Leicester Square
Leicester Square is the heart of London's cinema world, the West End square where most big UK film premieres roll out the red carpet. Laid out in 1670, it combines landmark cinemas, a small garden around a Shakespeare statue, a trail of film-character sculptures and the official TKTS booth for same-day theatre tickets.
Photos
Natalie
Film central
The square has been the UK's premier spot for film premieres for decades. The Odeon on the east side opened in 1937 on the site of the Alhambra Theatre, and the Empire on the north side became a cinema in 1928. The Prince Charles Cinema, just off the square, is the place for cult films and marathon screenings. The square was laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields, named after Leicester House nearby, and it was residential before it became an entertainment district. The BFI London Film Festival has used the square every year since the 1980s.
Statues and the garden
A refurbishment completed in 2012 brought new granite paving and a water feature around the Shakespeare statue at the centre of the garden. Since 2020 the Scenes in the Square trail has added bronze film characters, including a Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 and the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones.
Making the most of it
Pick up discounted same-day West End tickets at the TKTS booth, which has run here since 1980, and avoid unofficial booths. Look for the Swiss glockenspiel in Swiss Court on the western side. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are five minutes south, and Chinatown is just to the north.
Highlights
- Home of UK film premieres
- Laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields
- Scenes in the Square film statue trail
- Official TKTS booth for discounted theatre tickets
- Swiss glockenspiel in Swiss Court
Good to know
- Only the TKTS booth in the square is the official discount theatre ticket outlet.
- Premieres draw big crowds and barriers; check listings if you want to see one or avoid one.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: leicestersquare.london · en.wikipedia.org