At 11 o'clock we will assemble at the Theatre Ticket Booth (TKTS) at the South side of the Square. In view of the number of people in the area, we suggest that artists keep together in small groups to avoid unwanted attentions. We suggest that you minimise your cash and cards, as there are pickpockets around.
Leicester Square is a short walk away from Leicester Square tube station (Northern Line and Piccadilly Line), see map https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leicester_Square_map.png
There is a green centre to the Square, several big trees, and a fountain and statue of Shakespeare which provide a non-metropolitan alternative for people who do not want to sketch buildings. The scruffy old square had a major redevelopment as part of a Great Outdoors scheme proposed by Boris Johnson when Mayor of London. It cost a staggering £15.3 million and was finished in time for the Olympics. Rather sadly four other statues were taken down as part of this, including one of Hogarth who lived at "Leicester Fields" in the mid-eighteenth century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Square#/media/File:Redeveloped_Leicester_Square.jpg
There is a mass of architecture to be sketched, both art deco and victorian extravaganzas, lots of lovely gables on the skyline, the crowning glory being the horses of the Hippodrome which can be seen from the square.
If it rains, we may be able to find outdoor shelter under which to work, there are various projections from some of the buildings, or you can bring an umbrella (and sketching stool). If it rains badly, we can select a cafe and go in and sketch inside.
We can also move on in the afternoon if we wish, to Chinatown. We will in any case check out Chinatown for another occasion.
Sue's number for the day is 07975 864142
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