William Shakespeare Statue in Leicester Square, London
Updated: 2 days ago
At the centre of Leicester Square, surrounded by cinemas, theatres and the crowds of London’s West End, William Shakespeare stands quietly above a marble fountain.
The statue has occupied this spot since the nineteenth century and remains one of the most prominent literary memorials in central London. Its position is especially appropriate. Shakespeare’s plays have been performed on London stages for more than four centuries, and today his monument stands at the heart of one of the city’s great entertainment districts.
Shakespeare at the Heart of Leicester Square
The Shakespeare statue forms the centrepiece of Leicester Square Gardens.
By the nineteenth century, Leicester Square had fallen into decline and its central garden was in poor condition. In 1874, financier and politician Albert Grant acquired the garden and paid for its redevelopment as a public space.
Architect James Knowles was commissioned to redesign the gardens, with a marble fountain and statue of William Shakespeare at their centre.
The renovated gardens were subsequently opened to the public, transforming what had become a neglected space into a formal garden with Shakespeare as its focal point.
William Shakespeare Statue in Leicester Square
The William Shakespeare statue in Leicester Square stands above the fountain holding a scroll.
The monument was designed as a copy of Peter Scheemakers' eighteenth-century Shakespeare memorial in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey. That earlier monument had already helped establish one of the most familiar sculptural images of Shakespeare.
Placing a version of Shakespeare at the centre of Leicester Square gave the redesigned gardens an unmistakably literary figurehead.
Around the square were also placed busts commemorating four other notable figures with local connections, the painter William Hogarth, scientist Isaac Newton, artist Joshua Reynolds and surgeon John Hunter.
More than 150 years later, Shakespeare still occupies the centre.
Shakespeare and London
Although Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, much of his professional life was connected with London.
He came to the capital during the extraordinary growth of London's theatre world in the late sixteenth century and became an actor, playwright and shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
His strongest theatrical associations lie south of the Thames, particularly around Bankside and the Globe Theatre. But his presence in Leicester Square reflects something broader, the place Shakespeare came to occupy in London's cultural identity long after his death.
His plays continued to fill the city's theatres, his characters became part of popular culture, and memorials to him appeared across London.
From Shakespeare to London's Theatre and Cinema District
The surroundings of the statue have changed dramatically since it was installed.
Leicester Square developed into one of London's major entertainment districts. Theatres and music halls were followed by large cinemas, and the square eventually became famous internationally for film premieres.
That makes Shakespeare's position at its centre particularly interesting.
A playwright whose work helped define London's theatrical culture now stands surrounded by a modern entertainment landscape of theatres, cinemas and screen characters.
The square has changed, but storytelling remains at its heart.
Finding Shakespeare in Leicester Square Today
The Shakespeare statue remains in the centre of Leicester Square Gardens and is free to visit.
Despite being surrounded by one of the busiest parts of the West End, the gardens provide a small green space beneath mature London plane trees. Shakespeare rises above the fountain at their centre, where he has watched Leicester Square transform for generations.
For anyone exploring literary London, it is an easy monument to overlook among the lights and cinemas of Leicester Square. But look towards the centre of the gardens and one of London's oldest storytellers is still there.
While You’re in Leicester Square
While visiting Shakespeare’s statue, look around the rest of Leicester Square Gardens. The square is also home to Scenes in the Square, a collection of bronze sculptures celebrating characters from film.
Visitors can spot figures including Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Mr Bean and Batman around the square. For literary visitors, Paddington, Mary Poppins and Harry Potter add another layer to Leicester Square’s connection with storytelling.
📍Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DE
The nearest station is Leicester Square Underground Station. 🚆
if you want to find more hidden literary gems in London visit our Writer's Path Map https://www.writerspath.co.uk/literary-map 👈
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