Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is a major road junction and public space in London’s West End, established in the early 19th century to link Regent Street with Piccadilly and nearby streets. It is famous for its large illuminated advertising screens and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain topped by the winged figure commonly called Eros.

The space functions as a pedestrian hub between theatreland, shopping streets and attractions such as Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square. The advertising displays and fountain make the intersection one of central London’s most photographed locations, particularly at night.

Designed as a traffic circus in 1819, the junction grew into a metropolitan landmark through the 19th and 20th centuries as electric signage and urban redevelopment concentrated there. The fountain and statue were installed in 1893 and the area has since been a meeting point and gateway to the West End.

Piccadilly Circus sits in the City of Westminster, within walking distance of Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, and is served by the Piccadilly Circus Underground station.

• Best time to visit: Late evening and weekends are the most visually distinctive times because of the illuminated signs and high pedestrian activity.
• Statue fact: The fountain statue is popularly called Eros but represents Anteros; the memorial was unveiled in 1893.

What to See #

• Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (Eros): The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the winged statue commonly known as Eros, erected in 1893 and located on the north side of the junction.
• Illuminated advertising screens: The corner with large illuminated advertising screens on the eastern side, a long-standing visual feature of the junction and a focal point for night views.