Situated in the centre of London, just north of Westminster, Leicester Square is one of the city's most iconic destinations, bustling with tourists in the day and lit up at night by the lights and signs that announce the abundance of cinemas and theatres in the area, making it one of London's most glamorous and certainly the best place to spot a film star. This makes it ideal for tourists and especially those visiting the city to watch one of the many plays or musicals that take place every night.
Most of the local hotels are located outside of the square itself to provide respite from the non-stop 24/7 buzz of the area, though the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire does have a privileged spot in the south-east corner. Leicester Square tube station is on the Northern and Piccadilly Lines and plenty of buses run throughout the area.
Aside from the dense crowd of cinemas (Odeon, Empire) and theatres (Queens, Apollo) that fill the area, Leicester Square is located in the centre of London and close to most of the city's attractions. The adopted city centre and lively shopping distract of Covent Garden is within easy walking distance (SACO Hotel is halfway there) and the City of Westminster is a short stroll to the south, easily accessed from Thistle Charing Cross Hotel. The National Portrait Gallery sits along the bottom of the square and the area's other famous square, by the name of Trafalgar, is also close by.
For those who love nothing more than to catch the hottest new play in town or to sing along to the words of their favourite musical, Leicester Square is a must. The area has so many theatres that it has been affectionately nicknamed Theatreland. Listing all of them would be akin to listing all of the casinos in Las Vegas, but some of the more popular ones include Queen's Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Apollo Theatre.
The area is full of restaurants serving every conceivable type of cuisine suitable for wallets of all sizes. Grab a takeaway Big Mac from MacDonald's or sit down to watch a variety of seafood dishes cooked before you at the J Sheekey Oyster Bar with its U-shaped seating arrangement. At other nearby venues sample some Greek cuisine or even enjoy some karaoke whilst you wait for your Chinese meal to arrive. The area is also abound with cafes which feature themes varying from ice cream to bubble tea.
Leicester Square is a bit like a vampire in the sense that it truly awakens once the sun has set. If you're not busy catching one of the newest plays or musicals you might like to get all medieval and try some real ales at the Round Table pub or take in the tastes of the Netherlands in London's only Dutch cafe bar. Those with feet that were made for dancing might like to hit the tiles at the sophisticated Oxygen club.
The closest budget hotel to the tube station is Northumberland House, which is just an 8 minute walk away and features all en-suite rooms. The lively and colourful Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel is also a popular choice and is a 10 minute walk south of the station, between Leicester Square and the City of Westminster.
In the medium price range Thistle Piccadilly is a very large property with smart rooms, a restaurant and a fitness centre and is just around the corner from the station. At a 10 minute walk the modern Strand Palace Hotel has bright and airy rooms and a choice of bars, whilst Thistle Royal Trafalgar Square is even closer and welcomes families.
The Radisson Edwardian Hampshire is not only the closest luxury hotel to the station, but it is also one of the most lavish, with its own restaurant and gym. Sofitel St James London is a little further away at 10 minute walk, but is the most popular among guests whilst the boutique St Martins Lane with its multi-coloured facade simply has to be seen to be believed.
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