Proper within the busy coronary heart of vacationer London, the probabilities are you’ll end up in or round Leicester Sq. with youngsters sooner or later throughout your keep within the metropolis.
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Whether or not you’re drawn right here by its film and theatre hyperlinks, or have your sights set on Lego and M&Ms, the sq. and its environment are filled with household sights – to not point out being a stone’s throw from Covent Backyard, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Sq..
So for those who’re in search of issues to do close to Leicester Sq. with youngsters, I’ve picked out a number of the greatest choices for various ages, in addition to some family-friendly locations to eat within the space.
Observe the Film Character Path
Younger film followers can snap some photographs with their favorite movie characters alongside Leicester Sq.’s family-friendly Scenes within the Sq. path.
The distinctive artwork set up includes a assortment of bronze statues scattered across the sq.. Yow will discover Harry Potter on his broomstick enjoying Quidditch, Paddington Bear consuming a marmalade sandwich on a bench, and Mary Poppins floating into the sky along with her umbrella.
It was beforehand residence to a full-sized reproduction of the Iron Throne from the hit present Recreation of Thrones, so whereas that has moved on, it’s value conserving a watch out for brand new arrivals too.
Following the path is among the prime free issues to do in Leicester Sq. for those who’re visiting London on a finances.
For extra of one of the best issues to do in London with youngsters, try my prime suggestions
Snap some photographs within the Lego Retailer
What child (or grownup for that matter!) wouldn’t get pleasure from visiting the most important Lego retailer on the earth!?
Unfold throughout two big flooring on the nook of Leicester Sq., the Lego Retailer is greatest identified for its many superb interactive Lego sculptures. You may see a life-size Lego doubledecker bus, take a household picture with Lego Shakespeare, and admire the 20+ foot tall mannequin of Massive Ben with its working clock face.
You’ll additionally discover loads of cool Lego merchandise and restricted version gadgets on provide. Clearly, you don’t have to purchase something however it’s fairly tough to go to the shop with youngsters and never stroll away with one thing.
The Lego Retailer is so fashionable that there’s usually a queue to enter. However don’t let this put you off as the road normally strikes pretty rapidly.
Indulge your candy tooth in M&M World
Top-of-the-line issues to do in Leicester Sq. with youngsters with a candy tooth is visiting the chocolate-lover’s heaven that’s M&M World.
At 35,000 sq. ft over 4 flooring, M&M World is the most important candy retailer on the earth. Youngsters can construct their very own pick-n-mix from the world’s largest chocolate wall, that includes over 100 M&M varieties, have their ‘color temper’ analysed, and even get their faces printed on an M&M.
Plus the busy retailer sells excess of simply sweets. You’ll discover vibrant M&M branded youngsters clothes, towels, mugs, toys, and a lot extra.
For sure, it’s very simple for the prices so as to add up: this isn’t the place to seize some low-cost choc! Chances are you’ll wish to purchase a really abnormal bag of M&Ms earlier than you go in, after which simply persuade your youngsters to look.
Splash round within the Leicester Sq. fountains
Leicester Sq. Gardens is a peaceable inexperienced area proper within the centre of the full of life sq.. In the course of the heat summer season months, it’s the right place to chill down and escape the hectic streets of London’s West Finish for some time.
Adults can loosen up beneath the massive cover of bushes, whereas youngsters will love splashing round within the fountains that shoot up from the bottom across the sq.’s Grade II listed Shakespeare statue.
For extra free issues to do in London with youngsters, try my prime picks
Hearken to the Swiss Glockenspiel
Leicester Sq. was as soon as residence to the Swiss Centre, a singular attraction constructed to showcase Swiss tradition and promote tourism within the nation.
After the constructing was demolished in 2008, the Swiss Glockenspiel, with its bells and figures, discovered a brand new residence on a pole near its former web site to commemorate the attraction (you’ll be able to learn extra about its historical past right here).
The Glockenspiel options 27 bells and lots of Swiss collectible figurines, together with mini bell-ringers, set in a standard Swiss alpine backdrop. A number of instances every day, the bells ring and the figures transfer in a enjoyable five-minute efficiency.
It’s a unusual element that numerous guests miss, however a enjoyable one for youthful youngsters – to not point out being one other of one of the best free issues to do in Leicester Sq. for households.
Treasure Map Trails
Top-of-the-line methods to discover Leicester Sq. with youthful youngsters is taking over the problem of a Treasure Map Path.
Good for households with 5 to 12 yr olds, this Leicester Sq. and Chinatown Rogue Robots path challenges little ones to seek out many hidden treasures across the neighbourhood, together with sculptures, statues, gargoyles, and extra. The path takes round 90 minutes to finish.
Priced £6.99 for the folded path, there’s 10% off for those who use the code MUMMYTRAVELS. And in addition to the brightly colored illustrated map that’s posted to you, you’ll discover some fascinating info on the map to assist get youngsters extra engaged in native historical past as you navigate the sq. and get hold of its treasures.
Watch a movie on the cinema
Leicester Sq.’s cinemas are like no others within the nation, with their state-of-the-art movie know-how and fashionable amenities.
There are three big flagship cinemas positioned on the sq.; Odeon, Vue, and the Cineworld Leicester Sq. (previously the Empire). Situated within the coronary heart of London’s West Finish, the cinemas have been internet hosting glitzy pink carpet premieres and film first runs for many years and for those who’re fortunate, you may even stumble throughout one going down.
Should you’re not within the sq. whereas a star-studded premiere is in progress, you’ll be able to nonetheless stroll within the footsteps – and sit in the identical seats – as a few of your favorite celebrities, by taking the household to see a brand new launch on one of many large screens.
As you’d count on from a central London cinema, tickets and meals could be a little on the steep aspect, so don’t be stunned to seek out it’s pricier than your native multiplex although.
The sq. can be residence to the smaller Prince Charles cinema, which regularly exhibits traditional (and cult traditional) films for those who’re visiting London with teenagers, in addition to different family-friendly films.
Seize low cost theatre tickets from the TKTS Sales space
A visit to the theatre is among the greatest household night actions in London’s West Finish. And the excellent news is that it doesn’t must value you your life financial savings to get good tickets.
The TKTS Sales space has been located within the south of Leicester Sq. because the Nineteen Eighties and is understood for being the go-to place for discounted theatre tickets. The sales space is the one official low cost ticket vendor within the space because it’s run by the Society of London Theatres (SOLT), so you realize you’re not going to get scammed.
On the sales space, you should purchase last-minute tickets for a lot of of London’s prime exhibits for as much as 50% off. Most tickets are for a similar day or the approaching few days, and for those who do get same-day tickets, most West Finish theatres are only a brief stroll from Leicester Sq..
For extra recommendations on saving cash on London with youngsters, together with different concepts for theatre reductions (and the TKTS app), try my prime picks
Examine what’s on in Leicester Sq.
You’ll discover pop-up occasions going down all year long in Leicester Sq., together with a Christmas market in December and Christmas lights twinkling from November, in addition to occasional artwork installations.
Try the whole checklist of what’s on in Leicester Sq. right here.
TOP TIP: Combating the weird pronunciation? It’s mentioned ‘Lester’ Sq.
The Crystal Maze LIVE Expertise
One of many extra uncommon family-friendly sights round Leicester Sq. is the exhilarating Crystal Maze LIVE Expertise.
Whereas mother and father reminisce in regards to the well-known 90s TV present, youngsters over the age of 9 will get pleasure from working across the totally different themed zones with an amusing host, fixing mysteries and going through a collection of psychological and bodily challenges to win the coveted crystals.
As soon as the entire challenges are full, your loved ones will head inside the enduring Crystal Dome itself to seize tokens which are being whooshed round your head by sturdy followers. It truly is a enjoyable family-bonding expertise.
Bounce on a bus tour of London
Though you’ll be able to soar on London’s hop-on hop-off buses at stops across the capital, the start line for the Tootbus Yellow route is on Coventry Road, simply on the finish of Swiss Court docket main from Leicester Sq..
Fairly a number of of the corporate’s different particular excursions go away from this level, together with the Christmas lights tour and the Evening Tour, whereas the Tootbus Youngsters tour additionally departs from Charles II Road, a couple of minutes away.
For extra recommendations on one of the best London bus excursions with youngsters, try this submit
Take a stroll round Chinatown
London’s Chinatown may be discovered simply to the north of Leicester Sq. and is a cool space to discover with youngsters of all ages.
Cross by M&M World and take a proper flip onto Wardour Road. Right here you’ll discover the enduring Chinatown gate resulting in a collection of small streets, full of thrilling sights, smells, and sounds.
Youngsters will love wandering by way of the full of life streets of Chinatown, marvelling on the rows of hanging pink lanterns and peering into home windows on the scrumptious Asian delights.
Deal with the littles ones to an indulgent Bubble Waffle from Bubblewrap (my daughter’s favorite), a brightly-colored mermaid-tail matcha ice cream from Taiyakiya, or a candy Bubble Tea from Woo Tea. The realm’s many buffet-style Chinese language eating places are an reasonably priced lunch possibility for hungry households too.
Stroll to Trafalgar Sq.
The official centre of London, Trafalgar Sq. is only a five-minute stroll away, with a complete collection of sights of its personal that are simple to mix with the opposite issues to do round Leicester Sq. with youngsters.
Residence to the Nationwide Gallery and the Nationwide Portrait Gallery, you’ll additionally discover public artwork on the Fourth Plinth, which modifications frequently – there’s at all times one thing eye-catching and thought-provoking to find there.
It’s also possible to spot Nelson’s Column and the Trafalgar Sq. lions at its base, together with the statue of Charles I on his horse, the purpose the place all distances are measured from within the metropolis.
Go to Covent Backyard
Leicester Sq. can be lower than 10 minutes’ stroll from Covent Backyard – in truth, at busy instances in Covent Backyard Underground station, you’ll be requested to get off at Leicester Sq. tube and end your journey on foot, it’s so shut.
In addition to the London Transport Museum and Covent Backyard market, there are sometimes additional pop-up occasions going down all year long, from pretend snow at Christmas and pumpkins at Halloween, to short-term occasions themed round something from Frozen to Lego plus large screens within the piazza.
Get 6% off tickets to the London Transport Museum utilizing my code MUMMYTRAVELS6 for those who ebook by way of this hyperlink
With some extra of London’s greatest family-friendly theatre within the space, together with Matilda and Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one, it’s a simple one to mix with the string of issues to do close to Leicester Sq. with youngsters.
See Piccadilly Circus
In the other way, it’s additionally simply 5 minutes to Piccadilly Circus, famously residence to the statue of Eros – which, relying who you consider, is definitely a statue of Anteros, and formally named the Statue of Christian Charity, though you gained’t discover anybody calling it that!
It’s additionally well-known for the string of illuminated indicators which flash and flicker day and night time, together with an advert for Coca-Cola, which has been displayed in Piccadilly Circus since 1955. Initially the Piccadilly Circus lights weighed 5,000 kilos and contained almost a mile of neon – at this time there’s an ultra-high definition 4K decision display screen with 11,858,400 pixels and 281 trillion colors.
There’s no precise circus, after all: the identify comes from the Latin for ring or circle, though this specific one has changed into one thing of a traffic-snarled sq. through the years, one of many metropolis’s busiest junctions.
As some bonus trivia for Harry Potter followers, the scene filmed right here included 300 extras and needed to be shot early within the morning due to the difficulties of shutting Piccadilly Circus down.
For extra Harry Potter places in London, try this submit
The place to eat round Leicester Sq. with youngsters
The center of vacationer London additionally has greater than its fair proportion of vacationer traps, however you’ll be able to nonetheless discover some nice locations to eat close to Leicester Sq. for households.
There are a string of chain eating places as nicely, reminiscent of 5 Guys, Wagamama and Bella Italia amongst others.
Chinatown
Chinatown has numerous locations for households to eat, with decisions together with dim sum and all-you-can-eat buffets in addition to Dumplings Legend – try the part above for extra concepts of Chinatown treats as nicely, however you gained’t be wanting choices.
Japan Centre
The courtyard on the Japan Centre has every thing from katsu curry to sushi and sashimi to gasoline you up to your time out in London, to not point out loads of different enjoyable odds and ends to purchase, from Japanese sweets to ceramics.
Exhausting Rock Cafe
Together with the world’s largest Rock Store, Exhausting Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus is one other household favorite for those who’re in search of locations to eat round Leicester Sq. with youngsters – discover pasta, salad and rooster on the menu in addition to burgers.
Pleased
The flagship Pleased Bar & Grill sits proper between Leicester Sq. and Piccadilly Circus, and it’s an important place for households, with favourites together with burgers, rooster strips and fish & chips on the children’ menu.
Pizza Pilgrims
One among a string of branches across the capital, Pizza Pilgrims Covent Backyard is simply a few minutes from Leicester Sq. and has vegan choices alongside traditional margheritas and extra ingenious choices for mini gourmets.
Sadly the department of Mod Pizza on Leicester Sq., with its build-your-own pizza choices, has now closed, as has the Theatre Cafe.
Greggs flagship retailer
I do know what you’re in all probability considering however the Greggs flagship retailer on Leicester Sq. is among the largest within the nation, with extra steak bakes than you’ll be able to shake a vegan sausage roll at on this ‘MegaGreggs’.
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