The Leicester Square sculpture trail ‘Scenes in the Square’ is an art installation to be found in the heart of the square – and one of my favorite free things to do in Central London.
When traveling to London for the first time, chances are you will pop by the Leicester Square statues more than once, and that’s alright.
They’re really a sight, and while they’re located right in the heart of Leicester Square, many people are unaware of them.
But if you’re a movie fan, checking out the statues and snapping a few shots is a great homage to British cinema and film history.
Why The Leicester Square Sculpture Trail Should Be in Your London Bucket List
Why should you check out the Leicester Square sculpture trail?
Well, it’s no secret that London is an expensive city and when traveling to the UK, you had better pay attention to your budget.
A lot of people are living in London on a budget, always looking for secret spots, hidden gems and free things to do.
In terms of food, there are lots of amazing cheap eats in Central London to check out, if only with nearby Chinatown Bakery and Chinese Tapas House.
Scenes in the Square’ celebrates the cinematic heritage of London, offering us sights of a Paddington statue, a Mary Poppins statue, and more really fun sculptures to check out!
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Mary Poppins Statue
The Mary Poppins statue is probably one of the most famous Leicester Square statues, and depicts the character played by Julie Andrews in the 1964 Disney Film.
This would almost make you think of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, another one of the coolest statues in London to check out.
In any case, Kensington Gardens hosts one of the most secret gardens of London, the Italian Gardens, perfect if you’re looking to rest or for a place to write.
The Mary Poppins statue is one of the most detailed out of all the sculptures in Leicester Square, and you’ll never find it without someone taking a picture in front.
Read: The Most Beautiful Bookshops in London
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Harry Potter Statue
Before you start the Leicester Square statue trail, a cool thing to do could be to pop by the Lego store, which is one of the best unofficial Harry Potter shops in London.
You’ll find plenty of Harry Potter characters and scenes built out of Lego on the first floor of the shop – really a sight and very impressive.
Then, check out Mary Poppins and when you keep walking towards Covent Garden, you’ll find the Harry Potter statue.
It depicts Harry Potter in the middle of a Quidditch game, and it’s one of the most recent additions to the Leicester Square statues.
Read: Harry Potter Locations in London
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Wonder Woman Statue
Once you’ve snapped a shot of the Harry Potter statue, you’ll find another hidden sculpture on the left, on a building wall in Leicester Court.
Leicester Court separates Leicester Square from Chinatown, which means you’re really two steps away from all the delicious restaurants in Chinatown like Beijing Dumpling.
The Wonder Woman statue is located up high, and it’s a nice addition to the sculpture trail, since you also have another Marvel character with his own statue in the square.
Read: The Cutest Pink Places in London
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Bugs Bunny Statue
But before we check out this other Marvel statue, go back on your steps, walk past Burger King and in front of Mr White’s, you’ll find a statue of Bugs Bunny.
A few years ago, the Bugs Bunny statue was located behind Leicester Square, almost in front of the Whitcomb’s restaurant and was then moved during works in that spot.
Read: The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Batman Statue
When you’re looking at the Bugs Bunny statue, turn around and look up – on top of the Odeon cinema, one of the most famous for movie premieres in London, you’ll find a Batman statue.
Batman and Wonder Woman are the only Marvel characters who have their own statue, and one thing is for sure, they’re both really hard to photography because of the distance!
Read: The Best Things to Do in London Bridge
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Laurel and Hardy Statues
Once you have seen the Batman statue, keep going to the back of Leicester Square, and on top of one of the theatre ticket booths, you’ll find the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
While Laurel was an English actor, writer and director, Hardy was American, and were some of the precursors of silent movies.
The duo rose to fame at the start of the 20th century, with routines often including iconic mishaps.
Read: The Best Candle Shops in London
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Gene Kelly ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ Statue
Next in the Leicester Square sculpture trail, when you walk towards McDonald’s, you’ll see Gene Kelly in his famous ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ performance.
I was actually lucky enough to attend a performance of this song in a play in Paris a few years ago, and finding a Gene Kelly statue in Leicester Square is just… fun.
When it’s not raining in London, really taking your time to discover and understand why each of these statues is included in ‘Scenes in the Square’ makes for a cute date idea, too.
Read: The Must Have Apps to Survive in London
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Charlie Chaplin Statue
Another movie star who has his own statue in the Leicester Square sculpture trail is Charlie Chaplin.
Who doesn’t know City Lights, The Kid and The Gold Rush? They’re some of my favorite movies, and I was utterly surprised the first time I saw the statue!
To reach Charlie Chaplin, you have to enter the square, where you’ll also find the remaining two statues, two that really represent British pop culture.
Read: Advantages + Disadvantages of Life in a Hostel
Leicester Square Sculpture Trail: Mr Bean Statue
Watching Mr Bean was a blast when I was growing up, and when you’re done with the Charlie Chaplin statue, you’ll find the Mr Bean statue behind you, on your right.
Since it is set on a bench, there are often people eating Tesco meal deals and other snacks right next to the Mr Bean statue.
This means it will be a bit trickier to take a picture, but it’s not impossible!
Read: The Most Unusual Places to Visit in London
Leicester Square Statue Trail: Paddington Statue
Lastly in the Leicester Square sculpture trail, you have the Paddington bear statue.
Paddington is undoubtedly one of the most iconic British films set in London, and you have quite a few Paddington movie locations around London.
One of them includes the famous Primrose Hill area, with colorful streets like Chalcot Crescent you’ll find around the gorgeous Chalcot Square.
This is, by the way, an area you really need to visit if you’re ever after beautiful photo spots – and in Primrose Hill, you literally have some of the most colorful streets in London.
Read: The Most Unique Shops in London
Why The Leicester Square Sculpture Trail Should Be in Your London Bucket List
There you have it, the complete Leicester Square sculpture trail!
Depending on the time of the year, you will sometimes find more statues, like the Clifford the Red Dog’s statue which was installed for a few months before being moved from the square.
In any case, whether you’re traveling to London for the first time or are living in London, the Leicester Square statues are always a sight!