The Hippodrome Casino

The Hippodrome Casino occupies the former Hippodrome Theatre at Leicester Square, a Grade II listed building designed by Frank Matcham and opened in January 1900 as a circus and variety theatre. The building's extraordinary Victorian engineering — which allowed the stage to be flooded for aquatic spectaculars, hydraulically raise and lower performing elephants, and transform between circus, music hall, and theatre configurations — made it one of the most technically advanced entertainment venues in the world at the time of opening.

After decades as a cinema and nightclub, the Hippodrome was transformed into a casino by the Hippodrome Casino Ltd. group and reopened in July 2012 following a GBP 40 million renovation. The casino spans multiple floors of the original building, with the main gaming floor on the ground level and bar and entertainment spaces on the levels above, including a cabaret room that preserves the theatrical heritage.

The Hippodrome is consistently cited as one of the busiest casinos in Europe by visitor numbers, benefiting from its Leicester Square location in the heart of London's West End — one of the highest-footfall entertainment areas in the world. The casino attracts both casual tourists and regular London players. Games include roulette, blackjack, poker, and electronic table games, with a poker room on the lower level hosting regular tournaments.