Piccadilly Circus is one of London, England’s most recognizable and famous tourist locations. A traffic crossroads located in the heart of Westminster in London’s West End, Piccadilly Circus is renowned for its massive glowing electronic billboard screens — reminiscent of New York’s Times Square. The area boasts eclectic shopping, eating, and is a prime people-watching area around the famous Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain referred to as the “Eros Fountain”. Here are my favourite top picks for the Piccadilly area from my many travels to London.
What to see: The area is abuzz with energy. Glowing Edwardian stone facades line the semi-traffic circle, the streets are teeming with London’s iconic red double-decker busses and black cabs. You will find many historic pubs, restaurants and bakeries within a short walk. The backdrop of the giant billboards and its “Eros” statue in the centre makes for a great photo op at night. The circle itself is must see after-dark for tourists and first-time visitors to London, but you won’t need to allocate a lot of time to see it.
Piccadilly Circus Must-See Things To Do in London’s West End
Located in Westminster, near Buckingham Palace and Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus is a major meeting area that intersects with some of London’s most notable shopping and tourist streets such as Piccadilly Street (home to The Ritz Hotel), Regent Street with high-end shopping and Coventry Street leading toward some of London’s most famous sites.
Fortnum & Mason – The Royal Grocer: est. 1707, this British institution is a lavish grocer selling the finest of teas, coffees, cheeses, preserves, perfumes and all things British. Make sure to book ahead for their luxurious afternoon tea in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon on the 4th floor. Open in Maps.
Hatchard of London, the oldest bookstore in London – this multi-story building opened in 1797, selling new books as well as rare and collectables.
Piccadilly Arcade: This delightful covered passageway is full of upscale eclectic boutiques & gourmet shops connecting Jermyn Street and Piccadilly. Cross Piccadilly street and continue north to find Burlington Arcade, full of watch dealers, jewellery shops, perfumeries in a beautiful , luxurious setting dating to the 19th century. Open in Maps.
Discovering Mayfair: a very close walk from the Circus is one of the richest areas of London. Bordering on Hyde Park, this posh area boasts Elegant multi-million-pound townhomes, upscale restaurants and hotels. Here you will find the famous tailors of Savile Row, as well as shops on Oxford Street and Bond Streets. I do find the area shuts down very early, after your visit skip over to SOHO for late-night drinks and food.
Theatre in Piccadilly: The 150-year-old Criterion Theatre sits within Piccadilly Circus itself. The Theatre hosts a number of theatre productions throughout the year. See the Criterion Theatre website for events.
Don’t miss the nearby Sondheim Theatre home to the epic musical Les Misérables.
For same-day and last-minute theatre tickets, locals swear by the TKTS London ticket booth and website (not sponsored) for last-minute discounted tickets. Tickets and prices change daily so check often.
What to Eat – Bars and Restaurants in Piccadilly Circus
You will find a range of food near Piccadilly Circus, from high-end dining to touristy chains and fast-food restaurants. Restaurants nearest the circle are mostly tourist traps, but take a short walk and you can find amazing bars and restaurants. Venture to Saint James, SOHO or Chinatown or a bit further to Covent Garden where there is much more choice, less touristy prices and menus more favoured by locals.
If you are looking for extravagance, make sure to dress up and try Duke’s Bar located in the Duke’s London Hotel a few blocks away in St. James. An institution since 1908, they serve elegant cocktails. Made famous for their Vesper martini by English novelist Ian Fleming of James Bond fame. $$$
If you are looking for fun touristy fare, you can’t miss the Hard Rock Cafe located amid Piccadilly Circus. The Hard Rock seems to routinely offer several combo deals with the local Criterion Theatre and the London Transport tours. Check their website for details. I am much more fond of the original Hard Rock cafe at the other end of Piccadilly, only about a kilometre away. I’d make the trek there and enjoy the original venue. $$
Safety: Most of London is considered safe, including the area around Piccadilly Circu, however watch your wallet and belongings as this is an incredibly busy area and pickpockets thrive in these areas, especially the busy Underground stations.
How to get to Piccadilly Circus
Get there by Tube: Piccadilly Circus Underground station is located right below street level, with multiple entrances around the circle. The station is serviced by the Piccadilly line (of course!) between Green Park Station and Leicester Square Station as well as the Bakerloo Line between Oxford Circus and Charing Cross stations.
Get there by Foot: The area is also very easy to get to by foot within Westminster. For instance, it is a 20-minute walk from Big Ben and an 18-minute walk from Buckingham Palace. Open on Maps.
One attraction I can’t wait to do on my next trip to London
I am a bit of a history buff and am fascinated with the history, ghost stories, and spooky tales of the London Underground. The one tour I am quite keen to take is the Hidden London Piccadilly Station inside tour which takes you into long closed areas of the old Piccadilly Underground station. Let me know in the comments if you’ve taken this tour!
Conclusion
When I travel to London I honestly don’t spend much time in Piccadilly Circus, but I do cross through it often as a way-point to some of my favourite London attractions such as Mayfair, Covent Garden, SoHo, or Trafalgar Square. The restaurants in the immediate area are quite touristy, and you would find better elsewhere. The area is a great waypoint to get around London’s West End within Westminster and a must-see at night for first-time visitors to London!