Leicester Square

[high_flyer]

I think the problem is the garden in the middle, it just breaks up the square too much. They should get rid of the railings, cut back some of the trees and shrubs, and make it more open and accessible. They should improve the lighting too, make it much brighter and a bit more glamorous?!?
I hate those stupid street performers too, they had loads in Barcelona, they just get in the way. I would love to shoot them with a BB gun, see if they could hold their pose then!!!

[DarJoLe]

In 1880:



This got proposed for the Swiss Centre site, but I think they are now going with the second picture

[NothingBetterToDo]

ewwwwww....both options are eyesores.......

then again, the swiss centre is no oil painting itself.........but geez, is that all they could come up with???

[Mr Bricks]

I think (although i´ve never been there so i might be wrong) they should light it up more/put some more neon lights there. London is a worldcity and needs to have this neonlight feel (as Toko and NYC, times square) i think.

[DarJoLe]

That would be Piccadilly Circus then.

[london lad]

I much prefer this one but they did go for the 2nd proposal in the end- which IMO looks really bland & will do nothing to make Leicester Square the destination Westiminster council are trying to achieve.

[Mr Bricks]

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

That would be Piccadilly Circus then.

Are there any neon-light areas outside piccadilly circus?

[JDRS]

Why choose such an ugly and dull design for somewhere like that!? I know the current Swiss Centre isn't very attractive but here's a chance to replace it with something quality. The other design is perhaps too eccentric.

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by london lad

I think it looks fine. I just hope it has a funky lighting scheme. Are there any night-time renders?

[dom]

They should have approved a cool 500 foot skyscraper in the corner like Reuters' US headquarters in Times Square with loads of neon on the outside

I like the square as it was in 1880.. they need to get rid of the trees as they make the square feel a lot more claustrophobic.

[Luke]

Don't really like the idea of getting rid of the trees. You wouldn't want a wind swept plaza. The first design is snazzy.

[mulattokid]

I agree...no no no chop de trees! They were placed in the 1800s. All garden squares are meant to have them that big! :0

I am not concerned about what happens here as long as it retains something for everyone (including the sleeze, thats what gives real life to the place). I think that this could be part of a bigger project (which I suspect could happen if our wonderful shit-for-words mayor keeps his gob shut, even if he is right technically, long enough to get things done)

Shaftsbury Ave links Cambridge Circus and Piccadilly. Pedestrianise that and turn it into a portobello type market. Pedestrianse the surrounding smaller streets, ie China Town, Leicester Sq and Old Comtpon St and Haymarket to Trafalgar square, Piccadilly to Green Park and Birdcage walk to St James Park and Buckinham Palace. This would also prevent the dozens of road fatalities that happen where every year.

I wrote to the Mayor years ago and suggested that piccadilly on EVERY post card, has every corner plastered in Neon Lights...That is not the case since the 60's as you know. It should be reinstated now that low energy lighting is available. The mayor said that they could not force owners/tenants to do this, but I think it would be worthwhile for their business and bring back one of the Circus's key attractions

( I hope CABMAN does not read this!!!! MY dads a cabby too, dont hit me so hard!)

[lyonsdown]

Most of those smaller streets are as good as pedestrianised already.

[potto]

Not really, the main popular street linking Leicester Square with Piccadilly Circus is horrible to walk along. The whole area is subservent to a complex traffic system where vehicles literally race between the check points.

The streets around Leicester Square although you would think would have a lot of scope due to them linking such a vast array of places in London are relatively quiet in terms of traffic yet are poorly connected meaning that there is little activity and interest, usually the back ends of buildings.

Leicester Square is looking particularly tatty and forelorn at the moment with the main access road being dug up, the Swiss building on its last legs and that nightclub that got closed down where MTV were meant to habitate still empty. The paving is in the entire square is particularly poor and I would suggest that the park cuts off half of the square meaning most people walk along the North side.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by potto

Not really, the main popular street linking Leicester Square with Piccadilly Circus is horrible to walk along. The whole area is subservent to a complex traffic system where vehicles literally race between the check points.

too true. I HATE having to walk half way down shaftsbury avenue just to cross the road. It's all the fencing in that really grates me.

In Leicester Square I think the trees need a bit of a trim, but no more. The central garden could be opened up a bit more. The route to Trafalga square needs to be enhanced somehow. The west side of the square is so much quieter yet leads to the passageway into Trafalga Square which itself is missed by most tourists. There is a bit of a no-mans land between the two where there could be a small cafe lined square. Again little used roads get in the way here.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

In 1880:

This got proposed for the Swiss Centre site, but I think they are now going with the second picture

The second is SO dull. Why? Who?

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by london lad

I much prefer this one but they did go for the 2nd proposal in the end- which IMO looks really bland & will do nothing to make Leicester Square the destination Westiminster council are trying to achieve.

Agreed. Even the current building is preferable to a glass shoebox stood on end.

[Rational Plan]

I have just read that an application has gone in to turn the Hippodrome into a Casino with Cabarat Acts.

[Mr Bricks]

I think Leicester square should be turned into a billboard paradise, like this:

Times square


Tokyo


This is something that isn´t very common in Europe, i think it would be awesome! Piccadilly circus once looked like this, it´s a great pity it has changed

[wjfox]

One thing's for sure, the revamped Leicester Square is going to need far more light - it's way too dark at the moment.