Leicester Square Tube Station

With Trafalgar Square to the south, Piccadilly Circus to the west, China Town to the north and Covent Garden to the east, Leicester Square is right in the thick of the West End. It is the beating heart of British cinema, with all the major European premieres happening there - you'll often see crowds of fans, expectantly awaiting the arrival of the stars outside one of the state-of-the-art cinemas which line the square.

In the middle is a small garden area with plenty of benches. Here you'll find statues of Shakespeare and Charlie Chaplin. It's not a bad spot for a rest or to eat a packed lunch (although nearby St James' Park is far better).

The Underground station gives access to the Northern and Piccadilly tube lines.