Where: London SW1

What: Leicester Square was built between 1635 - 70 and named after the Earl of Leicester, whose residence was on its north side.

Sat between Piccadilly to the west, Covent Garden to the east, and Soho directly to the north, some suggest leicester square is the centre of london, with the rest of the city spiralling out from this hub. Visited or crossed by 22 million people a year, within a block or so of the square you can find many of london's theatres, nightclubs, the top jazz club, lots of cheap restaurants, Soho, Eros (and piccadilly), Regents Street and Covent Garden. So if it's not the heart, it's at least a hub.

It is perhaps best known for its film premiers - major cinemas stand on three sides of the square offering all of the latest releases in state of the art screening rooms. The square is busy during the day and can be wild at night, with young people ready to drink the place dry and party until dawn (Tony Blair's son was famously arrested for sleeping on a park bench in the square).

On the square the usual mix of portrait artists and buskers (outdoor entertainers) try to catch the attention of the passing public. In the center of the the square is a copy of the Shakespeare memorial in Westminster Abbey, with busts of Sir Isaac Newton, Joshua Reynolds and William Hogarth (famous former residents) and a modern statue of Charlie Chaplin (1981) by John Doubleday

The square also houses 'tkts' ticket booth. Founded in 1980 as the Half Price Ticket Booth, tkts is London's official half price and discount theatre ticket booth.

Leicester square is also the home to many of the chinese new year celebrations in london

Nearest underground station: Leicester Square (Piccadilly Circus is close too)

Opening hours: virtually 24 hours.