Discover Central London's Entertainment District - 4.5 Km

philip carey
Aug 24, 2022
6 min read

Updated: Aug 16, 2024

Start at Covent Garden

Finish at Trafalgar Square near Charing Cross Station

THE EXPERIENCE

Soho, Covent Garden, Chinatown, the Stand, Leicester Square and St Giles have been London’s main entertainment area since the early 1700’s and its street layouts have remained largely unchanged. They are all close to each other and have their own distinctive charm and a rich and varied history. You will find the full range of theatres, cinemas, opera and ballet, amusement venues, museums, art galleries and casinos – as well as plenty of places to eat, drink and be merry. This route combines three out of the four entertainment routes together to form a longer route.

Great bright lights, great atmosphere, history, iconic sights, entertainment venues, crowds, transport links, shops, cinemas, theatres, opera, museums, , and lots of places to eat, drink and be mer

MUST SEE PLACES

What to See List

PLACES TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry List

Links to Eat, Drink and Be Merry Routes

BEST TIME

Morning - The best time to do this route is on weekends in the early morning when it is quiet and free from crowds and heavy traffic.

Day - All areas are busy during the day.

Evenings - All areas tend to be busy in the evening

ROUTE OVERVIEW

This 4.5 km route covers most of the entertainment district except the route covering St Giles and Soho Square. It starts at Covent Garden Station and heads straight down to Piccadilly Circus through Leicester Square. The route then returns to Covent Garden via Shaftesbury Avenue, Chinatown, Soho, and St Giles. The final section heads to Trafalgar Square via the Aldwych and the Strand.

Route at a Glance Video.

4.5 Km Combined West End Entertainment Photorun Route (1.51)

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Strava Map

My Google Map Link

DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO GALLERY

This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Use the Google Map above to find their location. Double-click to see its full size.

INTERESTING FACTS

Covent Garden

St Giles

Chinatown

Leicester Square

VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA

Click on the pictures below to go on a virtual tour of the sightseeing area.

Use the route locations to explore the area in 360 degrees, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the location, and going on a virtual tour.

HISTORY VIDEO LIBRARY

Please note - These date from before 2018 and have been done in a variety of styles to determine which one works best. They all provide very useful information and we would welcome feedback to help create the new version