London - Leicester Square

Leicester Square, long famous as a center of entertainment, is built around a small garden laid out by Albert Grant in 1874. In the center of the garden is a statue of Shakespeare, and at the corners are busts of four famous local residents - Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Hogarth and Dr John Hunter. There is also a statue of Charlie Chaplin. The square is named after Leicester House, built here by the second Earl of Leicester in 1631. The square is a pedestrian precinct. Around the square and in the immediately surrounding area are some of London's largest and best known cinemas. On its south side is the Half Price Ticket Booth and on the opposite side is the Swiss Centre with a mechanical clock which performs on the hour