leicester square leicester square square west end london england laid named contemporary named 2nd earl leicester square originally residential area tenants including frederick prince wales artists market late 18th century leicester house demolished retail developments took place centre entertainment major theatres established 19th century converted cinemas middle leicester square holds number nationally important cinemas leicester square empire leicester square closed frequently film nearby prince popular showing cult films marathon film runs square remains popular tourist attraction including hosting events chinese new year square park centre originally land park fortunes varied centuries reaching near mid-19th century changing ownership times restored direction included construction new statues fountain william_shakespeare square extensively refurbished london olympics costing taking months complete geography square lies area bound north east south west park centre square bound street north leicester street east street south section road designated simply leicester square west north east west garden south nearest tube station leicester square tube station opened london bus routes run nearby history 16th 18th centuries land leicester square lies belonged abbot convent westminster abbey family henry_viii took control acres land square remaining acres transferred king following year square named 2nd earl leicester purchased land built large house northern end area house enclosed inhabitants fields parish right use previously common land appealed king charles appointed members council lord leicester ordered land known later leicester square open square laid south leicester house developed area originally entirely residential properties laid similar style nearby mall northern square new parish 7th earl leicester took ownership property briefly residence frederick prince wales leicester death following year poet lived artist resided produced best known works including lane magistrate later found lived location painter lived death location head office end 17th century lord leicester heir 3rd earl leicester permitted small retail development leicester house statue king george built square following coronation grandson square remained fashionable 18th century notable residents including architect painter leicester house intermittently inhabited century finally sold naturalist turned house museum significant natural history objects turn square began serve venue popular started appearing leicester square century visitors pay watch severed heads executed leicester house home museum natural called demolished rising debts following extinction leicester replaced turn converted church site prince charles cinema new proposed built leicester square scheme led 5th duke 1st salisbury aimed establish london centre italian opera ballet opera house rival mainland europe opera house built royal patent needed time license theatre refused plans original design preserved sir painting displays finished design belongs 19th 21st centuries 19th century leicester square known entertainment venue peculiar era including built great exhibition housed giant scale map earth construction easier traffic access square resulting private residences replaced shops museums exhibition centres built museum time ultimately destroyed fire rebuilt foreign owned hotels established square making popular visitors london opened later expanding nos following decade bought known opened renamed closed public house southeast square opened badly damaged world war subsequently restored built east square dominating site temporarily closed years later original owner bankrupt reopened palace enjoyed surge popularity queen_victoria family came black eagle horse beauty burned reopened following year early 20th century theatre popular venue ballet demolished replaced opened site troubled start closing time end decade theatre notorious reputation high class prostitutes theatre london county council ordered upper balcony young winston_churchill cadet helped destroy canvas screens erected prevent access balcony theatre closed replaced winter discontent incumbent labour_party struggled meet demands trade unions economy refuse collectors went strike january leicester square turned facto dump earning nickname square 1980s square cutting traffic access square goods deliveries controlled specially designated start 21st century concerned square dangerous night wanted demolish sections encourage growth theatres cinemas reduce popularity major redevelopment leicester square took place scheme proposed mayor london improvements included square metres granite paving water feature surrounding shakespeare statue square opened months work total cost million said accommodate new jobs opening coincided summer olympics later year features gardens square middle square small park originally available common use day august washing clothes cattle earl leicester obliged preserve grounds separated rest square garden sold neglected maintain ownership changed hands number times half 19th century including following death little maintenance garden deteriorated point severe land subject significant legal case plot previous owner agreed erect buildings law allow buyers initial contract bound subsequent promises judge lord decided future owners bound promises activity buyer sell land undermine initial promise bought assets garden deaths order erect buried statue george foot earth globe stuck statue subsequently uncovered following globe demise deteriorated vandalism sold arguments continued fate garden heirs wooden property quickly removed master rolls ordered land preserved original purpose garden saved member parliament purchased park donated title deed square passed succeeding public bodies ownership purchase architect redesigned park statue william_shakespeare surrounded constructed centre corner gates park bust famous residents square scientist sir designed sir president pioneer surgery painter ownership transferred recent addition bronze statue film star director designed sculptor pavement inscribed distances miles commonwealth countries including canada kenya jamaica refurbishment square statue shakespeare remains entertainment leicester square centre london cinema land signs marking square bears legend contains cinema largest screen seats square prime location london film hosts london film festival year similar hollywood square surrounded floor mounted plaques film stars names cast refurbishment plaques removed confusing tourists expected find based nearby leicester place constructed church notre dame hall town popular live music venue 1960s 1970s renamed notre dame hall sex pistols played club november converted theatre venue refurbished began production musical based square home originally known half price theatre ticket booth tickets theatre performances taking place west end day week sold booth significant popularity booth given rise stores square advertise half price tickets west end shows recommends avoiding official contain star logo square home square feet following refurbishment premises accommodate patrons headquarters east leicester square close building houses radio stations classic gold heart radio cinemas leicester square dominates east square hosts film capacity people arranged circle stalls film showing armageddon theatre began use digital technology projection room contains original 1930s normally houses empire opened previously largest cinema square subdivided cater screen south opened generally demolition replaced storey hotel including screen cinema reported new jobs available redevelopment west end north near north east corner cinema europe film short distance west square south street prince north square opened satellite dish design audience looks upwards stage cinema notorious showing pornographic erotic films 1970s including later favourite venue showing cult films including sing version marathon performances including seven films prices considerably cheaper main cinemas square ticket new release prince charles cost compared attractions leicester square places west end puts events relating chinese new year celebrations organised held sunday new year period events include music dancing celebrations attracted participants largest kind included lion dances drum parade ran nearby operated leicester square closure taught students years operation infrastructure main electrical west end beneath square electrical cables large tunnel ending leicester square originating lane football ground cables ground cultural references claimed delivered rabbits woman leicester square event widely reported london attracting interest king george president shortly woman caught trying buy rabbit secret incident uncovered hoax leicester square commemorated lyrics music hall song long way nearby popular soldiers world war war british inmates war camp mentioned square song shout chorus want people hear leicester square boys square mentioned lyrics rock group tracks including notorious blues goes leicester square album stand album leicester square wait verse england clash album refers long way including reference leicester square leicester square acquired reputation difficult non native british english speakers report premier inn said place britain tourists usually lie chester square group british monopoly board street
Leicester Square