Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is possibly the best internationally known area in central London.

As close as Londoners get to having a City Center not centrally located within the Metropolitan area, but nevertheless, a central London landmark.

Piccadilly Circus dates from 1819 and features the world known aluminum EROS statue in the centre. Known in tourist folklore as the God of Love because of the Cupid like bow and arrow part of the statue, EROS is sometimes refered to as the Angel of Christian Charity, erected in tribute to the Earl of Shaftesbury, a Bible carrying reformer best known for his objections to child labour. However, controversy surrounds EROS, as other historians claim it is designed as a statue to Anteros, Greek mythological brother of Eros, and the God of Love Returned, so much like a dynamically opposed viewpoint. Perhaps this is why the Londoners, in the main, prefer the Earl of Shaftsbury explanation and his philanthropic love for the poor as depicted by the statue.

Modern day Piccadilly Circus is a tourist magnet almost like no other. It boasts the famous neon style advertising, now mainly LED lit, similar to Times Square in New York. In addition you will find the London Pavillion, home at present to Ripley's Believe It or Not. Also as a part of the London Pavillion there is the Trocadero), an indoor virtual reality style of theme park. Piccadilly Tube station, originally built in 1906, is located directly under the central area of Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus has received many mentions in songs and musicals. There are few shops for the young and wealthy, however there are numerous stores, mainly tourist inspired, but also there is Zavvi, which had the former name of Virgin Megastores and previously owned by Tower Records, and HMV have a store within the Trocadero. There is also a large former Lillywhitess store, specializing in sporting goods.