Piccadilly Circus

From ArticleWorld

Piccadilly Circus refers to a junction of several streets in London’s West End and is one of the busiest traffic circles in the world. Piccadilly Circus is to London what Times Square is to New York. Probably the most visited site in the City it has evolved into a famous London landmark. This busy plaza in the heart of the City has at its junction: Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly and Covent Street. The Piccadilly Circus is now quite accessible to pedestrians and a favorite place to reach the nearby shopping and entertainment areas.

Down the Ages

Before being known by its present name, Piccadilly Circus was called Portugal Street (1692) to honor the wife of King Charles II, Queen Catherine Braganza. . It was built by one John Nash (1819), under the instructions of King George IV, to connect Carlton House with Regent's Park. Later it came to be called Piccadilly Circus after a 17th century frilled collar, the ‘piccadil’, which was made fashionable by the efforts of a dressmaker living nearby. The word 'Circus' refers to the roundabout around which the traffic moves. The creation of the Shaftesbury Avenue, in 1885, made Piccadilly Circus, a very busy traffic junction. For the first time it also brought advertisers to the area, and the circle began to be surrounded by bill boards. Now only one building retains these illuminated hoardings.

Points of Interest

At the center of the Circus stands the Shaftesbury memorial fountain. It was built in 1893 to venerate Lord Shaftesbury, a philanthropist known for his love for the poor. The statue on top of the fountain portrays the Angel of Christian Charity but is popularly called Eros, after the heathen God of love. The fountain is made of bronze but the statue is made of aluminum, then a rare material.

The neon signs lighting up one side of the square with advertisements of Coca cola, TDK, McDonalds, Sanyo, Samsung etc, give it a bright and festive look in the evenings, a time when it seems that the whole of London gathers here to soak in the atmosphere. Soho, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, Shaftesbury Avenue are all within walking distance. Due of its closeness to Soho Piccadilly Circus has the reputation as the meeting grounds of homosexuals and prostitutes.

Criterion Theatre, standing on the south side of the Piccadilly Circus and London Pavilion, on its north-eastern side are the two other attractions for which the Plaza is known.