Proper within the busy coronary heart of vacationer London, the possibilities are youโll end up in or round Leicester Sq. with children sooner or later throughout your keep within the metropolis.
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Whether or not youโre 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 points of interest โ to not point out being a stoneโs throw from Covent Backyard, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Sq..
So when youโre in search of issues to do close to Leicester Sq. with children, Iโve picked out a number of the finest 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.โs family-friendly Scenes within the Sq. path.
The distinctive artwork set up includes a assortment of bronze statues scattered across the sq.. You’ll find Harry Potter on his broomstick enjoying Quidditch, Paddington Bear consuming a marmalade sandwich on a bench, and Mary Poppins floating into the sky together with her umbrella.ย
It was beforehand residence to a full-sized duplicate of the Iron Throne from the hit present Sport of Thrones, so whereas that has moved on, itโs price holding an eye fixed out for brand spanking new arrivals too.
Following the path is among the high free issues to do in Leicester Sq. when youโre visiting London on a funds.
For extra of one of the best issues to do in London with children, try my high ideas
Snap some photographs within the Lego Retailer
What child (or grownup for that matter!) wouldnโt take pleasure in visiting the biggest Lego retailer on the earth!?
Unfold throughout two large flooring on the nook of Leicester Sq., the Lego Retailer is finest identified for its many superb interactive Lego sculptures. You possibly can 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.
Youโll additionally discover loads of cool Lego merchandise and restricted version objects on supply. Clearly, you donโt have to purchase something however itโs fairly troublesome to go to the shop with children and never stroll away with one thing.ย
The Lego Retailer is so fashionable that thereโs typically a queue to enter. However donโt let this put you off as the road often strikes pretty rapidly.
Indulge your candy tooth in M&M World
The most effective issues to do in Leicester Sq. with children with a candy tooth is visiting the chocolate-loverโs heaven that’s M&M World.
At 35,000 sq. ft over 4 flooring, M&M World is the biggest candy retailer on the earth. Children can construct their very own pick-n-mix from the worldโs greatest chocolate wall, that includes over 100 M&M varieties, have their โcolor temperโ analysed, and even get their faces printed on an M&M.
Plus the busy retailer sells excess of simply sweets. Youโll discover vibrant M&M branded children clothes, towels, mugs, toys, and a lot extra.
For sure, itโs very simple for the prices so as to add up: this isnโt the place to seize some low-cost choc! You could need to purchase a really bizarre bag of M&Ms earlier than you go in, after which simply persuade your children to look.
Splash round within the Leicester Sq. fountains
Leicester Sq. Gardens is a peaceable inexperienced house proper within the centre of the energetic sq.. In the course of the heat summer season months, itโs the right place to chill down and escape the hectic streets of Londonโs West Finish for some time.
Adults can loosen up beneath the massive cover of bushes, whereas kids will love splashing round within the fountains that shoot up from the bottom across the sq.โs Grade II listed Shakespeare statue.ย
For extra free issues to do in London with children, try my high picks
Take heed to the Swiss Glockenspiel
Leicester Sq. was as soon as residence to the Swiss Centre, a novel attraction constructed to showcase Swiss tradition and promote tourism within the nation.ย
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 occasions every day, the bells ring and the figures transfer in a enjoyable five-minute efficiency.ย
Itโs a unusual element that a variety of guests miss, however a enjoyable one for youthful children โ to not point out being one other of one of the best free issues to do in Leicester Sq. for households.
Treasure Map Trails
The most effective methods to discover Leicester Sq. with youthful kids is taking up the problem of a Treasure Map Path.
Excellent for households with 5 to 12 12 months olds, this Leicester Sq. and Chinatown Rogue Robots path challenges little ones to search out many hidden treasures across the neighbourhood, together with sculptures, statues, gargoyles, and extra. The path takes round 90 minutes to finish.
Priced ยฃ6.99 for the folded path, thereโs 10% off when you use the code MUMMYTRAVELS. And in addition to the brightly colored illustrated map thatโs posted to you, youโll discover some fascinating info on the map to assist get children extra engaged in native historical past as you navigate the sq. and get your hands on its treasures.
Watch a movie on the cinema
Leicester Sq.โs cinemas are like no others within the nation, with their state-of-the-art movie expertise and trendy amenities.
There are three large flagship cinemas situated on the sq.; Odeon, Vue, and the Cineworld Leicester Sq. (previously the Empire). Situated within the coronary heart of Londonโs West Finish, the cinemas have been internet hosting glitzy pink carpet premieres and film first runs for many years and when youโre fortunate, you would possibly even stumble throughout one going down.
In the event youโre not within the sq. whereas a star-studded premiere is in progress, you’ll be able to nonetheless stroll within the footsteps โ and sit in the identical seats โ as a few of your favorite celebrities, by taking the household to see a brand new launch on one of many large screens.ย
As youโd count on from a central London cinema, tickets and meals could be a little on the steep facet, so donโt be shocked to search out itโs pricier than your native multiplex although.
The sq. can also be residence to the smaller Prince Charles cinema, which regularly reveals basic (and cult basic) films when youโre 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 finest household night actions in Londonโs West Finish. And the excellent news is that it doesnโt need to value you your life financial savings to get good tickets.
The TKTS Sales space has been located within the south of Leicester Sq. for the reason that 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 itโs run by the Society of London Theatres (SOLT), so you understand youโre not going to get scammed.
On the sales space, you should buy last-minute tickets for a lot of of Londonโs high reveals for as much as 50% off. Most tickets are for a similar day or the approaching few days, and when you do get same-day tickets, most West Finish theatres are only a brief stroll from Leicester Sq..
For extra tips about saving cash on London with children, together with different concepts for theatre reductions (and the TKTS app), try my high picks
Verify whatโs on in Leicester Sq.
Youโll 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 entire record of whatโs on in Leicester Sq. right here.
TOP TIP: Fighting the bizarre pronunciation? Itโs stated โLesterโ Sq.
The Crystal Maze LIVE Expertise
One of many extra uncommon family-friendly points of interest round Leicester Sq. is the exhilarating Crystal Maze LIVE Expertise.
Whereas mother and father reminisce concerning the well-known 90s TV present, children over the age of 9 will take pleasure in operating across the completely 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 long-lasting Crystal Dome itself to seize tokens which might be being whooshed round your head by robust followers. It truly is a enjoyable family-bonding expertise.
Soar on a bus tour of London
Though you’ll be able to soar on Londonโs hop-on hop-off buses at stops across the capital, the start line for the Tootbus Yellow route is on Coventry Avenue, simply on the finish of Swiss Court docket main from Leicester Sq..
Fairly a couple of of the corporateโs different particular excursions depart from this level, together with the Christmas lights tour and the Night time Tour, whereas the Tootbus Children tour additionally departs from Charles II Avenue, a couple of minutes away.
For extra tips about one of the best London bus excursions with children, try this submit
Take a stroll round Chinatown
Londonโs Chinatown could be discovered simply to the north of Leicester Sq. and is a cool space to discover with kids of all ages.ย
Cross by M&M World and take a proper flip onto Wardour Avenue. Right here youโll discover the long-lasting Chinatown gate resulting in a collection of small streets, filled with thrilling sights, smells, and sounds.
Children will love wandering via the energetic 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 daughterโs favorite), a brightly-colored mermaid-tail matcha ice cream from Taiyakiya, or a candy Bubble Tea from Woo Tea. The realmโs 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 points of interest of its personal that are simple to mix with the opposite issues to do round Leicester Sq. with children.
House to the Nationwide Gallery and the Nationwide Portrait Gallery, youโll additionally discover public artwork on the Fourth Plinth, which modifications regularly โ thereโs at all times one thing eye-catching and thought-provoking to find there.
You can even spot Nelsonโs 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 also be lower than 10 minutesโ stroll from Covent Backyard โ actually, at busy occasions in Covent Backyard Underground station, youโll be requested to get off at Leicester Sq. tube and end your journey on foot, itโs 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 non permanent 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 when you guide via this hyperlink
With some extra of Londonโs finest family-friendly theatre within the space, together with Matilda and Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one, itโs a simple one to mix with the string of issues to do close to Leicester Sq. with children.
See Piccadilly Circus
In the wrong way, itโs additionally simply 5 minutes to Piccadilly Circus, famously residence to the statue of Eros โ which, relying who you imagine, is definitely a statue of Anteros, and formally named the Statue of Christian Charity, though you gainedโt discover anybody calling it that!
Itโs 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 โ at present thereโs an ultra-high definition 4K decision display screen with 11,858,400 pixels and 281 trillion colors.
Thereโs no precise circus, after all: the identify comes from the Latin for ring or circle, though this specific one has became one thing of a traffic-snarled sq. through the years, one of many metropolisโs 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 areas in London, try this submit
The place to eat round Leicester Sq. with children
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 effectively, equivalent to 5 Guys, Wagamama and Bella Italia amongst others.
Chinatown
Chinatown has numerous locations for households to eat, with selections together with dim sum and all-you-can-eat buffets in addition to Dumplings Legend โ try the part above for extra concepts of Chinatown treats as effectively, however you gainedโt be wanting choices.
Japan Centre
The courtyard on the Japan Centre has every part from katsu curry to sushi and sashimi to gas you up in your day trip in London, to not point out loads of different enjoyable odds and ends to purchase, from Japanese sweets to ceramics.
Arduous Rock Cafe
Together with the worldโs largest Rock Store, Arduous Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus is one other household favorite when youโre in search of locations to eat round Leicester Sq. with children โ discover pasta, salad and rooster on the menu in addition to burgers.
Blissful
The flagship Blissful Bar & Grill sits proper between Leicester Sq. and Piccadilly Circus, and itโs an awesome place for households, with favourites together with burgers, rooster strips and fish & chips on the childrenโ menu.
Pizza Pilgrims
One in all a string of branches across the capital, Pizza Pilgrims Covent Backyard is barely a few minutes from Leicester Sq. and has vegan choices alongside basic 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 youโre in all probability considering however the Greggs flagship retailer on Leicester Sq. is among the greatest within the nation, with extra steak bakes than you’ll be able to shake a vegan sausage roll at on this โMegaGreggsโ.
Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Woman by fountain copyright MummyTravels, all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos/AdobeStock
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