Odeon Luxe Leicester Square
The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square stands at the heart of London’s West End entertainment district, a commanding Art Deco landmark completed in 1937 and dressed in black polished granite with a soaring 120-foot tower outlined in blue neon. Flagship of the Odeon cinema chain, it has hosted royal film performances and world premieres for nearly nine decades, and in 2018 it became the first Dolby Cinema in the United Kingdom following a comprehensive restoration.
At a glance
- Type
- Cinema
- Period
- 1937 (opened 2 November 1937; reopened as Odeon Luxe 21 December 2018)
- Style
- Art Deco
- Location
- 24–26 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7JY, United Kingdom
- Coordinates
- 51.5106° N, 0.1292° W
- Architect(s)
- Harry Weedon and Andrew Mather; contractor Sir Robert McAlpine
Overview
The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square occupies the eastern flank of Leicester Square and is widely regarded as Britain’s most prestigious cinema. Its striking black granite facade, bold vertical lettering and illuminated tower have made it an instantly recognisable landmark in the West End since the late 1930s. The venue seats around 760 guests in its main auditorium and combines heritage architecture with cutting-edge projection and sound technology, including a full Dolby Atmos installation and a vast 26-metre curved screen.
History
The cinema was built on the site of the former Alhambra Theatre and Victorian Turkish baths, demolished to make way for Oscar Deutsch’s flagship Odeon venue. Construction took just seven months at a cost of £232,755, and the building opened on 2 November 1937 with a screening of The Prisoner of Zenda. It introduced CinemaScope to British audiences in November 1953 and added additional screens in 1990. A major closure in January 2018 led to a full refurbishment; the cinema reopened on 21 December 2018 rebranded as Odeon Luxe Leicester Square and became the UK’s first Dolby Cinema.
Architecture & Design
Architects Harry Weedon and Andrew Mather produced an uncompromising Art Deco design that prioritised bold massing and surface drama over decorative elaboration. The exterior is clad entirely in black polished granite, a then-unusual choice that gave the building an almost monolithic presence. A tall tower rises above the roofline, its face bearing the single word “ODEON” in cream lettering traced in blue neon at night. Interior spaces followed the Streamline Moderne tendency of the era, with sweeping curves, indirect lighting and luxurious materials. The 2018 refurbishment by architects BDP preserved the listed Art Deco fabric while installing a state-of-the-art auditorium within.
Cultural significance
As the traditional home of the Royal Film Performance, the Odeon Leicester Square sits at the symbolic centre of British cinema culture. Its red-carpet premieres have drawn every major film star of the past eight decades, and it remains the default venue for European and world premieres by major studios. The building is Grade II* listed, recognising both its architectural quality and its irreplaceable role in the cultural life of London and the wider film industry.
Visiting today
The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square screens commercial releases alongside special events and premieres throughout the year. Premium Luxe seating is available in the main auditorium with reclining seats, enhanced sound and Dolby Vision projection. Tickets can be booked online via the Odeon website. The surrounding Leicester Square is pedestrianised and lined with restaurants, making it easy to combine a film with an evening out in the West End.
Getting there
The nearest London Underground station is Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines), a two-minute walk from the cinema. Charing Cross National Rail and Underground station (Bakerloo and Northern lines) is also within easy walking distance. Several night bus routes serve the area, and the cinema is accessible from the West End’s extensive cycle network via Santander Cycles docking stations on nearby streets.
Sources & resources
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