Leicester square restaurants/breakfast

samanthag

Hi guys
My hubby has just booked a weekend in london for my 40th b/day in a couple of weeks
we are staying at the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel
31-36 Leicester Square London, England WC2H 7LH

we have not booked breakfast as it is £23 per person per day so was wandering if anyone knows where is the best/nearest place to have breakfast and an evening meal

we have never been to london before so this is a real treat and i am so excited :j:j:j:j:j:j
Thanks in advance

WickedWolfie

If you don't want to have the hotel breakfast (and believe me it is likely to be a VERY substantial buffet with many opportunities for supplying lunch also - fruit, bread, ham and cheese.....) there is a Wetherspoons on Leicester Square itself (Central London so breakfast is a little dearer - about £4.50) which opens about 9am or there are a number of cafes (Stockpot, West End Kitchen and others) on Panton Street which runs off Leicester Square.

In desperation there is also both Burger King and McDonalds in the area.

Both the Stockpot and the West End Kitchen do set evening meals or look at vouchers on this site or TopTable for offers for dinner.

samanthag

Hi wickedwolfie thanks for that information it is a big help
hopefully we will find the weatherspoons you have suggested
have you got any other hints/tips we are going to see dirty dancing as well
thanks

WickedWolfie

'Spoons not hard to find, believe me!

See:
http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-moon-under-water-west-end

Tips:

If travelling by public transport in London use Travelcards or get yourself Oyster Pay As You Go

If travelling to London by rail look at the 2 for 1 offers available

samanthag

hi
thanks again for replying
luckily we havesome friends that live 5 minsfrom gatwick airport so weare going to leave our car at their house and get the train into london victoria i think it is then get the tube. wouldwe need an oyster card as we are staying in leicester square ? and if we need one do i order it online or get one when there.
sorry bout all the questions

dacouch

Don't get the Gatwick Express as it's expensive, get a normal train in

samanthag

yeah i will i have priced it on the trainline and it is £25 for both of us return
which i thought wasnt too bad what do you think is that reasonable ? i wouldnt know
thanks

WickedWolfie

NEVER, ever use Gatwick Express!

The ordinary Southern service into Victoria takes about 5-10 minutes more and advance purchase tickets (using Southern Railway's own website for an additional 10% discount) start at £4.45 each each way.

Alternatively using First Capital Connect to London Bridge/St Pancras.

You will need to use the tube, or buses, to get to Leicester Square.

A Zone 1 & 2 Travelcard, which will cover all of the touristy things, will cost you £8 (£6.60 off peak) per day - see the TfL website. You can get these in paper (either from London Transport or a National Rail station) or on an Oyster card (which you have to pay a £5 refundable deposit for) - given you say that this is your first time in London the latter is probaly not the way to go unless you intend to return.

Assuming "a weekend" equals two days/nights it should be possible to avoid the ticket office queues in both London and at Gatwick by adding Travelcards to your train tickets. This may not be the bast option if you are not doing complete days however.

samanthag

Thanks very much wickedwolfie
I have booked the train tickets with southern service at a cost of £17 return for both of us
i couldnt see to add a travelcard option on there so will have to get one when we arrive.
omg this is all so confusing we only live in a small town in wales with no traffic lights ect so it is out of my comfort zone so to speak lol
but you have been a big help so thanks

akitabow

If you want something actually edible (After a bad experience I would never again eat breakfast in a wetherspoons) then I can recommend Balans cafe on compton street (charing cross road end) in soho. It is mainly gay clientèle due to being in the heart of the gay village but the food is amazing and price very reasonable for where it is. I recommend an eggs benedict (always fills me up and sets me right if I've been clubbing it up the night before the first train back to Essex in the morning- yes i still go clubbing at my age:eek:)