An iconic, famous, and crazy busy section of London. From here you can get just about anywhere. It's a great starting and landing point for tourists. It is a central area to get to places like Leicester Square, Chinatown, etc. Tons of giant, lighted, neon adverts adorn the area. It's like the London version of NYC's Times Square. It's exciting, frantic, busy, and a perfect spot for first-time visitors to London. read more

Tip: I recommend riding the tube to get here. Piccadilly Circus tube station is conveniently underground and it's affordable. Piccadilly Circus was an area that I frequented a lot during my visit to London in December 2013. It is a touristy place. I liked it for a number of reasons. Piccadilly Circus tub station is under Piccadilly Circus. I took the underground to get to this touristy site. It was a cheap, efficient means to get to and from the area. The area feels like Times Square (New York), or Yonge and Dundas (Toronto) with brightly lit screens and signs. You then realize that Piccadilly Circus established illuminated, giant advertisements since the early 20th century. What's special about Piccadilly Circus is that it's a junction where Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket, Coventry Street, and Glasshouse Street meet. Circus in the name doesn't mean seeing clowns and acrobats. Rather, it means a circle or roundabout. It makes sense when you see the statue of Anteros, which is also known as Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It gives you a good look at how the streets comprise this junction. Piccadilly Circus is close to these touristy spots: - M&M's World - Chinatown - Soho - Theatre district - Oxford Street (shopping) - Hop-on, hop-off stops Gone are these places that I enjoyed visiting: - Ripley's Believe It or Not - Angus Steak House I'm an M&M's fan, so I visited this place three times. I loved it so much! Shopping was great. You can find everything from phone accessories (I still travel with a USB cable with three different charging tips that I bought in London) to weed edibles. I liked the eclectic variety that was eye-opening at the time. I remember that there was a small winter fair at a park that I had visited nearby. I don't remember the name of the park or the fair. What I do remember is enjoying banoffee fudge for the first time. So good! It was fun being in this area. I'd love to go back and see how things have changed. If you've never been to Piccadilly Circus before, I recommend going at least once. (44) read more

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Right in the hub of the city where you're pretty much close to everything. There's a tub station that has a stop. Right when you walk up, it's like coming out to time square but instead you're in London. The lights and shops make the experiences more fun. You're pretty much near Chinatown, theatre district, Oxford Street, new bond street where amazing shopping is. Also the hop on hop off bus stop here. As it's one of the tourist spot, you have your usual tourist places for food and shopping. Loads of souvenirs stalls everywhere. It was nice to be here for the holidays as the places tends to be covered in holidays lights and decorations. When they say it gets busy, they were not lying. It was beautiful walking around and just taking it in. Compared to the last time I was here, the holidays just makes it more cozy but freezing for an Angeleno. Traffic is busy so be cautious when you're crossing the street. Cars were pretty much all over the place. We tended to just followed everyone whenever we crossed the road. You can't come to London and not check this place out. Even though I've been loads of times, it's still always a must stop for me. read more

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When I saw Piccadilly Circus on our London travel itinerary, I thought my boyfriend wanted to see a circus... like with clowns. To my surprise it was not a circus but more of a central cultural hub. It was like the Shabuya Crossing of Tokyo or the Time Square of New York. The centric spot is marked by a fountain with a statue of Anteros, the Greek God of requited love. And then behind the fountain is many gigantic billboards changing in the background. From this area, we explored the souvenir shops, the iconic Fortnum & Mason department store, and a beef wellington dinner at 47 Jermyn. An iconic spot you will most likely walk upon while exploring the city. read more

Piccadilly Circus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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It marks the irregular intersection of several busy streets, including Piccadilly, Regent, Haymarket, and Shaftesbury Avenue. It is square in shape, even though it was originally given the Roman name - Circus - for a circle. It is one of London's busiest hubs and traffic junctions, with large billboards that call to mind Times Square in New York (well, being from Jersey, it;s meh) Piccadilly Circus is the meeting place of five busy roads and is the center of London's hustle and bustle. Notable streets leading off Piccadilly Circus include Regent Street, a major shopping thoroughfare; Shaftesbury Avenue, at the heart of Theatreland; and Piccadilly itself. The surrounding districts are Soho, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, St James's, and Mayfair. Whether it's people on their way to work in the morning, shoppers en route to the chain store-lined Oxford Street (just a few blocks north), or lively club and bar hoppers passing through at night, Piccadilly is always thrumming with activity. read more

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Too crowded for me. It's the kind of thing you see walking through to another location, I wouldn't recommend going here specifically unless you're seeing a show. read more

Another staple in London worth visiting. Piccadilly has been featured in Harry Potter and it reminds me of a European New York City. There's a variety of stores to shop at but it can get overly crowded. There's also an array of homeless people but they usually don't bother anyone. My boyfriend and I went at night to see all the commercial billboards which was really cool. Definitely worth visiting at least once. read more

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Would compare this to the equivalent of Time Square In New York but just in London. Lots of people, lights, shopping and restaurants. Lots going on and very lively area. read more

Piccadilly Circus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

The vibrant commercial centerpiece of London. I concur, there are activities and it's on the way to plenty of places but Piccadilly Circus is not Times Square -- that from someone who avoids Times Square. It is not really a fair comparison, but nonetheless should be part of any London itinerary. read more

Shops, Neon signs, colorful people, American brands ...that remind me very much of New York's times square. The London Pavilion, a music hall has a prominent spot here. There are clubs, movies & entertainment venues as well.Lillywhites Sporting Goods is here along with Fortnum & Mason. Tower Records & Virgin Megastore we're here years ago when I visited. The Piccadilly tube station is in this circus. The name first appeared in 1626 as Piccadilly Hall, named after a house belonging to a tailor famous for selling piccadills, or shirt collars. During WWII it was the unsavory section of London with prostitution & pornography. The Irish terrorized the Circus in 1939 & 1974. read more

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Such a great and fun vibe close to soho and china town which makes it a triple threat if amazingness. The square was hustling at all off hours and was fine to wander around and try a restaurant or shop at random, some fancy shops also sprinkled around the square made it a hodge podge for every walk of life! Super fun! read more

Aug 2023 Shopping and entertainment that has the same vibe as NYC except with fewer video displays and neon signs. There was a street performer while we were there, which attracted a crowd. Great vibe and fun place to get together with friends for a bite, shopping, or show. read more

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From a tourist's perspective, Piccadilly Circus offers so much to see and do. There are many shopping options, restaurant varieties and cultural activities in which to engage. The abundance of people throughout the area adds to the excitement and energy. During our stay in London, we visited many times because there was so much to do that could not be accomplished in one day. When in London, it is a definite must see in my opinion. As mentioned in many other reviews and I would agree, it draws strong similarities to NYC's Times Square, only on a smaller scale. read more

Back to Piccadilly Circus a main tourist attraction because of its proximity to theaters and other great luxury shops. It has been a very busy traffic interchange since construction, as it lies at the centre of Theatreland and handles exit traffic from Piccadilly, which Charles Dickens Jr. described: "Piccadilly, the great thoroughfare leading from the Haymarket and Regent-street westward to Hyde Park-corner, is the nearest approach to the Parisian boulevard of which London can boast." read more

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Piccadilly Circus has it all. Shopping for every type of budget, from high end fashion to common essentials. The streets are long and they go on and on so make sure to wear your walking shoes. I love how this location centers so much culture and food. There's the street dancers and the families that fill the spaces. There's a lot of theaters and cinemas. There's a park nearby if you desire to take off your shoes and touch some grass. Also, it's Pride Month and the festive decorations feel so welcoming read more

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Date of visit: September 5, 2022 When you say "London's answer to Times Square," I was immediately intrigued, but the end result is a bit less than that, in my opinion. Yes there are some large international brands with a presence here (Hard Rock Cafe, LEGO) and there are some electronic billboards as well as a large-scale meeting place. But it just seems like more of a casual shopping center than a hub of activity like Times Square. I really didn't see why it was such a destination, there really isn't all that much here of interest. To me, Oxford Street, with its wide-range of shops, department stores, and restaurants is the better place to visit if you only have time in London for one of the two. Should you go, definitely check out LEGO; they have some awesome displays in there, but this is not something that will take much time to visit and check off your tourist list. read more

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"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." - Oscar Wilde Piccadilly Circus is really no Circus at all, yet you can say it does have an upper bleachers Circus atmosphere. I promise more on that later lol. Piccadilly Circus is public space that intersect London roads in the West End in the City of Westminster. It was built in 1819. Again it has nothing to do with a Circus per se, but rather from the Latin word meaning "Circle", for it is a round open space of characters lol. Today, "the Circus" is known for its giant advertising video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building on the northern side, as well as the Victorian era Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with Anteros (though many mistakenly, believe it's Eros). This spot is known to show many live performers. On my visit to "the Circus" I enjoyed listening to Gabriel Pollina play a modern version of steel drums. A hypnotic sound that resonates new age. You can follow him on Instagram as the "guy who plays that thing" lol. I noticed it's a popular spot for tourists going from one part of London to the next. Londoners also can be found here too, mainly due to the Piccadilly Underground and the fountain as a meeting point. Plus, theatres are everywhere. The famous Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace can be found here! In the end, I'd recommend a visit to Piccadilly Circus, but it's inevitable if walking or tubing London, really. Soho just up the road and "the Circus" is a stones throw to everything British. Hopefully you get to see my friend playing his "thing"... 'til then... Ta! read more

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I don't understand the hype honestly, it's a big screen, crossroads with traffic coming in all directions, souvenir shops charging more than is acceptable and too busy to be of any enjoyment, not for me! read more

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High traffic (cars & people) area, but has tons to do in terms of shopping, restaurants, and bars. Definitely a must when visiting as it is essentially Englands version of Tomes Square in my opinion. What was odd were children crowded at night in massive circle having boxing matches disrupting the flow of walking traffic. Still pretty clean and has an underground station for easier access than walking or driving in/out. read more

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Picadilly Circus aka London's version of NY's Times Square. You know what... I can see it. It definitely has a little bit of that "circus" vibe to it, but it's not as overwhelming as Times Square in my opinion. It's like a mini Time Square set right in the heart of one of the most bustling areas of central London. What can I say?! The big screens, the bright lights, the roaming crowds. I kinda like it. It's fun. But what's even more fun is everything that goes down in this square. At any given time, you'll be exposed to live music and live performers right there in the street. The traffic is pretty bad, but if you're on foot, this place can be really fun to visit. It's so easy to get down here by train. The tube station is located just minutes if not steps away depending on where you are in the square. There's tons of places to shop, eat, and admire. You'll find a few different Monuments placed throughout the square as well. One of the busiest areas in central London for sure with plenty of photo ops nearby. It's worth a stop if visiting London. read more

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Lots of shopping options here, lots of people, hoards of people, cars, buses and old black London cabs. It's a busy area for locals and the center of tourism too. It very much as busy as NYC's Times Square, but on a smaller scale for sure. I snagged the pics I took of the pop of red items. read more

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It's busy!! It's pretty but it's not for stop and stare. Some of my favorite places are here to do just that, so here we are! A ton of amazing shops, food! Food places. Sight see! Pop of colors. Or grab a drink/ coffee / a meal and just people watch! Or traffic. It's amazing. It's chaotic and it's fun. A lot more fun and chaos pre pandemic. Now it's a lot less tame, still fun. Even with pandemic! You just have to come here and get lost / eat/ people watch. read more

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Piccadilly Circus is like the time square of london. It was really cool seeing it for the first time read more

Trying to figure out how to write my review for Piccadilly Circus and not sound redundant is quite possibly the hardest thing I have done today. Add to that that I don't want to sound like an arrogant American and this review is going to suck. But, alas, I will try to sound original here. When you think of Piccadilly Circus you kind of give yourself an inside chuckle. The name is kind of fun to say. Then you show up and and you kind of forget your surroundings and walk aimlessly about just following the crowd as it moves, kind of like the ebb and flow of the oceans. You honestly don't pay attention to the other people that are literally standing right next to you and you take out your phone and start taking pictures. At first you attempt to get as much in the picture as you can, you become frustrated and then just start twirling around to get a panoramic of the area. It's entertaining to watch, less so if you are the fool attempting this. Now for the redundant part. It's like being in Times Square. There I said and now I sound arrogant. Boo to me. All the hustle and bustle makes you feel alive and maybe a bit overstimulated. So many things to see and attempt to do. One of my favorites was attempting to not be trampled or ran over by traffic while I attempted a picture. Such a lively place to be in London and like many say it's a bit of a tourist trap. You could lose a good part of a day here just discovering. It is a beautiful area and kind of like a connecting point for every and anything you want to do while in London. For me, it was just a passage point distraction until I went onto my next journey. read more

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This is London's equivalent to Times Square in NYC, or Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. It's a place you definitely have to visit and experience if you're in London! I went twice during my trip to London, and both times were ripe with tons of tourists and street performers, and one time there was even a political protest going on. Piccadilly Circus is smaller than Times Square and Shibuya Crossing, but is definitely just as crowded. There are tons of stores and restaurants lining the area, but beware of tourist traps! And of course, beware of pickpockets! But don't let that deter you. Just be smart. This is definitely a fun place to just hang out and people watch. I'll definitely come back to hang out if and when I find my way back to London! read more

Piccadilly Circus - London's equivalent to Times Square or Shibuya Crossing. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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There is a lot to do in this area - shops and restaurants to venture to. We veered to the left and stumbled upon Regents Street. There plenty of high end shops to either window shop or actually shop at. The day we went, there was an end of summer festival. We got to enjoy a lot of food options and live music. I have a feeling that this area does a lot of fun events. I highly recommend coming here. read more

In London for a few days and we looked to one of our local friends to show us a few new places. He brought us to Piccadilly Circus after a few people in our group expressed interest in shopping (not I). Although I hate to shop, I loved the architecture and grand buildings in this area. Many of the stores are mainstream and available in London, so why would I pay more for something I can get at home or online. The tall buildings, neon lights and bustle of traffic and people are very energetic in this area. Some of the patrons in this area can be a little aggressive with the crowds and witnessed a few people getting bumped around the crowd. It took a lot to stick together amongst the crowds of people. Another sight to see in London, quite different from the rest. Piccadilly has it's finest moments, mostly in the elegance of the design and historical architecture. read more

"Woke up in London yesterday. Found myself in a city near Piccadilly" -One Republic. Go ahead stare and think! My trip to London changed how I travel alone. You must come here if visiting London. Best done at night and if you are traveling alone. It's the Times Square of the UK. I took the Tube here and I don't regret it. Once I alighted I just focused my brain on a happy person. If you come here in the night it's the best because there is no crowd and it's not so noisy. All you will be hearing is cars, buses and Taxi with an occasional Lorry nearby. For photos with friends or family come during the day. I came here alone and simply felt at easy. If you are meeting a guide come here because it's the place that everyone will remember. This place is real clean at night because the influx of tourists literally goes down. Warning: be careful where you walk and don't miss the subway read more

Piccadilly Circus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

I've seen Piccadilly Circus over a more than 30-year span ... so you could say things have changed a bit over time. Of course, that is a mere blip in its life, as the road junction connecting Regent Street with Piccadilly turns 200 YEARS OLD in 2019!!!! I've seen it in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and in the 2010s. When I saw it first in the mid-1980s, it was ablaze with neon lights and a variable smorgasbord of electronic companies: Philipps hulked over curved the top, with Sanyo, BASF, JVC, and Fuji. The lonely Löwenbräu beer sign stood lonely amongst the now defunct or irrelevant electronics companies. I also recall Nescafe having prominent placement for the longest time ... but since I'm from the Seattle area, I was never lured into the drab instant coffee world. And, of course, for generations, Coca-Cola has had prominent placement with many different incarnations. I also remember the Wimpy fast food burger joint underneath the signs. While they always made rather mediocre "beef burgers" I barely recalled their drabness as I was transfixed by the lights. There's nothing -- I mean NOTHING -- like coming to London for the first time and walking up the stairs of the Piccadilly Circus tube station to the incandescent glow of neon. Pure epic dramatic grandiosity. I was 10 the first time I did that, but it still has the same impact all these ages later. While it certainly is more efficient (and contemporary) to have LED displays, I sure so miss the old signs. I'm sure the generations before me felt the same way about the neon when it first came on the scene. So there's the age-old question: What do you do at Piccadilly Circus? I say, take it in, man. Take it all in. See it both in the bustle of daytime and the glow of the night. "What do you do at Piccadilly Circus?" is not really an issue because there's so much to do around there...it's right at Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as the Haymarket, Coventry Street, all sorts of shopping, food, and entertainment, and so forth. Still, you ain't lived until you've walked up the stairs of the Tube and see the lights of Piccadilly. Trust me. read more

Piccadilly Circus - Dude, you're in my shot! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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I guess you can call Piccadilly Circus a mini version of New York's Time Square? Not sure, but this area is really cool with tons to do. read more

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This I've heard is considered London's version of Times Square. I fell in love with this area! There are so many great shops and things to do here. I was on limited time during my trip, but I managed to walk around as much as I could and take in the sights. There are also some great restaurants here as well. I would go back in a heartbeat. There is so much life and entertainment in Piccadilly Circus. read more

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Very lively, like time square is NYC. Busy area, lots of food and shops nearby. People seems to enjoy themselves here

Such a funny name for the famous intersection. I like to think of this as the Hollywood and Highland of LA or Times Square of NYC. There is so much happening here. There are shops, restaurants, photo opportunities in front of the fountain and there's the underground right next to it. read more

Loud - busy - packed - but lots of fun! We've been in London before, we've seen Piccadilly Circus before. But we keep coming back. It's mostly completely packed. When there are some street performers around then there's almost no getting through. It's also loud and there's traffic. But it's got an atmosphere .... something that's hard to explain. The whole package - which should come out negative - draws me to it like moths get drawn to the light. And there are lots of lights....great colours at night. Besides all the buzz and the noise there are actually some good shopping options around. Lillywhite's Sports Store is fantastic. Great deals on sportswear and sneakers. It's pretty big, so bring some time - but surely worth it. The Trocadero was undergoing some major reconstruction at the time we visited. Many shops (like the HMV) are gone. Let's see what happens to it. Most restaurants here are not worth a visit. Mostly it's the usual chains, there's better food in London. From Piccadilly you can also easily reach many nice neighbourhoods by foot - no need for the tube (Chinatown, Leicester and Trafalgar Square, St. James Park .. just to name some). We'll be back. Even our dog enjoyed it (check the pic). read more

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I'm tempted to give this tourist tap a 2-3 star rating, based solely on the sickening capitalism and hassle of it all, but I have to admit, it's actually pretty nice here; architecturally speaking, anyway. The shops are about as swanky and expensive admits you would expect from such a busy part of the city; especially seeing as this is the center of London. You can expect to find everything from Burberry and Michael Kors to The Body Shop, Under Armour, Lululemon, and Uniqlo. They also have a plethora of restaurants ranging from the expected chains and coffeeshops, to the fancier establishments pandering to the occasional tourists looking to feel the "big city vibe." They even have some American favorites like the Rainforest Cafe and Benihana's. Also, being that it's near Chinatown, you also have your pick of the Dim Sum litter if you're in the mood. If you ask me, most of them are overpriced, though. You pay more for the experience of having been there than for the quality of the food. There are plenty of gift shops and souvenir stores, (even a fancy toy store catering to the young and young-at-heart), as well as a conveniently-located underground station on every corner of the plaza, so you don't have to worry about braving those crazy streets to get to get back home. read more

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I visited London solo this last November and this was my stop after a tour of the Tower of London. I emerged from the tube in the center of the chaos. This is the London Times Square I tried to head back out via the tube and it was more chaos. I ended up walking without cell service for blocks on end. Finally walked down towards my hotel as the sunset which was adding to my anxiety. Being lost in daylight is ok but sunset without your cell changes everything. I thank my Dad for a good sense of direction. read more

Do you like shopping? If YES, this is the place for you!!! Miles & miles of retail shops here!!! Hundred & hundred of people shopping there. The traffic is busy all the time with cars, taxi & tour buses. I think you can walk faster than those cars. It is like Time Square in NY but smaller version. Very busy and good energy! read more

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Pretty lame experience for me as the famous statue of Anteros (not Eros, as it is mistakenly known as) was closed for construction and I looked pretty stupid sitting around the huge green tent it was enclosed in. I also imagined a lot of pigeons and me posing with those suckers but they seemed to share my disappointment of hiding Anteros and were on a strike. Place is crowded as expected but if you have been to Times Square then Piccadilly will leave no mark on your memory. The place is a trap set out for overzealous tourists who are ready to shell out all their money at once for souvenirs that would probably only sit on their mantlepiece and collect dust. read more

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This place gives me the same vibes of SF Union Square or NY Time Square. The lights and led screens are attractive. There's several shops to explore including m&ms store & LEGO store a few blocks away and always a few street performers. Keep an eye out for the street vendor selling inexpensive magnets and souvenirs. I bypassed him and regretted it. The next 2 days, I explored London's shops and those same souvenirs were 3-5x more expensive. When you get distracted by the street performers surrounded by crowds of people and tourists, keep an eye open and watch your surroundings. Apparently a pickpocketer managed to unzip my bagpack without my knowledge and stole some souvenir gifts I purchased earlier. read more

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Piccadilly Circus is a busy bustling area of London that is full of activities, shops and delicious restaurants and cafe's. You'll also encounter lots of local street performances. It's very much centrally located in London which gives you access to many of London's famous landmarks, parks and beautiful architecture. You really can't visit the city without stopping here, Piccadilly is a must-see for any visitor. read more

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