Leicester Square

Leicester Square is the quintessence of the West End, a centre for entertainment and a popular tourist destination with many restaurants and hotels.

The former site of the sixteenth century Leicester House, the area evolved from residential use to commercial use in the late eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century it was known for its Turkish baths, oyster rooms and theatres. Most buildings surviving today date from the 1930s onwards. Of the earlier buildings a large portion are entertainment venues, as are many of the most significant later additions, including the Leicester Square Theatre, the Odeon Theatre and the Warner Cinema. This usage is reflected in the public art in the square and within its garden of mature trees, including statues of Shakespeare and Charlie Chaplin.

Leicester square was first designated in 1983, as part of an extension to the Soho Conservation Area. It was re-designated in 1990.