Piccadilly Circus is the most famous crossroads in London and at the same time one of the most misunderstood places in the city. Many people think there is a round circus with an arena here, but the word "Circus" in this name comes from a Latin word meaning "a round open space." It refers to a place where roads meet, not to a circus performance.
This crossroads, where five streets meet in the very heart of the West End, has been a place where Londoners arranged meetings, strolled, and watched the crowd since it was built in 1819. If you simply take a photograph with the neon signs and leave, you will miss the main point.
Where the Name Piccadilly Came From
The name "Piccadilly" is connected to an amusing story. In the early 17th century, a tailor named Roger Baker opened a workshop nearby, where he sewed stiff collars called "piccadills" — a fashionable accessory of that time. Local residents began to call his house "Piccadilly Hall," and gradually this name spread to the whole street, and then to the square. As for the word "Circus," it came from Latin and means a round or ring-shaped space — the same root as in the ancient Roman "Circus Maximus." So literally the name means "the round crossroads of the tailor who made collars."
The Statue of Eros: A Name That Has Been Confused for More Than a Hundred Years
The most noticeable statue in the centre of Piccadilly Circus is the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, but almost everyone calls it "Eros." In fact, it is Anteros — the brother of Eros, personifying "selfless love" or "love that is returned," rather than romantic passion. This mistake has persisted for more than 130 years.
The statue was created by the sculptor Alfred Gilbert in memory of the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper. The Earl devoted his life to reforms in the field of child labour, to improving conditions in factories and mines, and to caring for the poorest residents of London.
Anteros is depicted as a winged youth standing on one leg and drawing a bow. He is made of aluminium — in those years it was a new and expensive material, and the statue became one of the first large aluminium sculptures in the world. The bow is aimed towards Shaftesbury Avenue, but since there is no arrow, Londoners joke that Anteros never released his arrow.
Neon Advertising: What Made Piccadilly Circus Recognisable
Piccadilly Circus became a symbol of London largely thanks to the huge illuminated advertising signs that appeared here in the early 20th century. The first electric signs lit up on the façades of buildings in the 1900s, and by the 1920s the square was already being called "London`s electric drawing room."
The most famous advertising signs were located on the Monico building, and later on the London Pavilion. Beer, cigarettes, cars, and films were advertised here. In the 1950s, one of the signs was so bright that it was called "the brightest spot in Europe." Today the advertising screens on Piccadilly Circus are digital, and their light can be seen from afar even during the day.
What Else Is Worth Seeing Around Piccadilly Circus
The London Pavilion
The London Pavilion building stands on the north-eastern side of the square. It was built in 1885 as a theatre and music hall, and later became part of an entertainment complex. Today it houses the entrance to the Trocadero — an entertainment centre with cinemas, restaurants, and gaming zones. The building itself is interesting for its façade with a dome and sculptures.
Piccadilly Street
Piccadilly, one of the main streets of London, begins at the square. It stretches west to Hyde Park. Along the way you can see Fortnum & Mason — the famous tea and delicatessen shop opened in 1707, as well as the Burlington Arcade — a covered gallery with jewellery shops, built in 1819.
The West End Theatre District
Piccadilly Circus is the gateway to the theatre quarter. Within a few minutes` walk there are dozens of theatres, including the Criterion Theatre, the Piccadilly Theatre, and the Lyric Theatre. In the evening the area fills with audiences, and during the day you can buy tickets at discount box offices here.
Covent Garden and Leicester Square
To the east of the square is Leicester Square with cinemas and street performers, and a little further on is Covent Garden with its market, street musicians, and the Royal Opera House. All of this is within walking distance of Piccadilly.
St James`s Church
To the south of the square, on Piccadilly Street, stands St James`s Church, built in 1684 to a design by Christopher Wren. It is one of the oldest churches in London, and classical music concerts are regularly held here.
What Is Near Piccadilly Circus
• Green Park — a small royal park separating Piccadilly from Hyde Park. An excellent place to take a rest after a walk.
• Buckingham Palace — about 20 minutes on foot along the Mall.
• Trafalgar Square — 15 minutes on foot down Whitehall.
• The National Gallery — on Trafalgar Square.
• Soho — a quarter of restaurants, bars, and clubs to the east of the square.
Practical Information
• Nearest Underground station: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).
• Best time to visit: evening, when the advertising illumination is switched on. The square is especially beautiful after nightfall.
• What to look out for: the statue of Anteros, the advertising screens, the London Pavilion building, the entrance to the Trocadero.
• How much time to allow: 30–60 minutes for the square itself, but if you are going to the theatre, to the shops, or to Soho, you can spend half a day here.
• Tips: the square is always crowded, especially on weekends and in the evenings. Keep an eye on your belongings. If you want to examine the statue calmly, come in the morning. Photographs with the neon illumination turn out best from the south-western side of the square.
Piccadilly Circus is not just a crossroads. It is a place where London shows itself in its most concentrated form: noise, light, crowds, history, and modernity in a single space. Here you can simply stand for five minutes and feel how the city moves around you. Or you can spend several hours moving from the theatre to the pub, from the shop to the park and back to the lights. In any case, it is one of those points in London that cannot be passed by.
