What is Leicester Square known for?

Leicester Square is known for: Vibrant It is best for Nightlife, Culture, Attractions.

What are the best things to do in Leicester Square?

Leicester Square is especially popular for Nightlife, Culture, Attractions. Browse our curated directory for top-rated attractions, restaurants, and experiences in the neighbourhood.

Is Leicester Square worth visiting as a tourist?

Yes — Leicester Square is one of London's most characterful neighbourhoods, known for vibrant. It offers an authentic side of London beyond the main tourist trail.

Leicester Square Neighbourhood Guide

Best for West End theatre, film premieres, and London's entertainment heartland. Leicester Square is tourist-central, but the theatres surrounding it are genuinely world-class.

Our Picks in Leicester Square

Curated by our editorial team. Not paid. Not sponsored. Just places we think are worth your time.

TKTS Booth

Service

The official Society of London Theatre discount booth, selling legitimate tickets to current West End productions at up to 50% off. On the south side of the square in the Swiss-chalet style kiosk. Same-day and advance tickets. The good shows go early; be there for opening at 10am.

💡 The board listing available shows is displayed outside but changes throughout the day as new allocations come in. Check back at lunchtime if the morning selection was thin.

Chinatown

Neighbourhood

A few minutes walk north through the Gerrard Street arch and you're in London's Chinatown - two streets of restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets. The cooking ranges from reliable to exceptional. Bun House for steamed buns and Chinese-inspired cocktails. Yauatcha for dim sum at a higher price point. Baozi Inn for Beijing street food done properly.

💡 The BBQ duck hanging in the windows of the roast meat shops on Gerrard Street is not just decoration. Order it. Most restaurants let you get a half portion for one person.

Odeon Luxe Leicester Square

Cinema

The flagship cinema of the UK film industry, with a 785-seat main screen and consistent programme of major releases. The premiere nights bring genuine Hollywood talent to the red carpet. Even without a premiere, seeing a film here feels different from a multiplex.

💡 The Lounge (premium seats) at the back of the main screen is worth the upgrade for anything you're genuinely excited about. Heated recliner seats, waiter service, and the same view.

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

Venue

On Frith Street, a three-minute walk from the square. The most famous jazz club in Europe, open seven nights a week since 1959. The early show (around 8pm) is the accessible entry point; the late show is for serious listeners.

💡 Book a table at the front rather than the back - the room is deeper than it looks, and sound quality drops significantly beyond the halfway point.

J Sheekey

Restaurant

The pre-eminent seafood restaurant of the West End, on St Martin's Court around the corner from the square. Actor portraits on the walls, Colchester rock oysters, and a fish pie that has barely changed since 1896. Expensive but worth it for a proper occasion.

💡 The bar at the front takes walk-ins for shellfish and champagne. One of the great London theatre pre-shows, and significantly cheaper than the dining room.

The National Portrait Gallery

Gallery

Reopened after a major renovation in 2023, the NPG is five minutes walk from the square on St Martin's Place. Free entry to the permanent collection. The portraits of British monarchs, scientists, artists, and writers from 1500 to the present form a fascinating parallel history of the country.

💡 The rooftop bar and restaurant have the best view in central London - St Martin's Church, Trafalgar Square, and Nelson's Column from above. Worth the trip even without seeing the galleries.

🕵 What Locals Know

The square itself is a means to an end. The best of the area surrounds it: Chinatown to the north, the Strand's grand venues to the south, Covent Garden five minutes east. Use the square as an orientation point but don't linger in it.
Pre-book West End shows through official venues. Or use TKTS same-day. There is no legitimate reason to use a reseller at Leicester Square - they charge far above face value for shows you could get cheaper at the box office or TKTS. The people on the square waving leaflets are not your friends.
Eat in Chinatown, not on the square. The square's restaurant options are universally overpriced. Walk ninety seconds north to Gerrard Street for better food at lower prices.
The square at Christmas is extraordinary. Ice rink, decorated trees, and the film premiere energy continuing through December. One of the few parts of central London that improves in winter.

🕐 Best Time to Visit

Late afternoon for TKTS and pre-theatre dinner. Evenings for the full theatre district atmosphere. Christmas season for the lights and ice rink. Avoid Saturday nights in summer if you dislike crowds; the square becomes a tourist bottleneck.

🚇 Getting There

Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly lines) is the obvious station, right on the square. Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) is a five-minute walk east. Charing Cross (Northern, Bakerloo lines, plus National Rail) for the south side via the Strand.