Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is one of London's great crossroads, a buzzing junction where several major streets meet beneath a wall of giant curved digital advertising screens, the city's pint-sized answer to Times Square. At its centre stands the famous Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, topped by the winged statue popularly (if inaccurately) known as Eros, a long-standing meeting spot. It's not a sight you 'do' so much as pass through and soak up, the neon, the crowds, the energy of the West End.

It's the gateway to Theatreland, Soho, and the shops of Regent and Piccadilly streets, so it works best as the start of a wander rather than a destination in itself. Come after dark when the screens blaze, then dive into the surrounding streets for theatre, restaurants, and nightlife.

Don't miss

• The wall of giant curved advertising screens
• The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and 'Eros' statue
• Its role as the gateway to Theatreland and Soho
• The after-dark neon spectacle
• People-watching at one of London's busiest junctions

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Piccadilly Circus

Cheapest way inLondon Cable Car: Soaring above the River Thames Round Trip4.5★ · 103 travelers~0 hoursFree cancellationFrom$18 per personSee dates →Most bookedThe London Eye Entry Ticket4.1★ · 3,654 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$40 per personSee dates →Top ratedWartime London Walking Tour & Churchill War rooms Entry 12ppl Max5★ · 209 travelers2–3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$139 per personSee dates →

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How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• It's a junction to pass through and soak up, not a lengthy attraction, use it as a launchpad for the West End.
• Come after dark for the full neon effect.
• The 'Eros' statue is the classic meeting point, and is actually Anteros, his brother.
• Soho, Theatreland, and Regent Street shopping are all steps away.

A bit of history

Piccadilly Circus was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly, becoming a major traffic and social hub. The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (with its 'Eros' statue, actually Anteros) arrived in 1893, and illuminated advertising has been a fixture since the early 20th century.