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

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Where To See Popular, Traditional, Modern, Serious, Humorous, and Minority Interest Statues And Monuments

Mr Bean at Leicester Square.
 

Popular Statues

Mr Bean is not a has-been. His videos are loved worldwide. In Singapore when I was teaching my pupils loved videos of him attempting to cheat in exams.

UK Royalty

In the UK statues of Royalty and peers are in London, Nelson's Column in Traflagar Square, Piccadilly, and inside and outside cathedrals and city squares. 

UK Royalty Worldwide

Queen Victoria's statue is in squares worldwide.

Kings, Queens and Bishops are in central squares. Royalty and Presidents are outside Parliament buildings.

Belgium

Famous mythological characters and animals, cherubs and children include Belgium's Mannekin Pis.

Outside parliament and municipal buildings you will find city founders.

Jewish, Spain & Arabic Maimonides

The seated statue of Maimonides commemorates the writer of The Guide For The Perplexed. Maimonides was Jewish, but wrote in Arabic. He left Christian Spain and became the revered physician for a Moslem ruler. He is revered by Arabs and Moslems in several countries as well as by Jews.

Moslem India & The Taj Mahal

Because of the taboo against worshipping statues in the bible, Islamic countries and those with Islamic rulers and communities do not have statues. Instead they have buildings and monuments named after those they wish to commemorate. For example, the Taj Mahal, built by the widower to commemorate his beloved wife in India.

The USA and Pocahontas

Sit alongside a statue - Mr Bean In London, Belsen stragglers in the north

Memorial to a soldier who had helped liberate Belsen concentration camp in German where Anne Frank and her sister had died earlier that year.

On a jollier note, you can sit beside Mr Bean in Leicester Square, London, England.

The sculptor was a friend of the former soldier.

Useful Websites

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

Please share links to your favourite posts.

See and Sit With The Mr Bean Statue, Charlie Chaplin in London, and comedy connections worldwide

Leicester Square, London, England..Statue on a wooden seat. So you could be photographed sitting beside him, making funny faces.

Poland, Lodz, statue of Jewish pianist playing the Piano. Arthur Rubinstein.

Comedians and Comedy Shows, Musical Comedy

Charlie Chaplin

Friends

Gilbert & Sullivan

The Goons

Hancock

I love Lucy

Laurel & Hardy

Mae West

Mr Bean  - Rowan Atkinson

Victoria Wood

 Useful Websites

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

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

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mimes

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Living_statues

For your own comedy

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colorful-Novelty-Casual-Striking-Pairs-Pizza/

https://oddsoxofficial.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIMPLOVE-Geometric-Earrings-Mismatched-Sensitive/dp/B07TGJDH9P/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=odd+earrings

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finrezio-Bohemia-Asymmetric-Earrings-Crystal/dp/B07XX1Y2FL/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=odd+earrings&qid=1626431378&sr=8-13

About the Author

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President, Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story-telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th What Your Committee Can Do For You

Saturday 17th

July 4th American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

TCA (A for Advanced club) is another advanced speakers' club which meets both online for visitors from worldwide and physically for walks, meals and socials in the Tampines area. Meetings are in the TC Community Club when Covid-19 regulations in Singapore allow it, but meanwhile come along to meetings online.

TCA meetings are on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at 7 p.m Zoom room open to check your sound and online appearance and chit-chat, ready for a 7.15 pm start. I usually manage to attend meetings whether I am in Singapore or the UK.

Another club, totally online, is Singapore Online Dynamic, meeting 9 pm Singapore time on Fridays. I am a member of this club.

I am also a member of Senja-Cashew. When it meets physically it is in a convenient large complex containing a swimming pool beside a landmark lake next to a shopping complex. Right now it is online.

Once you join a club, your club's president will give you the opportunity to be informed of Toastmasters club meetings worldwide, especially those which have interesting workshops.cAbout the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers, plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President,  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

BHA

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story-telling in business, on 

bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee was by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

Next meetings will be on these dates (unless a national holiday in Singapore or worldwide)

Themes and word of the day are tentative

2021

JULY - JUBILANT JULY

Theme/WOD Jubilant

WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (based on level one of Pathways)

1 Your first speech or role EASY ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Articles A and The, Plurals, Tenses, Pronunciation, Singlish)

2 CHOOSE YOUR PATH

Wed July 7th What Your Committee Can Do For You

Saturday 17th

July 4th American Independence Day.

2021 AUGUST - AWESOME AUGUST

1 Pathway Level 1 Introductory Speeches

2 Evaluations

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2021 SEPT - SUPER SEPTEMBER

Wed 1st

Sat 18th SPEECH CONTESTS

Humorous Speech Contest

Table Topics Contest

2021 OCT - ODD OCTOBER

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

2021 NOV - NOVELTY NOVEMBER

Wed 3rd

Sat 20th Wed

Diwali Hindu Festival of lights Nov 4th.

Nov 25th American Thanksgiving.

Hanukah starts 28 Dec 8 days until Dec 6. Jewish Festival of lights, celebrated by Jesus.

2021 DEC - DARLING DECEMBER

Wed  1st (Hanukah if not previous month. Festival foods.)

Sat 18th

Speech on 

JAN 2022 - JOYFUL JANUARY

Wed Jan 5th New beginning - forget the past

Sat 15 Long-term plans = for the future/Chinese New Year (CNY for short)

2022 FEB FUN FEBRUARY

Theme Love and romance - Chinese New Year

Feb 1st and 2nd are holidays - do we move this Feb 2nd meeting date?)

Wed 2nd (Valentine's Day Mon Feb 14)

Sat 19th

2022 MAR - MARVELLOUS MARCH

Theme

Wed 2nd

Sat 19

March 1st is Christian Pancake day. 

2022 APR - APRIL'S AIMS

Wed 6th

Sat 16th

Muslim Ramadan 1-30 April.

Jewish Passover (Seder meal=Last supper) April

 16

2022 MAY - MODERNISING MAY

Wed 4th

Sat 21

2022 JUN - JUBILANT JUNE

Wed 1st

Sat 18th

Jul 6, Jul 16, Aug 3, Aug 20, Sept 7, Sept 17, Oct 5, Oct 15, Nov 2, Nov 19, Dec 7, Dec 17.

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See many varied posts such as the post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

You also get access to the online magazine. And the club will appoint a mentor to guide you through your first three speeches and plan your year so you can complete a Pathway suited to your personal interests. I chose the basic Presentation mastery path to start. Next I did the Engaging Humor path. Now I am onto the leadership paths such as Visionary Communication.

I am also a coach for Nee Soon South.

All the clubs worldwide have just handed over to the new team from July 1st, all full of enthusiasm, seeking new members, sometimes with a space for a committee member if you are job-hunting, or climbing the corporate ladder, just the thing to add to your c.v.

Toastmasters has made links with the Rotary club organization. So if you are interested in Rotary clubs, you might investigate both.