Piccadilly Circus

Located in London's West End, Piccadilly Circus is a busy square and a very popular tourist spot. Built in 1819 by John Nash at the instruction of the future King George IV, it was part of the plan to connect Carlton House—where the Prince Regent resided—with Regent's Park. The Circus was once considered the hub of the Empire.

It is actually a road junction; its name coming from the 17th-century frilled collar called piccadil, (whose famed tailor had his Pickadilly Hall nearby), and the Latin word “circus” meaning „circle“, the round open space at a street junction.

When Shaftesbury Avenue was created in 1886, Piccadilly Circus lost its circular form and became a busy traffic junction, making it attractive to advertisers. London’s first illuminated billboards were installed there in the early 1900s and, for a while, the whole plaza was surrounded by billboards, creating a version of Times Square. The circus has only retained six illuminated advertising screens, but they are still a wonderful sight.

In the center of Piccadilly Circus stands the bronze Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain which was erected in 1893 to commemorate Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, a Victorian politician and philanthropist. Atop the fountain is the first statue in the world to be made of aluminum, then a rare material. It depicts Anteros, (the Greek god of selfless love), however it is popularly called “Eros”, (brother of Anteros and the Greek god of love and beauty), as well as “The Angel of Christian Charity”. The statue has become a London icon. It had to have a replacement bow string fitted in 2012 after a tourist broke it!

Now partially pedestrianized, Piccadilly Circus is a favorite spot for people to gather and enjoy the nearby shops and entertainment, itself being home to the London Pavilion and Criterion Theatre. It links directly to the theaters on Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as Coventry Street, Glasshouse Street, and the Haymarket. Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square are all within walking distance. Numerous nightclubs and bars are located in the area, too.

Piccadilly Circus Underground station is located directly beneath the circus itself, with entrances at every corner. Despite being a Grade 2 listed building, it actually doesn’t have a building above ground at all! So getting there is easy; the station is on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines.

It is said that a person who stays long enough at Piccadilly Circus will eventually bump into everyone they know. You may not have time for this, but a visit will definitely be worth it.

• Piccadilly Circus at Wikipedia