Page 109 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

SOHO AND TR AF AL GAR SQU ARE  107

8 Shaftesbury
cent more exhibition and public p339) sits in the square. There
space. There are pictures of is also a statue of Charlie Chaplin, Avenue
kings, queens, poets, musicians, which was un veiled in 1981. W1. Map 13 A2. 1 Piccadilly Circus,
artists, thinkers, heroes and The Shakespeare statue dates Leicester Sq.
villains from all periods since from 1874.
the late 14th century. The oldest Often crowded with visitors, The main artery of London’s
works, on the top floor, include the area around the Tube theatreland, Shaftesbury
a Hans Holbein cartoon of station can be very congested Avenue has six theatres and
Henry VIII and paintings of some at times; the streets of Soho and three cinemas, all but one on
of his wives. Other important Chinatown to the north can be its north side. This street was
early portraits include one a better bet for a meal or drink. cut through an area of terrible
of Shakespeare (attributed to slums between 1877 and 1886
John Taylor around 1600–1610) in order to improve communi-
and the Ditchley portrait of 7 Theatre Royal cations across the city’s busy
Elizabeth I. The collection runs Haymarket West End; it follows the route
roughly chronologically from of a much earlier highway.
the top floor down, with figures Haymarket SW1. Map 13 A3. Tel 020 It is named after the Earl of
from the worlds of art, pop 7930 8800. 1 Piccadilly Circus. Open Shaftesbury (1801–85), whose
and politics of the 20th century performances and guided tours attempts to improve housing
represented on the first floor. (phone to book). 7 ∑ trh.co.uk conditions had helped some
Recent commissions are on the of the local poor. (The Earl is
ground floor, which is also used The fine frontage of this theatre, also commemorated by the
for temporary exhibitions, such with its portico of six Corinthian Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus –
as the annual BP Portrait Award. columns, dates from 1821, when see p94.) The Lyric Theatre,
The gallery has a rooftop John Nash designed it as part of which was designed by C J
restaurant and an excellent his plan for a stately route from Phipps, has been open for
shop selling books on art and Carlton House to Regent’s Park. almost the same length of
literature, as well as an extensive The interior is equally grand. time as the avenue.
range of cards, prints and
posters featuring artworks from
the main collection.
6 Leicester Square
WC2. Map 13 B2. 1 Leicester Sq,
Piccadilly Circus.
It is hard to imagine that this,
the perpetually animated heart
of the West End entertainment
district, was once a fashion able
place to live. Laid out in 1670
south of Leicester House, a
long-gone royal residence,
the square’s occupants included
the scientist Sir Isaac Newton
and the artists Joshua Reynolds
and William Hogarth. Reynolds
made his fortune painting high
society in his elegant salon at
No. 46. Hogarth’s house, in the
southeast corner, became
the Hôtel de la Sablionère in
1801, probably the area’s first
public restaurant.
In Victorian times, several
popular music halls were
established here, including
the Empire (today the cinema
on the same site perpetuates
the name) and the Alhambra,
replaced in 1937 by the Art
Deco Odeon. A booth selling
cut-price theatre tickets (see Multiplex cinemas, cafés and restaurants draw crowds to Leicester Square

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