booths in Chinatown. The telephone booths in Chinatown incorporate a pagoda roof into the classic English booth structure.
Free. 
Sat-Thu 10: 00-18: 00, Fri 10: 00-21: 00. Inside it houses the collection of Western art that goes from the fourteenth century to the present day. An exhibition of beautiful and valuable works that must be seen. Temporary exhibitions are paid and generally well set up. The audio-guides are well made and full of information and pleasantly accompany you during the visit, they are free even if the gallery does not advertise it. At the entrance there are collectors for voluntary donations. They also organize courses, workshops, lectures and various other events. There are free guided tours every day.What to do
Cinema
Leicester Square hosts the premieres of the major films produced and very often on these occasions it is almost impossible to walk in the square due to the number of people pushing to see their favorites.
Main rooms
- 1 Empire Cineworld Cinema, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2 (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7437 1234.
- 2 Empire Cinema Haymarket, 63-65 Haymarket, St. James's, SW1Y 4RL.
- 3 Odeon Leicester Square, Leicester Square, WC2 (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 870 5050 007.
- 4 Vue Cinemas, Leicester Square, WC2, ☎ 44 345 308 4620. £16.
Cinema d'essay
- 5 Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place (On a street north of Leicester Square, to the left of the Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop). £ 9 non-members; £ 5 members. Very interesting cinema that does not show the latest releases, but arthouse films from all over the world, old films and nights of sagas. It is recommended that you take the program at the entrance and become a member if you feel you want to return several times during the year. The annual pass costs £ 10 while the lifetime pass costs £ 50.
theater
Together with the neighbor Covent Garden this is the London theater capital of the world. It is advisable to check the website of each theater to see what they are putting on, otherwise visit the site Official London Theater for the current program. Don't overlook the offer of half-price tickets at the area's box offices, one of which is right in the middle of Leicester Square.
- 6 TKTS, Leicester Square (Tube station: Leicester Square. The box office is located in the south of the square). Mon-Sat 10 am-7pm, Sun 11 am-4pm. Tickets can only be bought in person and sometimes there may be long queues.
- 7 Leicester Square Box Office (LSBO), 2 Cranbourn St, WC2H 7AN (Tube station: Leicester Square. The box office is located in the south of the square), ☎ 44 20 7087 2999.
Please note that the telephone numbers listed below only work from the UK. If you want to book from abroad, we recommend that you use the theater's website.
- 8 The Criterion Theater, 2 Jermyn Street SW1Y 4XA.
- 9 Garrick Theater, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH, ☎ 44 844 579 1974.
- 10 Harold Pinter Theater, 6 Panton Street SW1Y 4DN.
- 11 Her Majesty's Theater, 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL, ☎ 44 844 412 4653.
- 12 Leicester Square Theater, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX.
- 13 Playhouse Theater, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE.
- 14 Prince of Wales Theater, Coventry Street W1D 6AS, ☎ 44 870 850 0393.
- 15 Theater Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street SW1Y 4HT.
- 16 Wyndham's Theater, 32-36 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA, ☎ 44 844 482 5120.
Events and parties
- Chinese New Year Festival (Chinese New Year Festival). An event that is well worth seeing despite Gerrard Street becoming incredibly crowded. Dragon dancers pass along the street collecting offerings and treats that hang from the windows above the shops. In recent years, the festival has also expanded south into Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.
Shopping
- 1 M & M's World, 1 Swiss Court, WC2H 7DG (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7025 7171. The largest candy shop in the world. Unlike the New York store, only the traditional flavors of M & M's can be found here, albeit in a greater variety of colors. There is also a large variety of objects such as household items and clothes.
- 2 The Lego Store, 3 Swiss Court, W1D 6AP (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7839 3480. Opened in November 2016, this is the largest Lego store in the world. Inside is a huge Big Ben and other sculptures built with bricks.
Books
Charing Cross Road and small Cecil Court Street have always been the specialist center for used books and antiques in London. There are fewer stores today than there were a few years ago and only the more traditional retailers still hold out. Book lovers will be in heaven here.
- 3 Any Amount of Books, 56 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0QA (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7836 3697. Used and rare books, specializing in academic and art textbooks.
- 4 David Drummond at Pleasures of Past Times, 11 Cecil Ct WC2N 4EZ (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7836 1142. Specialized in performing arts books and old children's books.
- 5 Goldsboro Books, 7 Cecil Court, WC2N 4EZ (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7497 9230, @[email protected]. First editions and autographed copies of novels.
- 6 Paul J Hilton Books, 12 Cecil Court, WC2N 4HE (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7379 9825. Antique and generic books, with a major in English literature.
- 7 Henry Pordes Books Ltd, 58-60 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0BB (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 20 7836 9031, @[email protected]. Used, antique and out of print books.
- 8 Fifth Bookshop & Francis Edwards, 72 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0BB, ☎ 44 20 7379-7669, @[email protected]. In business since 1856, there is a huge collection of second-hand books here.
How to have fun
There are a few places to drink in this area, but visitors will find a wider choice further north to Soho or east in Covent Garden.
- 1 1997, 19 Wardour Street. Cozy little place to visit if you don't want to drink too much alcohol. They serve a good selection of tapioca teas with "pearls" which are rather difficult to find outside of Hong Kong.
- 2 Cork and Bottle Wine Bar, 44-46 Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7AN, ☎ 44 20 7734 7807. It is more of a winery than a restaurant and its huge wine list also includes those from California and Australia. The dishes they serve are a good accompaniment to the wines.
- 3 De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar, 11 Macclesfield Street, W1D 5BW, ☎ 44 20 7437 2494. Mon-Fri 12: 00-00: 00; Sat 11: 00-00: 00; Sun 12: 00-22: 30. Dutch-themed pub with an excellent selection of beers. It is often full but with a good atmosphere and a "Comedy Club".
- 4 O'Neil's, 33-37 Wardour Street, W1D 6PU, ☎ 44 20 7494 9284. Chain of Irish pubs. This venue is over three floors with a resident band playing on the busiest evenings, although they seem to always play the same U2 and Kings of Leon songs.
- 5 Waxy O'Connor's, 14-16 Rupert Street, W1D 6DD, ☎ 44 20 7287 0255. Mon-Thu 11: 00-23: 30; Fri-Sat 12: 00-00: 00; Sun 12: 00-23: 00. Irish pub with a fiberglass tree inside. Constantly full and in this case it is advisable to move to the quieter Waxy's Little Sister right in front.
Where to eat
As in the rest of the city, the culinary offerings here cover all areas of the world, with Chinatown offering the best Chinese restaurants. Quality and prices vary widely: some restaurants consistently win awards while others appear to be undergoing ongoing refurbishment following inspections by the Environmental Health Department. Unless you are on a tight budget, it is worth paying the extra for better food. Pay close attention to offers all you can eat.
- 1 Café in the Crypt, Trafalgar Square, ☎ 44 20 7766 1158. Mon-Mar 08: 00-20: 00; Wed 08: 00-22: 30; Thu-Fri 08: 00-21: 00; Sat 09: 00-21: 00; Sun 11: 00-18: 00. In the underground crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields church is this café offering decent priced coffee and food that can be enjoyed under brick arches surrounded by tombstones and pylons. You can choose whether to eat or just have a drink. It is very busy and therefore could be noisy. In case you want to be more quiet there is a separate room (on the right as you enter) much quieter.
- 2 Gaby's Deli, 30 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DE (Tube station: Leicester Square), ☎ 44 207 7836 4233. Mon-Sat 10 am-11pm. A family-run Jewish restaurant that has been serving a giant pitta stuffed with falafel since 1965.
- 3 Tokyo Diner, 2 Newport Place (On the east side of Lisle Street, near the Prince Charles cinema), ☎ 44 20 7287 8777. 12:00-24:00. Great Japanese food at reasonable prices. Long lines to take place.
Chinatown
- 4 Wan Chai Corner, 3 Gerrard Street, W1D 5PD, ☎ 44 20 7434 1188. Generous portions for around £ 5. Affordable restaurant located east of the north end of Gerrard Street.
- 5 Leong's Legend, 39 Gerrard Street, W1D 5QD, ☎ 44 20 7434 0899. It serves Taiwanese food: spicy crab and pancake dishes are the specialties of this place. It became so famous that they opened a second restaurant "Leong's Legend Continued ..." equally popular.
- 6 C & R Cafe Restaurant, 4-5 Rupert Court, W1D 6DY, ☎ 44 20 7434 1128. Sun-Thu 12: 00-22: 00; Fri-Sat 12: 00-23: 00. Tucked away in an alley that branches off Whitcomb Street, this is an inexpensive restaurant serving Malaysian and Singaporean dishes.
- 7 Wong Kei, 41-43 Wardour Street, W1D 6PY, ☎ 44 20 7437 8408. An institution in Chinatown. Very popular with both Londoners and tourists and probably the best value for money restaurant in the city. Over four floors it has become famous for the rude staff who seem to be part of the experience. Tea is served for free. Ready-made menus are a great deal. Try the sweet-sour pork.
There are many restaurants in buffet in Chinatown and the cheapest of which is Mr Wu and the quality reflects the price you pay. Some have a wider variety of dishes and the quality varies a lot. Hong Kong Buffet it is the most "expensive" but the dishes have better flavors and the quality of the meat as well.
Where stay
Few travelers stay overnight in this district, and the options available aren't a big deal.
High prices
- 1 Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel, 31-36 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LH, ☎ 44 20 7839 9399. From £ 263. Check in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Small luxury hotel with contemporary decor.
- 2 histle Trafalgar Square, Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7HG, ☎ 44 0800 330 8393. From £ 159.
- 3 The Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS, ☎ 44 20 7870 2900, fax: 44 20 7870 2911. From £ 240. The first small Hilton hotel in London.
- 4 Premier Inn London Leicester Square, 1 Leicester Place, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7BP, ☎ 44 871 527 9334. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. It is part of the chain of good value hotels although it is difficult to find a room for less than £ 100 here.
How to keep in touch
Around
The West End is a rather small district from which you can easily walk to other areas of London. Soho it's just north, past Chinatown, across Shaftesbury Avenue. Covent Garden it's just to the east. Westminster it's just south beyond Trafalgar Square. Mayfair and Marylebone it is located west beyond Piccadilly Circus.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Leicester Square
Commons contains images or other files on Leicester Square
