Picadilly Circus, London (UK) » Entertainment » Attractions

  • Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus has been the crossroad intersection for many London ‘square’ that are individually known for their shopping streets, restaurants and nightlife. These streets when merge together at Piccadilly aglow with neon lights, buzzing traffic and lines of sophisticated shoppers. The name of the circle which originated from the 17th century referring to a collar piece still holds appropriate for the place as there are many stores that trade in tailoring of women and men's outfits.

There are many famous landmarks in and around the circle which give it instant recognition. One of them is the Statue of Eros. Initially called the Shaftsbury Monument in memory of Lord Shaftsbury, the statue’s exteriors are coated with bronze while actual statue is made of aluminum.

Another highlight of Piccadilly Circus is the electrical displays and neon signs giving the place a cosmopolitan look. This backdrop of bright lights along with the constantly busy circle filled with malls, restaurants and stores is now the centre point of London.

  • St. James’s Church

A place of worship for those who follow the Christian faith, St. James’s Church in Piccadilly, London is an Anglican church built and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The church opened its doors to its worshippers in 1684. The architecture of the building gives a good insight of the kind of material used during those times, such as red brick, Portland stone, Corinthian columns, carved marble and lime wood interiors, etc. The whole design has been the brain work of famous wood carver Grinling Gibbons.

The Church is also a lively market place where everyday; hundreds of shopholics come to buy daily knick knacks and other arts and crafts. Known popularly as Piccadilly Market, this place holds an antiques and collectibles market every Tuesday. From Wednesday to Saturday, it arranges for a regular Arts and Crafts Market.

Address: 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL, UK

Tel No: +44 20 7734 4511

Fax No: +44 20 7734 7449

WebSite: St. James’s Church

  • London Trocadero

London Trocadero was initially built as a tennis court in the 18th century. Today it has assumed mammoth proportions with a major shopping and entertainment complex located in the Shaftesbury Avenue. Situated in the heart of West End, the London Trocadero building encompasses what every tourist would expect from London; the nucleus of shopping world. Every nook and corner of the place is nestled with state-of-art attractions, UGC cinema theatres, rides, bowling alleys, and other thrills. It also proposes the famous Madame Tussaud’s wax museum where you click photos with your favorite celebrities. There are various designer boutique shops catering to the need of every kind of shopper. And when you get hungry after shopping like crazy and paying heed to all entertainment magic’s availed to you, then you can rush to Ed's Easy Diner, Planet Hollywood or Rainforest Cafe. For the kids, the Pepsi Max Drop Ride is sure to make them shout with thrill and excitement as they free fall from thousands of meters in a matter of few seconds.

Address: Coventry Street, London W1D 7DH, UK

Tel No: +44 891 88 1100, +44 20 7439 1719

WebSite: London Trocadero

  • Shaftesbury Memorial

The Shaftesbury Memorial fountain was built in 1893 to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury who dedicated his life for serving the needy and the poor. The fountain comprises of a semi nude statue of Eros, also known as Angel of Christian Charity. The statue is made up of aluminum which was a rare material to be used during the Victorian times. One can say that it was a ground breaking decision to carve the statue out of aluminum.



  • London Pavilion

London Pavilion stands besides the Shaftesbury Avenue building and is a part of London Trocadero entertainment complex. At the onset, it served the purpose of London Music Hall till it was merged to become a part of the entertainment complex. The building’s construction was completed in 1885 and was the dream project of its architect James Ebenezer Saunders. Till 1934 it was known as the London Music Hall and then rebuilt by F Chancellor into a cinema theatre. It operated as a 716 seat cinema theatre till 1981 when it was sold as a part of Trocadero Centre. The basement of the building is connected with the Piccadilly Circus tube station providing an easy access for visitors. In August 2008, Ripley’s Believe it or not opened one of its branches at the London Pavilion.

  • Regent Street

Regent Street is a major shopping destination in London that has been protecting its heritage for over 200 years. The street which was originally conceived and designed by John Nash in 1811 has gone through many renovations and re-designing. Most of the original structures designed by Nash have been replaced, baring the exception of All Souls church. The Street which originates in Carton’s house in St.James, passes through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus finally winding up at All Soul’s Church, the only reminisce of Nash’s work. Every building has been granted the status of a Heritage status making the area a Regent conservation area.

The street is full of various shopping malls, stores, restaurants and events are ongoing throughout the year. Style, status and class can constantly be reflected from those who shop/eat in this area at stores/restaurants such as Apple retail store, Austin reed, Café Royal, Dickins & Jones, Hamleys, Liberty, etc. An yearly Regent Street festival also takes place, when the whole place is closed for traffic.

  • Mayfair

Mayfair is one of most exclusive shopping districts in London bordered by Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Regent Street, and Oxford Street. The ‘May Fair’ that took place there in the 16th century at the Shepherd Market, bestowed upon it its name. Like the Regent Street it occupies an important position on the Monopoly board game as the most expensive places to live in London. The district is mainly developing into a commercial centre with many high profile offices and corporate headquarters located. Renting a place in Mayfair is not an easy task as it is one of the most expensive districts in London. There are some residential properties too with shopping areas and restaurants eating a large part of its location. Store varieties range from antique dealers to the large Mayfair market. Museums, Hotels, Art Galleries also attract lots of tourists to Mayfair.

Website: Mayfair

  • Green Park

One of Royal Parks of London, The Green Park is one of greenest areas in London covering an area of 19 hectares. It is located in between Piccadilly, Constitution Hill and Queen’s Walk. Even though it merges with St.Jame’s Park at Queens Gardens it is quite different from it with more wooden meadows and greenlands. Until 1667 it was a place for combats, when Charles II bought an additional 40 acres to create Upper St.Jame’s Park. The main purpose of this park is to serve visitors as a place for arranging picnics, sunbathing and relaxing. It is also used for fitness purposes as it is commonly teeming with joggers and runners.

One of the interesting point of this park that it has no lakes but includes highlights such as Canada Memorial by Pierre Granche and Constance Fund Fountain.

Address: St James's Park, London. SW1A 2BJ, UK

Tel No: +44 20 7930 1793

Fax No: +44 20 7839 7639

Website: Green Park