Leicester Square's Facelift, London

View of Leicester Square, Feb 2012 from 7th Floor Communications House 

Yes, I am back and brimming with excitement as London is basking in the warmth of much welcomed sunshine.

Leicester Square has been in the press this week thanks to its £15.3 million facelift. The transformation of the world famous square has taken just over seventeen months to complete with commuters and businesses alike working around the many men in flourescent jackets and hard hats waving large vehicles through the square. Leicester Square is now ready to welcome the world to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Green space is rare in the West End and the reopening of Leicester Square will be very much welcomed by workers in the area as well as the tourists needing to rest their weary feet. There is more seating available than in the last square as a white granite ribbon seating area surrounds the square. I was rather interested to learn that a special anti chewing gum coating will be used to make the seating easier to clean. The oppressive back Victorian-style railings have been replaced with shiny steel ones which are much more appealing to the eye. A new cushion of hard wearing grass has been laid accompanying several thousand ornamental and hedge plants.

The view of the Leicester Square webcam is from the Radisson Edwardian Hotel where you will be able to see movie stars and the associated action on film premieres in Leicester Square. 

Read more about The Leicester Square Premiere

To celebrate it's reopening the Square has a number of events on over this weekend:

NOW!
6pm	Live from the square: 95.8 Capital FM

 Friday 25 May

Time	Activity
12 midday	Live on stage: participate in a summer film preview show presented by Alex Zane.
12.45pm	Live on stage: see the world's greatest stuntman, Vic Armstrong as he discusses his successful film career and new book.
1.30pm	Live on stage: 'Life of a film critic' presentation with Empire Magazine's film journalists, Ian Freer and Ian Nathan.
2-5pm	Family Zone: fun in the square with jugglers, face painting, balloon stylists and fun photos.
From 3pm	Live on stage: enjoy performances from the West End's Chicago and Mamma Mia!

 Saturday 26 May

Time	Activity
10am-1pm	Family Zone: fun in the square with Top Cat movie characters.
12.30pm	Live on stage: Neverland fenching demo
1.30pm	Ice Age 4: join Sid and Scrat and learn their new Continental Drift dance.
2-5pm	Family Zone: meet Sid and Scrat for an afternoon of Ice Age 4 fun in the square.
2-5pm	Enjoy a Mini Havana live experience from 7 Days in Havana, with stilt walkers, a Cuban band and dominoes tables.

 Sunday 27 May

Time	Activity
From 10am	Family Zone: fun in the square with the Madagascar 3 penguins
12 midday	Lawn of the Day: experience an afternoon of zombie themed fun, games and activities.
1pm	Celebrate Film4 FrightFest 13th with Alan Jones
3pm	'The Genius of Hitchcock' presented by the British Film Institute

Please note all activites are subject to change.

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