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The West End of London is the main commercial and entertainment district in the city. Most visitors to the city will pass through at some point.
Introduction to the West End of London
The West End of London is so called because it sits to the west of the original City of London and east of the City of Westminster. They were two separate cities during the Medieval period and eventually merged to form the center of modern London.
The area was first developed in the 16th century by Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans (1605-1684) in the 1660s. Palaces, upscale townhomes, trendy shops, and entertainment venues popped up from the late 17th through 19th centuries. The term West End was first used in the 19th century.
There are no fixed boundaries for the West End of London, but it takes up parts of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden. The areas of Soho, Covent Garden, Chinatown, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square fall within the West End. It’s roughly bound by Regent Street to the west, Oxford Street to the north, Chancery Lane to the east, and the Strand to the south.
I was able to briefly explore a small part of the West End during two separate trips to London, but didn’t go too much in depth. Hopefully I’ll be back soon to spend more time there.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a great place to start exploring the West End of London. It’s a famous junction located in the City of Westminster and a popular meeting place.
Piccadilly Circus dates back to 1819, when it was built to connect Regent Street to Piccadilly. It now links both streets to Shaftesbury Avenue, Haymarket, and Coventry Street. Starting in 1908, the junction was surrounded by illuminated signs. Only one exists today, and it’s a large curved billboard featuring several different advertisements.
Several shops, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and tourist attractions are located in and around Piccadilly Circus, as well as many historic buildings. Regent Street is a major shopping street while Shaftesbury Avenue contains several theatres. Coventry Street leads to Leicester Square and Chinatown.
Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain
In the center is the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, which was erected between 1885 and 1893. It was sculpted by Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934) to commemorate the philanthropic works of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885). The fountain is topped by a statue of Anteros, the Greek god of requited love. It’s often mistaken for the god’s brother, Eros.
Soho
North of Shaftesbury Avenue is Soho, which is a lively entertainment district. You can find theaters, trendy bars and restaurants, and shopping.
We stayed at Ham Yard, which has an outdoor restaurant, a hotel, some shops, and a pub. It was always full of people day and night.
Chinatown
Walking down Coventry Street to Leicester Square, I passed the Chinatown gate at Wardour Street. The gate was unveiled on July 25, 2016. It was made by Chinese artisans and assembled in London.
Leicester Square
Next to Chinatown is Leicester Square. This pedestrianized square was laid out in 1670 and refurbished for the 2012 London Olympics. It’s named after Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1595-1677), who owned the land and built a house there. Today, it’s surrounded by several important cinemas, many used for important film premieres.
In the center of the square is a fountain and statue of William Shakespeare carved by Giovanni Fontana in 1874. It’s a copy of a statue made by Flemish sculptor Peter Scheemakers (1691-1781) for Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey.
Victory House Hotel
One of the more attractive buildings on Leicester Square is Victory House Hotel. It originally opened in 1898 as the Hôtel de l’Europe, which was designed by Walter Emden (1847-1913). The Victory House is a boutique hotel containing 86 luxury rooms.
Trafalgar Square
Finally, a couple blocks south of Leicester Square is Trafalgar Square. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory over France and Spain on October 21, 1805. The current look of the square was laid out by architect Charles Barry (1795-1860) in 1840. After redevelopment, it opened to the public on May 1, 1844.
In the center of Trafalgar Square is Nelson’s Column, a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), a British naval hero killed in the Battle of Trafalgar. It was erected in 1843 and designed by architect William Railton (1800-1877). The four bronze lions at the base were added in 1867 and designed by sculptor Edwin Landseer (1802-1873). Nelson’s Column stands just over 169 feet tall and is topped by a statue of Nelson carved by E.H. Baily (1788-1867).
National Gallery
The National Gallery sits on the north side of Trafalgar Square. It’s open daily from 10am to 6pm and until 9pm on Fridays. Admission is free except for special exhibitions (as of February 2024).
Admiralty Arch
On the southwest side of Trafalgar Square is Admiralty Arch, which opens onto The Mall. It was designed by Aston Webb (1849-1930) and commissioned by Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria. Construction finished in 1912, and the building initially served as the official residence of the First Sea Lord. It also held the offices of the Admiralty and other government agencies, including the Cabinet Office. Admiralty Arch is being redeveloped into a luxury hotel by Waldorf Astoria. It’s set to open in early 2025 (as of February 2024).
