Leicester Square began as a quiet 17th‑century garden square before transforming into the vibrant entertainment hub London knows today.
Leicester Square’s story starts in 1670, when it was first laid out as Leicester Fields, named after Leicester House, the grand residence built by Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. At the time, this part of London was still semi-rural, and the square developed as a fashionable residential area. Notable early residents included William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, and even Frederick, Prince of Wales, reflecting its status as a desirable address.
By the late 18th century, the area began to change. Leicester House was demolished, retail activity increased, and the neighbourhood became more commercial and livelier. The square’s central garden, originally common land, fell into disrepair until Albert Grant, an Irish‑born Victorian financier and company promoter, purchased and restored it in 1874, donating Leicester Square’s gardens to the public and adding statues and a Shakespeare fountain that still anchors the space today.
The 19th century marked Leicester Square’s evolution into a centre of entertainment. Theatres rose around its edges, later giving way to cinemas as film culture exploded in the 20th century. By the mid‑1900s, the square had become synonymous with movie premieres, with iconic venues like the Odeon Leicester Square and the Empire hosting red‑carpet events that drew global attention.
Despite wartime damage and decades of heavy use, Leicester Square continued to reinvent itself. A major refurbishment ahead of the 2012 London Olympics modernised the space once again, ensuring it remained a welcoming, pedestrian‑friendly landmark. Today, it stands at the heart of London’s West End—buzzing with cinemas, street performers, restaurants, and cultural celebrations such as the annual Chinese New Year festivities.
From aristocratic retreat to global entertainment hotspot, Leicester Square’s history mirrors London’s own transformation: layered, lively, and always evolving.
Image by Romazur. Courtesy of Wikipedia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Visit Leicester Square on a black cab tour of London!