There on the square

Sunny late summer morning in London and I have the National Portrait Gallery to thank for this photo story. A regular visitor to Leicester Square in London, I often take the opportunity to pop into one of my favorite art museums, NPG, while I am there. The museum is only a minute's walk from the Square.

If you find it hard to pronounce 'Leicester' try dropping the 'ice' from the middle and you won't be far wrong. The same goes for the English County Leicestershire and its county town Leicester.

Arriving early, as usual, for a business appointment, I turned up on the steps of the NPG before it was open to the public. Disappointed, I headed to Leicester Square thinking I might sit in the sunshine for a while. Although I did sit for a bit, ever restless, I also walked around the square taking these pictures.

The featured image above is of the Odeon Cinema, scene of many a red-carpet event, where stars of the silver screen arrive to an often rapturous welcome. After lots of posing and photographs, they head into the cinema for the big première celebrations and screening. I sometimes join them.

Facing the Odeon (one of two on the square, with another close by) is the Shakespeare monument, standing at the center of the garden in the square itself, a public space for 150 years. Seeing Billy boy this morning (Aug 30, 2025) inspired me to write this little ditty.

Leicester Square stands at the heart of the 'West End', home of London's best cinemas, theatres, restaurants and casinos. It also marks the south side of the district famous for its Chinese restaurants and ethnic Chinese residents. Looking north along Leicester Place, you can see the splashes of bright red that are Chinese lanterns outside some of these restaurants in Lisle Street.

Spending some of my pre-business leisure time making use of the garden's many park benches, I had the opportunity to chat to a few visitors. Some from other parts of the UK, others American, German and other nationalities. It is always a delight to talk to international visitors to this great capital city. Many wanted to take their selfies with Paddington Bear, one of several movie stars immortalised here in brass. I thought I would try my own buddy pic.

Not for the first time, it seems, Ray was spotted in Leicester Square with a bear behind

MORE PHOTO JOURNEYS

Earlier today I wrote this quick-off-the-I-Phone verse inspired by the Shakespeare statue:

Brother bard

Yesterday's walk around a very different part of London, and with far less clement weather:

Bus stop breakfast

Bus stop breakfast

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A walk around the grounds of Bethlem Royal Hospital, the original 'Bedlam' and one time site of monastic grounds, including an extensive and well-kept orchard.

Crossing the water

Two countries, three bridges, one motorcycle and a cool clear pint of English Ale. Join me on a motorcycle, photographic and poetry Odyssey through Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Perthshire.

Not a countryside scene

You might think that you are looking at an image of countryfolk going about their rural business in Arcadian bliss but you may also be deceived. The maxim that the camera never lies is, itself, a lie.

Of phones and photographs

Picture it this way

Illustrating online stories with images from Unsplash or Pixabay might be a safe option but is it the best?

What are photos for

And why do we feel the need to make a visual record of the things that we see?

More from the author

• Ray Taylor's world of art and the artist
• Ray's short stories and flash fiction
• Poetry from a bashful bard

Thanks for reading