Leicester Square

For details on the adjacent London Underground station, see Leicester Square tube station.

Related Topics:
London Underground - Leicester Square tube station

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Leicester Square (pronounced 'Lester Square') is a pedestrian square in the West End of London, United Kingdom, lying to the west of Charing Cross Road, north of Trafalgar Square and east of Piccadilly Circus. It is named and built on the site of Leicester Fields, which were the fields in front of the Earl of Leicester's mansion, Leicester House. The area was developed in the 1670s.

Related Topics:
Pedestrian - Square - West End - London - United Kingdom - Charing Cross Road - Trafalgar Square - Piccadilly Circus - Earl of Leicester - 1670s

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In 1848 Leicester Square was the subject of the famous land law case of Tulk v Moxhay. The plot's previous owner had agreed upon a covenant not to erect buildings after his purchase. However, the law would not allow purchasers who were not 'privy' to the initial contract to be bound by any subsequent promises. The leading judge, Lord Chancellor Cottenham, decided that future owners of land could be bound by promises to abstain from activity. Otherwise, a buyer could simply sell land to himself again to undermine an initial promise. Hence the Leicester Square known today was saved from development.

Related Topics:
1848 - Lord Chancellor Cottenham

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In the middle of the Square is a small park, in the centre of which is a statue of William Shakespeare surrounded by dolphins. At each corner gate of the park is a statue: those featured are: Sir Isaac Newton (famous scientist), Sir Joshua Reynolds (the first President of the Royal Academy), John Hunter (a pioneer of surgery), William Hogarth (famous painter). The most recent addition is a statue of Charlie Chaplin (film star).

Related Topics:
William Shakespeare - Dolphins - Isaac Newton - Joshua Reynolds - Royal Academy - John Hunter - William Hogarth - Charlie Chaplin

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Leicester Square is the centre of London's cinema land. UK film premieres are typically hosted at one of the four cinemas located directly within the square. It is claimed that the square contains a cinema with the largest screen and a cinema with the most number of seats (over 2000).

Related Topics:
Cinema - Film - Premiere

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The square is also the home for 'tkts', formerly known as the Official London Half-Price Theatre Ticket Booth. This booth is jointly owned and operated by various theatre groups. Tickets for theatre performances taking place around the West End that day are sold from the booth for around half-price. The popularity of the booth has given rise to many other booths and stores around the square advertising 'half price' tickets for West End shows. It is claimed that at least some of these booths are fraudulent. Despite having names like 'Official Half-Price Ticket Booth', they are neither official nor do they offer half-price tickets.

Related Topics:
Theatre - Fraudulent

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The square is home to several nightclubs and is consequently often very busy, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Related Topics:
Nightclub - Friday - Saturday

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Capital Radio moved its headquarters and London studios to the east side of Leicester Square, close to the Odeon Leicester Square, in 1997. XFM, an indie music radio station owned by Capital Radio, also shares the building.

Related Topics:
Capital Radio - Odeon Leicester Square - 1997 - XFM - Indie music

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