Odeon Luxe Leicester Square (formerly Odeon Leicester Square) Formerly: Odeon Leicester Square

Perhaps the defining landmark of Leicester Square, this cinema — the biggest of the three that overlook (or nearly overlook) the square — was built in 1937 but had much of its art deco guts ripped out owing to the (sometimes disastrously) experimental thinking of the 1960s. Certain period detail has been uncovered and restored, and thankfully the screen remains as mammoth as ever. A terrific place to see and hear a Hollywood blockbuster, with the front rows of the balcony providing an optimum film experience, though at a price. Following a major and pricey refurbishment in the second half of 2018, with a loss of about half its seats, the cinema now boasts a new cocktail bar, swanking seating — 800 seats including recliners and rockers — and long-overdue augmentations of original decor features. It also qualifies as the UK's first Dolby cinema. Front-of-balcony Royal Box seats can set you back £40 (as of 2019) depending on demand factors such as how much of a blockbuster the movie is and far it is into its run. The must cheaper seats at the back of the balcony feel miles away from the screen and are best avoided. Recliners dominate the ground floor and the front sections of the balcony, with rockers relegated to the rest of the balcony. Screens 2–5 are screening room-sized, each with fewer than 50 seats.