It’s yellow on the Monopoly board, and one of the most recognisable areas of London. Millions flock to Leicester Square each and every year, but what do they get up to?
There are tons of attractions in the Leicester Square area of London, from shopping, to movie premieres, casinos, nightclubs, cultural hotspots and more. But what are the most iconic attractions currently residing there?
The Harry Potter Tour
With online casino one of the biggest growing areas of gaming at present, welcoming millions of players worldwide onto the virtual blackjack and roulette tables, it might be fair to say you’d like a taste of the real thing in one of London’s many glamorous casinos.
When it comes to Leicester Square, there’s one real standout – the Hippodrome. Converted into a casino in 2009, the Grade II listed building originally opened in 1900 and has a truly fascinating history.
It’s played host to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, a stage debut for Julie Andrews, as well as concerts from the likes of Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Frank Sinatra and many, many more.
It’s right in the heart of Leicester Square, so the perfect stopping for a flutter or even to watch the Livescore Bet on the big screens!
Have A Laugh at the Comedy Store
Many of the UK’s top comedians live in London, and the vast majority of them will hone their material in the capital’s comedy clubs. The Comedy Store in Leicester Square is one of the nation’s most renowned clubs and every night will host big names from the world of comedy.
Alongside The Comedy Store, there are also a number of other clubs including The Stand-Up Club, the 99 Club and Comedy Carnival, all of which will have nights regularly, with varying line-ups and varying prices, meaning you’ll always find something to suit both your budget and sense of humour.
Picture Perfect At The National Portrait Gallery
Leicester Square really is a cultural hub and perhaps the height of it comes at the National Portrait Gallery. Opening in 1856, it was the first type of gallery of its kind and houses over 100,000 different portraits, including many of the most iconic such as Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare and paintings of kings and queens from down the years.
Today, you’ll also find portraits of familiar faces in the world of celebrity, both in painting and photography form, including modern day icons such as Stormzy, Kate Moss, David Bowie and more.
The gallery itself is located just a stone’s throw from the actual gallery itself, next to The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, while there are also outposts for the gallery elsewhere in the country at Beningbrough Hall in North Yorkshire and Montacute House in Somerset.
