London’s West End is a whirlwind of neon lights, world-class theatre, historic markets and artistic treasures, all centered around the lively hub of Leicester Square and nearby Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.
Over the many times I’ve visited in 40 years, I’m inevitably drawn to and occasionally overwhelmed by the eager, excited crowds and the pulsating beat of the West End. There’s so much to see within a 15-minute walk of Leicester Square, you could easily spend an entire weekend in this area and still not experience everything.
Here’s how to get the most out of a visit to the area.
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Start at Leicester Square: The Heart of Theatreland
- TKTS Booth: On the south side of the square is the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth — the place to shop, talk with fellow theatergoers and buy discounted same-day theatre tickets plus full-price tickets. While queuing up to the booth used to be the only way to confidently buy discounted tickets, you can now buy same-day discounts online.
- Cinemas: Leicester Square is home to some of London’s most famous cinemas, including Cineworld, Vue Cinema and Odeon Luxe with IMAX, 4DX and Superscreen options. Look out for red carpets because most of England’s movie premiers take place here.
- Statues: Scattered throughout the square are 13 bronze statues of beloved icons such as Shakespeare and Paddington Bear but also ones that seem to have no relevance to England such as Bugs Bunny and Wonder Woman. These playful sculptures make for great photo ops and celebrate Leicester Square’s legacy as London’s entertainment epicenter for movies, theaters, clubs and casinos.
SheBuysTravel Tip: As I the hard way, be sure to compare TKTS Booth prices with TodayTix prices. Sometimes TodayTix offers better deals.
Visit Covent Garden: Markets, Museums & Performing Arts
- Covent Garden Marketplace: Top of any person’s West End attractions list is Covent Garden, a lively covered market filled with boutique shops, artisan stalls, pubs, food stands and outdoor restaurants. Street performers entertain huge crowds in the historic piazza, making it a must-visit for atmosphere, dining and shopping.
- Royal Opera House: For most of the past 100 years, London’s Royal Opera House — home to the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera – had a classical exterior facing Covent Garden. After extensive redevelopment, a modern exterior full of shops faces Covent Garden with a corner entrance to the Opera House. Walk inside and take the escalator to the café and bar space — a spectacular cast-iron and glass neoclassical hall that was once a flower market.
- London Transport Museum: The museum offers interactive exhibits on London’s transit history, including vintage buses and Tube subway trains. Once a sleepy museum, the main entrance is now a gift shop and café that’s a hit with families and doesn’t require paying museum admission.
- Rules Restaurant: Located two blocks away from the Marketplace on quaint Maiden Lane, Rules is London’s oldest restaurant offering classic British cuisine with a special emphasis on wild game, steak and kidney pie and sticky toffee pudding. Over time, the restaurant has made their menu broader, shifting more toward visitors than locals. Inside, you’ll feel very much like English royalty, sitting on red velvet furnishings surrounded by dark wooden paneling.
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Get Dazzled at Piccadilly Circus
- Eros Statue: The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, topped by the winged statue of Eros, is one of London’s most recognizable meeting points. Tourists regularly gawk at the neon billboards or enjoy a snack while sitting at the steps of the fountain.
- Neon Billboards: The illuminated billboards of Piccadilly Circus bathe the area in color and energy, making it London’s answer to Times Square and one of the most frequently filmed spots to indicate film characters are living in or visiting the city.
- Horses of Helios Fountain: A block closer to Leicester Square from the Eros Statue is this dramatic sculpture featuring four powerful bronze horses leaping from a fountain, representing the sun god Helios. The sculpture sits on the corner of Haymarket Street and Jermyn Street by the entrance to the Hard Rock Café.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Consider taking a walking tour of Piccadily Circus, Soho, Chinatown and Leicester Square especially to experience the smaller alleyways and streets of the area.
See Trafalgar Square & The Galleries: London’s Artistic Side
- Nelson’s Column: This towering monument honors Admiral Lord Nelson, who tragically died while successfully leading British naval forces against Napoleon’s combined French and Spanish ships at the Battle of Trafalgar. Tourists seem less interested in honoring or learning about Nelson and more interested in climbing atop the monument’s pedestal to be photographed next to one of four iconic bronze lions. Be careful, this is not particularly a safe way to get a selfie.
- National Gallery of Art: On every trip to London, I manage to stop by one of the world’s great art galleries, The National Gallery of Art. Because its permanent collection is free, I’ll choose a section such as the European Baroque and Renaissance collection featuring masterworks of Titian, Van Dyck and Rembrandt or the French Painting 1880–1905 galleries with famous works by Manet, Monet and Van Gogh. Be sure to visit Room 31 to see the “Equestrian Portrait of Charles I” by Van Dyck, one of the most famous portraits of any British monarch. Guided tours are available for a fee.
- National Portrait Gallery: Not so long ago, the National Portrait Gallery was a sleepy cousin to the National Gallery, tucked off to the side of Trafalgar Square along Charing Cross Road. Since the early part of this century, the Portrait Gallery has dramatically expanded its footprint. Visitors have discovered paintings of their favorite royals such as Queen Elizabeth II and prominent pop stars and British personalities such as Elton John and clothing designer Paul Smith. Like its neighbor around the corner, admission to the Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection across three floors is free.
- St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church: Even those with a passing interest in classical music should check out the calendar of events for this elegant 18th-century church. At surprisingly affordable prices, the church features well known and popular classical music, often under candlelight during evening performances. The church is free to visit when there is no event. Don’t miss the atmospheric café in the crypt, a unique spot for lunch or coffee.
Visit Soho: Nightlife, Shopping & Culinary Delights
- Soho: Soho is London’s legendary district for nightlife, live music and LGBTQ+ venues, buzzing with energy both day and night. Its narrow streets are packed with everything from historic pubs to trendy cocktail bars to strip clubs to late-night eateries. It’s surprisingly safe to visit at any hour.
- Soho Square Garden: This tranquil green space is surrounded by historic buildings and offers a peaceful escape from the busy streets. It’s a favorite spot for locals to relax, picnic or enjoy a sunny break.
- Chinatown: Centered on Gerrard Street, Chinatown dazzles with ornate gates, red lanterns and a mouthwatering array of Chinese restaurants and bakeries. The area comes alive during festivals, especially Chinese New Year, with parades and performances.
- Carnaby Street: Known in the 1960s as the hub of “Swinging London” for fashion and music, this mostly pedestrian friendly shopping area has been transformed from a place for style innovators and socialites to a street catering to tourists with brand name stores such Adidas, The North Face and Levi’s amid some stores featuring English-made products and companies. On a recent visit, Carnaby Street was flooded by fans of the English group Oasis, seeking merch at a pop-up tour for their latest tour.
- Berwick Street Market: Operating since 1830, Berwick Street Market is a bustling destination for fresh produce, street food and independent traders. It’s a few blocks from Carnaby Street thus easy to combine with for an afternoon shopping excursion.
- Charing Cross Road Literary Haven: Known as a legendary literary destination, Charing Cross Road has managed to survive against the onslaught of online book sellers with a mix of independent and specialist bookstores. Iconic among them is Foyles, a sprawling flagship store occupying eight levels and 37,000 square feet in a bright, airy building that used to be an art school.
Discover a Surprising Museum, “Cleopatra’s Needle” & Peaceful Riverfront Garden
- Somerset House: Just off The Strand, the Somerset House’s grand staircases, long corridors, rooftop views and Victorian alleyways have served as versatile filming locations for many historical dramas from Sherlock Holmes to Downton Abbey. This grand neoclassical complex hosts contemporary art exhibitions, concerts and a popular winter ice rink.
- Courtauld Institute (Courtauld Gallery): Located within Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery boasts a small but renowned permanent collection of artwork from the Middle Ages to the 20th century including works of Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne. Special exhibitions focus on contemporary artists.
- Victoria Embankment Gardens: Nestled along the Thames between the Golden Jubilee Bridges and Blackfriars Bridge, these serene gardens offer a peaceful green escape from the hustle of nearby Trafalgar Square. Established in the 1870s as part of the Thames Embankment project, the gardens feature well-kept lawns, flower beds, paved walkways and elegant statues and memorials.
- “Cleopatra’s Needle”: In Paris and Rome, their Egyptian obelisks are proudly placed in prominent locations. In London, the city’s ancient Egyptian obelisk, dating back to around 1450 BC, can be easily overlooked on the Victoria Embankment along the Thames River. The 21-meter granite monument is flanked by two Victorian-era sphinxes and topped with hieroglyphics praising pharaohs Thutmose III and Ramesses II.
- Savoy Hotel: Overlooking the Thames, The Savoy is a legendary Art Deco hotel known for its luxurious rooms and celebrity guests. Enjoy afternoon tea in the Thames Foyer or cocktails in the famous American Bar before heading to a show at the Savoy Theatre adjacent to the lobby. Fans of Gilbert and Sullivan take note. The impresario and composer Richard D’Oyly Carte built the hotel from profits from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire. At the back of the hotel in the Victoria Embankment Garden, discover a memorial to D’Oyly Carte, a W.S. Gilbert bronze plaque and a dramatic sculpture of Sullivan with a grieving “muse” at its base.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Leave the bustle of Covent Garden and Leicester Square behind to the more rarified adjacent Westminster neighborhood, long the seat of the British Royals.
Where to Stay in the West End
- The Londoner Hotel: Located right on Leicester Square, this contemporary 16-story “super boutique” property offers spacious rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush king beds, upholstered seating areas and marble-clad bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers. The hotel boasts several restaurants, a terrific, well-equipped gym, a serene spa with a pool, a rooftop bar with panoramic skyline views and a private guests-only club space that can be accessed while you wait to check in. For its location, it’s surprisingly quiet.
- Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire: Also located on Leicester Square, this boutique hotel offers luxurious accommodation and city views. Guests have access to a sleek contemporary restaurant, an atmospheric bar and 24-hour in-room dining.
- The Waldorf Hilton: Featuring elegant rooms with high ceilings, period decor and modern comforts, the Waldorf
Hilton offers an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a fine-dining restaurant and an inviting bar that channels early 20th-century glamour. It’s located just off The Strand near Covent Garden. - The Z Hotel Soho, the Z Hotel Piccadilly and the Z Hotel Covent Garden: Looking for a more affordable option, especially for short stays, consider one of the Z Hotels. Designed with smart, space-efficient layouts, they offer compact rooms, yet stylish rooms featuring custom beds, bathrooms with rainfall showers and 48-inch TVs with Sky sports and movie channels. Rather than a full-service restaurant, guests are offered a café-style breakfast and light snack options.
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