Leicester Square Station, London
Leicester Square Station is a busy London Underground station situated in the heart of the West End, within the City of Westminster. The station serves as a key access point to one of London’s most vibrant entertainment districts, surrounded by cinemas, theatres, restaurants, and shops.
Location and Entrances
The station lies beneath Charing Cross Road, just south of the junction with Cranbourn Street and north of the junction with Great Newport Street. The main entrance is located on the eastern side of Charing Cross Road at its intersection with Cranbourn Street, directly opposite Leicester Square itself. There is no large ground-level station building; rather, the station is accessed via a modest entrance set into the street frontage of a retail block. Additional exits lead to Cranbourn Street, Great Newport Street, and Upper St Martin's Lane.
The station entrance is surrounded by shops and food outlets, and there is no standalone building solely dedicated to station services. It is part of the urban fabric, blending seamlessly into the busy commercial environment of the West End.
Proximity to Charing Cross
By road, Leicester Square Station is approximately 0.3 miles (or about 500 metres) from Charing Cross. A short walk south along Charing Cross Road will lead visitors directly to the Charing Cross rail and Underground station, as well as Trafalgar Square.
Services and Connections
Leicester Square Station is served exclusively by the London Underground. It does not connect to the Overground or National Rail services. The station is on two Tube lines:
- Northern Line: Leicester Square lies between Charing Cross (southbound) and Tottenham Court Road (northbound).
- Piccadilly Line: Leicester Square lies between Piccadilly Circus (westbound) and Covent Garden (eastbound).
This makes the station an important interchange point for tourists and commuters alike, especially those looking to explore London’s central theatres, Covent Garden, or Soho.
History
Leicester Square Station first opened on 15 December 1906 on the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (now part of the Piccadilly line). A few months later, on 22 June 1907, a separate station was opened by the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (now part of the Northern line). Although initially these lines operated independently, they shared the same location, and the station was eventually unified into a single complex.
The original Northern line platforms were located at a deeper level than the Piccadilly line platforms, and lifts were used for access. These were replaced with escalators in the 1930s as part of a major modernization scheme across the Underground network.
Name Origin
The station takes its name from nearby Leicester Square, which was named in the 17th century after Robert Sidney, the 2nd Earl of Leicester, who developed the land around the square. The station has always been known as Leicester Square since its opening on both lines.
Fun Fact
Leicester Square Station and Covent Garden Station on the Piccadilly line are infamously close—only 260 metres apart—making it one of the shortest distances between two stations on the entire London Underground network. The journey takes just about 20 seconds on the train, and walking between the two takes only 3 to 4 minutes. As such, Transport for London recommends walking instead of taking the Tube for this segment during busy times.
Another quirky detail: Leicester Square Station holds the record for the highest cost-per-mile fare on the network, if one chooses to take the Tube from Covent Garden to Leicester Square due to the short distance.
Nearby Attractions
Leicester Square Station is a prime entry point to some of London’s most famous attractions, including:
- Leicester Square itself, with its cinemas, red-carpet premieres, and street performers
- The West End theatres, including Wyndham's Theatre and the Garrick Theatre
- Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House (a short walk)
- Chinatown and Soho
- The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square (about 5 minutes south)
Quick Facts
- Opened: 15 December 1906 (Piccadilly Line), 22 June 1907 (Northern Line)
- Lines Served: Northern and Piccadilly Lines (London Underground only)
- Preceding/Following Stations:
- Northern Line: Charing Cross / Tottenham Court Road
- Piccadilly Line: Piccadilly Circus / Covent Garden
- Located on: Charing Cross Road (main entrance), near Cranbourn Street and Great Newport Street
- Distance from Charing Cross: Approximately 0.3 miles (500 metres)
- Named After: Leicester Square, named for the 2nd Earl of Leicester
- No surface-level building: Integrated into retail and street frontage
- Nearby Attractions: Leicester Square, West End Theatres, Chinatown, Covent Garden, National Gallery
- Fun Fact: Shortest Tube ride to Covent Garden; walk often quicker than train
Leicester Square Station is 
on the Map of London Underground
Painting of Leicester Square Station, London (View image in full size)