Leicester Square - which statues are visible during ice skating and other events

 I had just got excited by the idea of being photographed sitting on a bench next to Mr Bean in Leicester Square, when I read in the Times newspaper that the ice skating  facility will be renewed for another two years, despite objections including the fact that access to statue landmarks will be restricted.

In order to plan my next visit and inform others I asked Gemini to clarify. Of course, I shall need to check the locations of statues and the dates of events, before going to see the statues for myself and posing with them.

Charlie Chaplin statue in Leicester Square. 

Here's what Gemini told me in response to my question at the start.

In Leicster Square which statues such as Shakespeare and Mr Bean will be seen or not seen on which dates when the ice skating and other events take place in leicester swuare

During major seasonal events in Leicester Square—most notably the winter festivities, which feature Skate Leicester Square and the surrounding Christmas market (running from late October / early November through early January)—the layout of the square changes dramatically, affecting which statues remain visible and accessible.

Visible Statues During Events

• William Shakespeare Fountain: Located right at the central point of the Leicester Square gardens, the Shakespeare fountain remains fully visible, though it is incorporated into the backdrop of the event enclosure. Twinkling lights, market chalets, or the ice rink infrastructure surround the base, but the central statue itself stays in place [cite: 1.2.2].

• Perimeter Statues (e.g., Batman, Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins): Elevated or wall-mounted statues around the edges of Leicester Square (such as Batman on the cinema roof or Mary Poppins near the trees) remain visible at all times throughout the year because they sit outside the ground-level event footprint [cite: 1.3.2].

Hidden or Restrictively Accessible Statues

• Mr. Bean: Located on a bench inside the gardens, Mr. Bean is part of the interactive Scenes in the Square trail [cite: 1.3.1]. During event setups, ground-level bench statues (including Mr. Bean and Paddington Bear) may be temporarily fenced off within ticketed event zones (such as the ice rink enclosure or festive bar/stall areas) or obstructed by temporary structures. While they are usually not physically removed, general public walk-up access and photo opportunities can be restricted or require entry into the event space during opening hours [cite: 1.2.1].

Key Dates for Event Setup & Impact

• Winter Events / Ice Rink Setup: Late October to Early January (e.g., Skate Leicester Square runs from October 31 through January 3) [cite: 1.1.3]. Ground access inside the central garden area is restricted to event attendees or ticket holders during this period [cite: 1.2.1].

• Restoration of Full Public Access: Mid-January. Once the ice rink, chalets, and temporary fencing are fully dismantled, unrestricted ground access to all bench-level statues returns.

• Film Premieres & Red Carpet Events: Occurring sporadically throughout the year, temporary barriers around the perimeter red carpet zone block immediate access to specific ground statues for a few hours on event days, though perimeter statues remain visible from afar.

 You need to check the facts for yourself regarding whatever date and time interests you.

-ends-

Useful Websites

Current details

https://leicestersquare.london/

History and photos of statues

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Square

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