In this article, I present Piccadilly Circusone of the capital's most famous landmarks and a not-to-be-missed crossroads of entertainment!
Here you'll find
- A presentation of Piccadilly Circus
- What to see and do in the area
- Practical information: timetables and advice
- Things to see and do in the area
- And much more!
If you're looking for information about Piccadilly Circus in London, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Piccadilly Circus: article summary
Piccadilly Circus, London's entertainment epicenter
When you come visit Londonthere's one place you won't want to miss: Piccadilly Circus ! Its name is associated with the British capital, and the place is a must-see for many reasons!
Introducing Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a London crossroads, located between neighborhoods of Soho, of Westminster and Mayfair, right in the heart of the capital. For a long time, the square was presented as the center of the British Empire !
When you see it, it's a little reminiscent of New York's Time SquareIt's just as popular in London as Piccadilly Circus, with its giant screens and billboards. Piccadilly Circus is where Piccadilly Street, Regent Street, Glasshouse Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street meet.
It takes its name from the piccadils that were sold there in the 16th century, which are the sort of ruffles worn by London dandies of the time. And although this is not its official name, it's what the crossroads was called as early as the 18th century.e century.
From the early 20th centuryAdvertising panels are installed at this intersection and will never change location. Only the signs will be changed as contracts change, with the obvious golden price for this location, which means that we only see very famous brands, such as Coca-Cola, Samsung or MacDo.
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During the 20th century, Piccadilly Circus was a meeting place for homosexuals and a notorious area for prostitution, before becoming the bustling area it is today, with its adsits stores, its restaurantstheaters and entertainment venues.
It's an area waiting to be discovered, during the day for shopping and discovering its atypical architecture, at night to enjoy its crazy atmosphere, neon lights and atmosphere-changing lights!
Facts and figures about this crossroads
- The term Circus evokes the circular shape of the original square, not the circus!
- Every evening at 8:23 p.m., you can watch from works of art projected for a few minutes on the screens
- The English expression It's like Piccadilly Circus is used to describe a busy place!
- A video game map Call of Duty: Modern Warfare takes place at Piccadilly Circus!
- You may come across brands such as Planet Hollywood (dedicated to Hollywood movies!) or Bubba Gump Shrimp Cothe restaurant opened by Forrest Gump in the film of the same name!
- A scene Harry Potter and the Hallows of Mirrors death (part 1) takes place at Piccadilly Circus!
What can you see and do at Piccadilly Circus? Â
Here are the main things to discover when you reach this famous crossroads!
Lights and screens
These must-see light screens are one of London's best-known landmarks, and you'll be sure to snap a souvenir photo! As I mentioned above, it's best at night, for the slightly crazy atmosphere that reigns here.
Fountains of Eros and Horses of Helios
There are two fountains in Piccadilly Circus:
- the Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountainaffectionately known as Eros by Londoners, which serves as a rallying point; it is dedicated to Lord Shaftesbury, an important Victorian politician
- the fountain Horses of Helioswith the 4 horses of the Greek god Helios, a local favorite!
Piccadilly Circus theaters and concert hallsÂ
You can attend a play (at the Critérion Théâtre, for example), see a musical comedy or a concert, or dance the night away Hard Rock Café.
All you have to do is look up to see what's on offer, with shows as iconic as The Lion King, the Michael Jackson thriller, Stomp, Mamma Mia and the Beatles' Let it Be!
Other emblematic buildings for shows include the London Trocaderoto discover when you visit the area!
Royal boutiques
Many visitors come go shopping here, for its tourist stores with countless souvenirs bearing the effigy of the Union Jack or the Queen, but also luxury boutiques if you take Regent Street.
As a reminder, Regent Street is the world's largest shopping street. in London. It groups together royal boutiques, suppliers to royalty, and displays a logo to inform you of this special status. If you'd like to buy from the same places as Charles, Kate, William and co., this is the place!
For those with a sweet tooth, there are two stores not to be missed: the M&Ms World and the impressive Kingdom of Sweets with thousands of packets of candy on the shelves.
How do I get to Piccadilly Circus?
Piccadilly Circus is located in the district of Westminster. It's right in the heart of the capital, at the following address: Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7ET, United Kingdom
You can reach it easily via :
- the metroPiccadilly / Bakerloo line
- Buseslines 6, 12, 14, 23, 94 and 453
- On foot, along one of the main arteries leading from a nearby neighborhood
Piccadilly Circus: opening hours, tips and practical information
Here's some more information on how to visit Piccadilly Circus and make the most of it!
Opening hoursÂ
You can visit the district at any time, but stores generally open at 10am. In the evening, most shops stay open until 11pmlater for certain party venues.
Advice and information
Prices in the area's cafés/restaurants are often higher than elsewhere, due to the influx of tourists.
There are many street performances - musicians, mimes, magicians and more. - to entertain you as you stroll through the neighborhood.
If you're traveling with children, there's a Lego Store (in Leicester Square). It offers activities and tons of brick toys to delight your little ones.
What to see and do in the area?
Once your visit to Piccadilly Circus is over (or before!), you'll have no trouble finding out what to do in the surrounding area. Here are a few suggestions:
- To the north, you can discover the local Chinatowna real Miniature China filled with stores and restaurants
- Visit Trafalgar Squarein the south, which is one of the most famous squares in the British capital.
- Soholast district London gaywith its pleasant nightlife and admirable façades
- The famous Buckingham Palacejust a 15-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus!
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