Guide to the Best of Britain

Piccadilly Circus

So named in 1819 because of its circular shape, Piccadilly Circus is a road junction in London’s West End. The area also serves as a bustling public space, with major shopping destinations and tourists sights such as the Shaftesbury Memorial fountain and the underground Criterion Theatre. The area is such an excellent place for people-watching; a common phrase in the UK for a place or situation extremely busy with people is referred to as a “Piccadilly Circus.”