mobilePiccadilly Circus
Originally a crossroad of Piccadilly and Regent Street, the area took on
its present appearance in the late 1800's when Shaftesbury Avenue was connected
to it.
One of London's busy traffic junctions, it features include the Statue of
Eros (pictured, erected in 1893) in the centre and enormous illuminated advertising
signs overlooking it.
Did You Know?
The statue
of Eros has pointed in three different directions since being erected, but
never in the direction to which it was intended : facing Shaftesbury Avenue.
In the first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, Dr Watson and Stamford
meet in the bar of the Criterion Hotel, which faces onto the Circus.
Lilywhite's sports store, also nearby, was established by James Lilywhite,
who captained the English cricket team against Australia in 1876.