Arcadia England

By Lauren Arcangeli

One Introvert’s Solo Adventure to Leicester Square

I am an introvert, but not to the extent that going out for the night by myself sounds like a good idea. My faulty sense of direction and healthy fear of traveling alone usually keep me from adventuring into the city solo. However, I have now been in London for almost two weeks, nearly a quarter of my program stay, so it was high time for me to overcome my anxiety of traveling alone and start making the most of my time here. My chosen destination: Leicester Square.

Leicester Square is a rather busy attraction of London. This was unbeknownst to me before I arrived at Leicester Square Station in person, but a quick glance around the area communicates the idea. The area is home to hotels, casinos, theaters, and a multitude of restaurants, ensuring that every visitor will find something to suit their tastes. The square is closed to through traffic, so visitors need not worry about oncoming vehicles as they wander the area, but watch where you step as pedestrians meander through the space and children chase each other around the square’s fountain.

Passions collide in Leicester square. A statue of William Shakespeare stands tall at the center of the green space, while his Lego replica occupies a tube seat next to a royal guard in the nearby Lego store model. The lego creation is the perfect photo opportunity for every age group. Similarly, theaters dot the streets, while street artists whose talents range from music to magic are a free form of entertainment for anyone.

While the lights of the theaters and casinos are attractive, the street performances at Leicester Square are not to be ignored. I stopped to watch Steven Bridges perform his magic act. The routine was great, opening with a series of small tricks that included solving a Rubik’s cube behind his back and bending forks out of shape without touching the metal. Leicester Square invites spectators and thrives on the energy of a crowd, and Bridges’ act encouraged audience participation. He often had audience members examine items, like the Rubik’s cube, to ensure they had not been tampered with and maintained a comedic banter with the spectators. When disinterested Londoners wandered through his show he would humorously call out that he needed to see their backstage passes. Even better, if a little self-deprecating, were his comments when the audience applause fell flat. His recurring phrase seems to be “life is full of disappointment,” which he humorously followed once with the following advice: “Kids, lower your expectations. I’m on the street, not the tele.” His act culminates with half of a torn playing card reappearing inside of an uncut lemon after having vanished. The act is well worth your time, and only costs whatever change you are willing to spare.

The main draw of Leicester Square for me, an introverted student not thrilled by crowds or gambling, is the theater. My discovery of Leicester Square was facilitated by my pure luck of receiving a free ticket to see The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theater. The theater is newer than the square, having put on its first production in 1884 compared to the nearly 400 years that Leicester Square has served as a public space, but adds another attraction to the packed square.

The show is fantastic, consisting of great actors accompanied by a humorous soundtrack. Even if you are not typically a fan of theater, I recommend going to a show while in London. The theater culture here is very different from that of America. London has hundreds of theaters to visit and a variety of shows to see. The dress code ranges from casual in jeans and a t-shirt, to smart-looking suits. Either style is acceptable. They even sell small cartons of ice cream during intermission, a practice I hope American theaters will soon adopt. I have now seen The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theater, Everybody’s Talking about Jamie at the Apollo Theater, and Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, and have yet to be unimpressed by the London stage.

To conclude, I highly recommend going to Leicester Square. Arrive without a plan and let the events of the square guide your evening out. Also important, don’t be afraid to adventure by yourself. Venturing alone into a city you are unfamiliar with is scary, but rewarding. While you’re out, try grabbing a box of takeaway fish and chips from any number of the restaurants in Leicester Square, because nothing feels more like London while being reminiscent of home than a dish that comes with fries.