Originally a crossroad of Piccadilly and Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus took on its present appearance in the late 1800’s when Shaftesbury Avenue was connected to it.

One of central London’s busiest traffic junctions, it features the Statue of Eros (erected in 1893) in the centre and the enormous illuminated advertising signs overlooking it.
The statue of Eros in the centre of Piccadilly Circus 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.

Lilywhite’s sports store, on the corner behind Eros, was established by James Lilywhite, who captained the English cricket team against Australia in 1876.

See Piccadilly Circus on the Royal walkShopping walk and self guided bus tour

click to view map and street view