Leicester Square is a public space in the West End of London…read more It's the central point of the theatre district. Some would consider this to be the epitome of the entertainment district. This is the area where movie premieres are held. Tons of restaurants, theaters, and shops. There's a trail of statues of famous folks in the film realm. Paddington Bear is my favorite. The square is close to the Underground. You can walk here from Piccadilly Circus making it a 2fer for tourists wanting to take everything in. Covent Garden is also close by.

When thinking about things to do in Leicester Square, entertainment is top of the list. Two major…read moreLondon art galleries are also within a stone's throw of Leicester Square and Soho. And with Carnaby, Oxford, and Regent Streets - as well as many more in the Soho area - the shopping scene is second to none It has long been London's home of film for many years with the first cinema opening in 1930. here, you can follow a free movie-themed statue trail, watch the street performers, shop at flagship stores, and dine out in nearby Chinatown. Leicester Square is famous for cinemas, as red carpet London premieres take place here. There are several big-name theatres to choose from - Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue. Don't expect any cheap tickets in this location, though! the best part (IMO) was those 10 statuses including the Harry Potter one, but don't forget to check out Swiss Glockenspiel, The TKTS Booth, Street Performers, and other ongoing activities. Statue list: 1) Wonder Woman statue 2) Batman statue 3) Harry Potter statue 4) Paddington Bear statue: we missed this as it was taken out for maintenance :( 5) Mary Poppins statue 6) Mr. Bean statue: it was also taken out for maintenance. 7) The statue of Gene Kelly from 'Singing in the Rain 8) Charlie Chaplin statue 9) Bugs Bunny statue 10) Laurel and Hardy statue: The statue of Laurel and Hardy in Leicester Square is rarely seen by tourists as it is placed on the roof of the TKTS building. TKTS London is at the heart of Leicester Square and is a non-profit ticket booth. Discounted and last-minute tickets are often available here. So you could catch a matinee or evening show in the West End, even if you hadn't planned. Just down from Leicester Square on St Martin's Place is the National Portrait Gallery. Leicester Square is in the center of London's West End and is always a busy place for people visiting London. The square is filled with street performers, bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants as well as plenty of cultural things to do Today, Leicester Square is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, world-class cinemas, and thriving theatre scene.

The Chiswick House & Gardens is a beautiful little garden in west London that many people don't…read moreknow about. I have been here during the fall when it is completely quiet, and during their magical lantern festival at night when it is packed with crowds. The grounds are well kept, and the lanterns are most amazing. The lanterns along the little lake are especially stunning thanks to the water reflection, but it's also extremely cold thanks to the water. There are three "rest stops": the cafe upon entrance, the marshmallow roasting station in the middle of the tour (but no warming huts which is desperately needed as it's humid and bone chilling in London), and a small fair ground at the end of the tour with hot food, hot drink, and a ferries wheels. The only problem is that it is so freezing cold, and their inadequate toilets especially for women created a huge problem: long queues, chilling cold temperature inside the loos, and generally uncomfortable dirty conditions. It is to be expected with any festivals but still the organizers could have done a better job at regular cleaning and providing directions.

We just headed here this weekend for the Magical Lantern Festival. Hence my rating and review is of…read morethe festival. However, we did see some gorgeous marble statues and the gardens (what we could see of them in the dark) and Historic House, looked like this place definitely merits another visit. The Magical Lanterns are stunning. After the London Lumiere festival, I was a bit skeptical of what would be on offer. But I was blown away by the displays. Budget 2 hours for the walk itself, especially if you are visiting on a night with crowds. We picked up hot coffees and churros at the entry. Feasted on hot chocolate and hot toddy from Beltane and Pop and roasted marshmallows on the firepit at the midway stop. And there was a good selection of meals at the exit point with a covered marquee to enjoy it in. We however decided that we wanted a proper sit down restaurant that was well warmed for dinner and hence walked across to Chiswick high street for a meal. Do note, that these are all pop ups and food trucks - I assume they are only here during the festival. They do have a permanent coffee shop on the premises that was open. But the number of wailing children on this occasion, kept us away.

Magnificent palace located in a far out London suburb. This palace was for a time, the home for the…read moreCourtaulds family who built a magnificent house attached to a mediaevel hall. The hall was all what remained of a Royal palace. But its foundations have been partly excavated and exposed for public viewing in the magnificent gardens. If you love art deco interiors, then you will love this place which still remans fresh and contemporary with its numerous en suite bathrooms and fitted bedrooms. And a simply beautiful lobby with a unique domed ceiling. Do buy a bag of carp food and have fun feeding the greedy fishes!

My fiancé and I visited from the US and we're looking to visit some unique attractions in England…read more This is one of them. A beautiful Art Deco house! The staff was very friendly. They have beautiful gardens to stroll in as well. If you can appreciate vintage/antique Art Deco architecture you'll enjoy walking around this palace. They also have a tea room at the end of the walk which we enjoyed a pot of tea and a slice of maple walnut coffee cake. Very good.

Trafalgar Square is a place very fond in my heart and memories as I loved visiting as a kid (photo…read moreincluded). In recent years, they've cracked down on feeding pigeons and are far less than in the 1990s during my first visit. Sad for me as I love pigeons as my great grandad had messenger pigeons during WWII. Despite there being less birds to sightsee, there are plenty of performs and a stunning picturesque fountain to take photos. Well worth the visit if you find yourself in London!

An incredible journey and look into colonial English history. The size and immensity of Trafalgar…read moreSquare does the photographs justice - it's huge! Lovely fountain, the lions are incredible and stand the test of times. Nelson on the perch, one looks up, gets a bit dizzy, and ponders... just how on earth did they make that thing?! Relaxing, safe, but like any city watch your valuables and be aware. Grab a snack from nearby, walk to the square, sit down, relax and enjoy the scenery.

We spent four nights in London last month, and our afternoon walking through Jubilee Gardens and…read moreSouth Bank was a highlight of our trip. My husband and I were with our two sons, ages three and six, and it took us about an hour, walking at the three-year-old's pace, to get from the London Eye to the Tate Modern. It was a lovely hour, full of beauty and delight. The riverside promenade was scenic every step of the way, with views of the Thames and the cityscape across the river. There were plenty of trees providing shade on a hot day, and lots of people walking in both directions, enjoying some time outside. We made several stops to interact with the various interesting features planted up and down the walk. The kids loved the red metal sculptures that looked like funhouse park benches, which functioned both as public art and play structures. They were fascinated by the teenagers at the covered skate park, doing their teenager tricks. There was also a row of cute little wood houses with picnic benches inside, shady places to eat lunch, or climb up and try to touch the ceiling, take your pick. I don't quite know where South Bank fits into the life of the average local, but it certainly is a wonderful place to visit. I feel like I'd take advantage if I were raising kids in London. It's a beautiful free resource that fills me with love for the city.

If I was visiting London for the first time, one of the first things I'd do is take a leisurely…read morestroll on this riverside promenade. Actually that was the first thing I did, and I'm not even a London virgin. With relatively little effort, it encapsulates the vibrancy of the city from the Tower Bridge to the east to the London Eye in the southwest. Jamie W and I stayed at the very cool Sea Containers Hotel right on the banks of the Thames and smack dab in the middle of the walkway (review: https://yelp.to/HMoq6dQSA-). Walking east took us sequentially to landmarks such as the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (Photo 6), and bustling Borough Market. Going west took us past more idiosyncratic stops like the South Bank Skate Park (Photo 9), the National Theatre, and the graffiti art of the Leake Street Tunnel. The diversity of sights doesn't even speak to the iconic views across the river of the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. So take this walk. Your Instagram account will thank you. RELATED - Exploring London? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/llJ1e-K21m

Beautiful architecture, recognizable from many magazines, movies & shows, the Gerkin is unique &…read morebeautiful. I didn't have a chance to visit the restaurant inside but will hopefully during my next visit to London.

A beautiful and stunning building that adds to London's unique skyline and reputation as both a…read moremodern city and one with history that dates back hundreds of years. It's so much prettier than the plain steel and glass buildings dotted nearby. It's so *not* a Monet - it looks great from afar and from close up. I was in the City yesterday to meet my customers and it so happens that their office is right next door to the Swiss Re building, aka the Gherkin. We managed to pop out for lunch and sat under the building enjoying the fantastic view.

Also known as 'Number One London' (the popular name for Apsley House), this has to be one of the…read moremost interesting visitor attractions in London. Home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the interior of the house has changed very little since the days of the Iron Duke. It is still home to the 8th Duke of Wellington who still uses part of the building as a part-time residence. It is allegedly the only preserved example of an English aristocratic town house from its period. In 1807 the house was purchased by Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, the elder brother of Sir Arthur Wellesley, but in 1817 financial difficulties forced him to sell it to his famous brother, by then the Duke of Wellington, who needed a London base from which to pursue his new career in politics. The magnificent collection of 200 paintings includes 83 which were acquired by the first Duke after the Battle of Vitoria in 1813, the paintings were in Joseph Bonaparte's baggage train. The paintings were from the Spanish royal collection and were given to Wellington by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in recognition of his victories in Spain against the French. The gallery, (reportedly one of the finest art collections in London), includes paintings by Velazquez and Rubens as well as a wonderful collection of silver and porcelain, with pride of place going to a massive nude statue of Napoleon. At £6.90 to get in (adults), it is very good value for money. I spent approximately 2.5 hours in the house but could easily have doubled that if I had spent more time viewing the large amount of amazing art work that was on display. The electronic guided tour on hand held devices is a must (and is at no extra cost).

The Apsley House has been the home for the Dukes of Wellington. The original occupant was Lord…read moreApsley but he sold the house and since then, the Dukes have occupied it. Now these days, it just a house museum. If you have the London Pass, entrance to the Apsley House is already paid for. But I think it is cheap to come in anyway so if you're in the area, you should definitely stop by. Photography is not allowed. An audio guide is included since it does help out with the history of each room and its paintings. Lots of rooms in this house with very high ceilings filled with dozens and dozens of paintings, relics, Victorian style furniture and tables. It's the type of house where you would want to take off your shoes or put up the floor runners because you don't want to have the slightest piece of dirt in the rooms. It's a very nice and maintained house. They have hundreds and hundreds of parties here throughout the years and it looks like it's brand new.

Take a stroll along the canals through Little Venice, with peaceful surroundings leading to lively…read moredining and entertainment as you wind toward Paddington. Enjoy the eclectic boats parked along the way; maybe the On Air sign will be lit on the radio boat. Be sure to visit Rembrandt Gardens at the canal fork, then decide if you"ll head left toward Regent's. Of course we'll return.

A wonderful part of the city near Paddington Station where you can walk along and around the canal…read morearea and just take in the scenery. It was nice and quiet in the morning, there were a few cafes close by in the area as well. While on the path keep an eye out for bike riders going by as they use the canal path too.