Who owns leicester square?

Question

Is it owned by Westminster Council or someone else? Is the park area different from the paved area?

Answer 1

The Square is named after Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, who purchased four acres (1.6 hectares) of land in St. Martin's Field in 1630; by 1635, he had built himself a large house, known as Leicester House, at the northern end of it. The area in front of the house was then enclosed, thus depriving the inhabitants of St. Martin's Parish of their right to use the previously common land. The parishioners appealed to King Charles I for assistance, and he appointed three members of the Privy Council to arbitrate. Lord Leicester was ordered to keep part of his land (which thereafter was known as Leicester Field and later as Leicester Square) open for use by the parishioners.