Over 2,700 stars honour the greats of film, music and TV – but the setting is far from glamorous. Think cracked sidewalks, souvenir shops, costumed hustlers and a general layer of grime.

What sounds like a glittering stroll through showbiz history often feels more like crowd-dodging on a busy street. It's still worth a look – just lower your red-carpet expectations. The magic of Hollywood, it turns out, doesn’t always survive contact with the sidewalk.

Incredible American destinations struggling with overtourism

Tourist attractions that aren't what they seem