Leicester Square

The Leicester Square [ lɛstə skwɛə ] is one of the most famous places in London. It is located east from Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square from the north and forms a busy pedestrian area.

The name comes from the Leicester Fields adjacent to the residence of the Earl of Leicester, Leicester House. The area was built after 1670.

In the small park in the middle of the square there are the statues of William Shakespeare, Charlie Chaplin, William Hogarth, John Hunter and Isaac Newton.

The square is the center of London's cinematography, there is some great cinemas are (including the Empire, Odeon and Vue cinemas ) and find numerous premieres instead. These include the Odeon Leicester Square, with about 1,700 seats, and the Empire with 1,330 seats. In the pavement around the place the handprints of many movie stars are embedded. Traditionally, all world premieres of the Harry Potter films at Leicester Square instead.

At Leicester Square is since 1997 the seat of the company's Capital Radio Group, the over 80 radio stations belong. In addition, MTV UK produces this in the English version of the chart show TRL.

About 100 meters east of the square, at the Charing Cross Road, the station is Leicester Square London Underground.