Empire Leicester Square, Cinema in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom
The Empire Leicester Square is a cinema on the north side of the square with several auditoriums equipped with modern projection technology and digital facilities. The complex offers both large premiere screens and smaller viewing rooms for a wider audience in central London.
The building was designed by Thomas Verity in 1884 as a theatre for variety performances and attracted audiences with musical shows. After its acquisition in 1928, it was fully converted to a cinema and the focus shifted from stage to screen.
The name comes from the original variety theatre that stood here in the late 19th century, choosing the word Empire for its grand appearance. Today the building is a busy cinema that often hosts film premieres with red carpet arrivals, with fans and photographers gathering outside the entrance.
Visitors find the entrances directly on Leicester Square, making the cinema easy to reach from the tube exit and surrounding streets. The larger auditoriums are located on upper floors, while smaller screens are often on ground level.
The venue hosted the first royal film showing in 1946 with the King, Queen, and princesses in the audience for the premiere of 'A Matter of Life and Death'. Until 1961 the cinema kept its original stage facilities before a rebuild removed them and oriented the space entirely towards film projection.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Leicester Square
74 m
Leicester House
16 m
Alhambra Theatre
91 m
Leicester Square Theatre
47 m
Gerrard Street
98 m
Notre Dame de France
49 m
Statue of William Shakespeare
66 m
Statue of Charlie Chaplin
68 m
Leverian collection
74 m
Royal Panopticon
92 m
Paddington Bear in Leicester Square
64 m
Mr Bean statue at Leicester Square
54 m
Bugs Bunny in Leicester Square
56 m
Indiana Jones at Leicester Square
29 m
Batman statue on Odeon theatre
79 m
Harry Potter statue in Leicester Square
31 m
Clifford the Big Red Dog at Leicester Square
29 m
Our Lady of Mercy
35 m
Mary Poppins in Leicester Square
53 m
Wonder Woman at Leicester Court
88 m
St John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin
87 m
Leicester Street
51 m
36, Gerrard Street W1
94 m
34 And 35, Lisle Street Wc2
85 m
14-27, Lisle Street Wc2
84 m
6 and 7 Lisle Street
76 m
31, Gerrard Street W1
95 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes