Piccadilly District W1
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Along with Oxford Street, Piccadilly is one of the oldest roads that originally led out of London to the west. The unusual name comes from the word "pickadill" which was a type of stiff collar that was fashionable in the 17th century. During this period, the area became renowned for its tailor's shops where these collars were sold, hence the name.

The area of London directly around Piccadilly, with Piccadilly Circus at its centre, is considered by many to be the centre of London. Indeed, in its heyday in the 17th century this area was one of the most fashionable and exclusive parts of the city. Nowadays the area is unfortuately swamped with traffic but that doesn't seem to stop it from still being very popular with tourists. 

If you wander along Piccadilly today you will find yourself amongst some very famous shops, such as Hatchards and Fortnum and Mason. However, the heavy levels of traffic make life fairly unpleasant for pedestrians, so you may find that shopping is more pleasurable in the various arcades that lead off from Piccadilly. Particularly worth visiting is the Burlington Arcade.

Also in Piccadilly you will find the Royal Academy of Arts, Green Park, the church of St James's Piccadilly and several of London's most glitzy hotels. Piccadilly Circus is to be found at the centre of Piccadilly and this small 'square' is considered by many to be the very heart of London. 

The fact that Piccadilly Circus is now a major traffic junction with five major streets all converging on one another means that today the area is less fashionable than it used to be, but despite this, it remains a starting point for many tourists - and the crowds show that the area is still as popular as ever.

The most famous attraction in Piccadilly Circus is the Statue of Eros which acts as a central meeting point and is always teeming with visitors.

The Circus is also well known for its flashy neon signs which illuminate the Circus at night. These date back to the Edwardian era with the first electric lights being introduced to Piccadilly Circus in around 1910.

The other main tourist attractions that draw the crowds to Piccadilly Circus are the Rock Circus and the Pepsi Trocadero. These are all very popular and can get quite crowded, queues are likely at both the Rock Circus and the Pepsi Trocadero.

Nearby are Leicester Square, Chinatown and the shops of Oxford Street and Regent Street

Statue of Eros
The most famous landmark in Piccadilly Circus is Alfred Gilbert's Statue of Eros. However, the name is misleading for it is neither a statue, nor the figure of Eros! It is actually a memorial fountain commemorating the Victorian philanthropist the Earl of Shaftesbury, and the figure is not the Greek god of love, but the Christian angel of Charity. Nevertheless the Statue of Eros has become one of the most famous landmarks in London and so most visitors want to have their photograph taken next to it - expect the area around it to be busy!