How did the square get its name?

The site took its name from Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, who acquired the land and built Leicester House.

What entertainment venues operate directly around the square?

Major cinemas including Odeon Luxe and Empire occupy the square, with the Prince Charles Cinema operating on an adjacent street.

Which prominent historical figures lived around the square?

Former residents include painter Joshua Reynolds, artist William Hogarth, and Frederick, Prince of Wales.

What public festival takes place in the square?

The square hosts public outdoor celebrations for the Chinese New Year festival.

What previously stood on this land before the cinemas arrived?

The area originally consisted of common land and residential housing before hosting Leicester House, which later served as a natural history museum until its demolition.

London · United Kingdom

Leicester Square: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents endure film premiere barricades and relentless theatre crowds directly outside the door. You learn to run errands in the morning before the West End cinema lines take over the pavement.

Leicester Square · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Now in the cityLeicester Square+12°CPartly cloudyupdated 12:44 PM Around here25

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About the place

Leicester Square forms the entertainment core of the West End, shaped by centuries of theatrical history and cinema premieres.

The square originated from common land previously held by Westminster Abbey before royal seizure. Following enclosure disputes between the Earl of Leicester and local parishioners, royal arbitration mandated that the central grounds remain open for public use. Aristocrats and painters initially settled the residential rows, where William Hogarth created notable prints and Joshua Reynolds maintained his home and studio.

Read on

Commercial shifts gradually replaced private residences with popular public spectacles. Ashton Lever converted the main manor into a natural history exhibition before debt forced its demolition. That former estate parcel later accommodated a church and now houses the Prince Charles Cinema, which screens cult repertory films and marathon programmes alongside the mainstream picture palaces.

Pedestrianised plazas now define the area as London's primary cinema district. Major flagships including the Odeon Luxe and Empire host national film premieres that draw barricades and spectator crowds across the West End. Annual public events also assemble large gatherings across the open space, including celebrations for the Chinese New Year.

Associations

Film premieresFlagship venues host major screenings that block walking routes with red carpets.
Cult cinema marathonsThe Prince Charles Cinema runs dedicated cult screenings and extended movie runs.
Crowd congestionDense pedestrian flows create constant noise and difficult access for residents.
Chinese New YearThe central plaza functions as an outdoor staging ground for annual festivities.

Facts

Royal arbitration settled a dispute with parish commoners by requiring the Earl of Leicester to keep the central grounds accessible to the public.
The Prince Charles Cinema occupies the site of Leicester House after the mansion was demolished and replaced by a church.
Artist William Hogarth and portrait painter Joshua Reynolds both maintained residences along the square.
Cinemas including the Odeon Luxe and the Empire serve as regular locations for red-carpet film premieres.

Updated September 10, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Leicester Square: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around25

Leicester Square forms the entertainment core of the West End, shaped by centuries of theatrical history and cinema premieres.

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