Piccadilly Circus (the word ‘circus’ in this case is taken from the Latin word meaning circle) is a famous public area located in the City of Westminster in London’s West End. It was constructed back in 1819 to connect Piccadilly with Regent Street. The busy junction is located close to a number of popular entertainment and shopping areas and is a favourite local meeting spot. It is a highly commercial area and at one time the junction was filled with dozens of neon signs that lit up at night. However, most of the signs have been pulled down and currently only one building features advertisements.
The area is constantly abuzz with activity and no visit to London can be considered complete without visiting the place. It is surrounded by a number of famous buildings and has several landmarks of note, including the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the statue of Anteros, the archer, which is also referred to as the Angel of Christian Charity. The Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain was built in 1893 in honour of Lord Shaftesbury, the renowned Victorian philanthropist and politician. The statue of the archer, designed by Alfred Gilbert, is situated at the top of the fountain. It is popularly called Eros after the Greek deity of love. Although the statue was at the centre of a large controversy when it was first unveiled it has since become a city icon.
One should also visit the Criterion Theatre situated on the southern side. Opened in 1874, the entire six hundred seat theatre is located underground. The iconic theatre closed down in 1989 and underwent some major renovations before reopening in 1992. The area also features an array of shops and one can find everything from clothes and books to sporting goods sold here. Reaching Piccadilly Circus is quite easy as there is a London tube station located right underneath which has entrances at all corners.
London is a terrific tourist destination as it contains excellent infrastructure. The public transport system is well developed and accommodation is easy to find. Tourists looking for a luxury hotel London should try the Halkin London. The London boutique hotel is known for its understated elegance and excellent service. Situated in the city’s exclusive Belgravia District, the hotel is sure to make guests feel comfortable and at home.