Are you planning a trip to London and considering whether going to Piccadilly Circus is worth your time or not?
Your Weekend Travel had the privilege to travel to London and visit Piccadilly Circus.
In our opinion – yes, it is absolutely worth the time to go check it out!
Piccadilly Circus can provide you with so much to do in a walkable radius that can potentially be the highlight of your trip to London.
This article will discuss the origin of Piccadilly Circus, why it is worth visiting, the various attractions, as well as transportation tips for getting to Piccadilly Circus.
What is Piccadilly Circus?
Piccadilly Circus is a section of London’s West End that can be compared to New York’s Time Square. Bright lights, advertisements, pedestrian foot traffic, and car traffic.
Even in the dead of night, Piccadilly Circus has lots of signs of life and stuff going on.
Contrary to its name, it’s not an actual circus.
The origin of the name stems from a land purchase by Robert Baker, who made his living selling piccadills.
Piccadills were a fashionable throat collar that was worn by folks back then like Queen Elizabeth I.
Piccadilly Circus as known today wasn’t mentioned in vernacular until the late 1800s.
Is Piccadilly Circus Worth Your Time When Visiting London?
Visiting Piccadilly Circus is absolutely worth the time to check out when visiting London.
What’s great about Piccadilly Circus is that there is so much you can do within a walkable radius.
One gripe about London is that everything is fairly spaced apart and you can spend much of your money on public transportation trying to hit all the famous landmarks.
In Piccadilly Circus, you won’t have this issue because many of the attractions are located within a 0.5-mile radius.
Even if you do decide to travel around London, you will most likely pass through Piccadilly Circus so it might even then worth coming out to see what the area is about.
It is by far one of the more lively areas that you will encounter on your trip to London.
Four Top Things To Do in Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Lights and Advertisements
One of the main attractions of this area is the lights and various advertisements that Piccadilly Circus showcases.
The best time to go see these advertisements is at night when the brightness of the lights can make it look like daytime.
Piccadilly Circus only lacks in comparison to Times Square in New York but is very similar in look and feel.
The lights are located on a building at the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Glasshouse Street.
Today, the lights are powered by LED. Historically, all the lights in Piccadilly Circus were once Incandescent, then neon lights, and then digitally projected.
Famous companies like Coca-Cola, Mcdonalds, L’Oreal, and Samsung have run their advertisements on the billboards of Piccadilly Circus.
Theatre District
London’s West End is home to some of the best professional plays in the English-speaking world drawing comparisons to New York’s Broadway Theatres.
It is home to some of the world’s most renowned theatres, including the Palace, the Lyceum, and the Apollo Victoria.
These venues host a diverse range of productions, from classic plays and musicals to avant-garde experimental theatre. Its enduring popularity has made it a hub for local and international audiences, drawing in millions of visitors every year to experience the magic of London’s world-class theatre scene.
The following list contains Theatres found in London’s West End near Piccadilly Circus.
- Adelphi Theatre
- Aldwych Theatre
- Ambassadors Theatre (London)
- Apollo Theatre
- Apollo Victoria Theatre
- Arts Theatre
- Cambridge Theatre
- Criterion Theatre
- Delfont Mackintosh Theatres
- Dominion Theatre
- Duchess Theatre
- Duke of York’s Theatre
- Fortune Theatre
- Garrick Theatre
- Gielgud Theatre
- Gillian Lynne Theatre
- Harold Pinter Theatre
- Her Majesty’s Theatre
- London Coliseum
- London Palladium
- Lyceum Theatre, London
- Lyric Theatre, London
- Nederlander Organization
- Nimax Theatres
- Noël Coward Theatre
- Novello Theatre
- Palace Theatre, London
- Peacock Theatre
- Phoenix Theatre, London
- Piccadilly Theatre
- Playhouse Theatre
- Prince Edward Theatre
- Prince of Wales Theatre
- Royal Opera House
- St Martin’s Theatre
- Savoy Theatre
- Shaftesbury Theatre
- @sohoplace
- Sondheim Theatre
- Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
- Trafalgar Theatre
- Vaudeville Theatre
- Victoria Palace Theatre
- Watergate Theatre, London
- Wyndham’s Theatre
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public square located in the heart of London, United Kingdom. It was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in 1805.
The square is home to the iconic Nelson’s Column, a monument dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson who died in the battle.
Trafalgar Square is also surrounded by several famous landmarks, including the National Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, and the fountains that attract visitors from all over the world.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianized square in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is known as the entertainment hub of the city with its numerous theaters, cinemas, and restaurants.
Leicester Square is also a popular spot for street performers, especially during the summer months.
The square is surrounded by notable landmarks, including the iconic M&M’s World and the Odeon Leicester Square, one of the largest cinemas in the United Kingdom. It is also a common location for movie premieres and events.
What Else Is There to Do Nearby Piccadilly Circus?
Green Park & Buckingham Palace
Green Park
If you need a breath of fresh air or some exercise, head over to Green Park.
Green Park is about a 15 – 20 minute walk from Piccadilly Circus or a short ride on the Underground.
It is 47 acres large so there is plenty of space for everyone. There is plenty of greenery, no buildings, no playgrounds or lakes.
Green Park is considered one of the Royal Parks of London. You will most likely catch a glimpse of Buckingham Palace so have your camera ready.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is where the royal family takes residence. It is a marvelous-looking building that will be hard for you to miss.
There are many ways to get to Buckingham Palace from Piccadilly Circus including various Underground stops that put you in different corners away from the Palace.
One of the more popular activities that occur at Buckingham Palace is the called “Changing of the Guard”.
It’s a ceremony that occurs several times a week that features various parades and ultimately a showcase of the inspection and relief of the King (or Queens) Guard posted at the front gates of Buckingham Palace.
The ceremony takes place just about every day a week depending on the year at 10:45 am London time. It is best practice to queue much earlier than that to get the best spot to view the ceremony.
Just keep an eye on the weather because they are known to cancel this ceremony with extremely short notice due to inclement weather.
Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben
A 20-minute walk south of Piccadilly Circus you will find three of the more popular tourist attractions in London; the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. What’s great about these attractions is that they are located very close together so you can hit all three at once.
Palace of Westminster & Big Ben
The Palace of Westminster serves an important role in United Kingdom politics as it is the home of two houses of parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The House of Commons functions as the lower house of parliament while the House of Lords is the upper house.
Essentially, the House of Commons is very loosely the United States equivalent of the House of Representatives where MPs (Members of Parliament) bring up issues to the forefront and vote on them.
The House of Lords vaguely resembles the United States Senate and assists in putting laws and bills into place.
Getting interior access to the Palace of Westminster is extremely difficult. However, you can look at the exterior architecture and snap a couple of photos of it.
Along with the Palace of Westminster, you will notice Big Ben. It is a giant clock tower located on the Northern end of the Palace of Westminster.
This clock serves as a cultural symbol in England and can be considered one of the most popular landmarks in London.
Covent Garden
If you are a shopper or foodie, take a 13-minute walk to the east and you will find yourself in Covent Garden.
Basically, you can think of Covent Garden as a higher-end flea market. It is a partially roofed plaza containing many stores, booths, and restaurants.
In the surrounding cobblestone and brick streets, you will also find more stores and restaurants.
Covent Garden is famous for its beauty, lifestyle, and fashion stores. You will be able to find stores like Apple, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, and Ganni.
There are also many 5-star restaurants that can satisfy your taste palette.
Churchill War Rooms
Those looking for a more tourist attraction with a more historic appeal, the Churchill War Rooms won’t disappoint you.
Located near St.James Park almost directly South of Piccadilly Circus, it is one of five museums that comprise the Imperial War Museum.
During the buildup to World War Two, the Air Ministry concluded that a bombing of London by Germany will cause mass casualties which prompted the government to decide whether to move important offices to the suburbs.
They decided to convert the basement of the Treasury Building in Westminster to their temporary headquarters that would be safe from the bombings.
The Cabinet War Rooms as it was known were in use throughout World War Two.
The museum is open to the public and gives you a sense of what it was like during those tough days under German bombardment during World War Two.
You have to purchase tickets to this museum which generally starts at £27.25 for adults.
What is the Best Way to Get to Piccadilly Circus?
Utilizing the London Underground
Piccadilly Circus is one of the more accessible places thanks to the plethora of Underground stations in the area.
The number one station you should look to use is the Piccadilly Circus Underground Station served by the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines.
You can also utilize the following underground stations that would require a short walk:
- Green Park Station
- St James Park Station
- Westminster Station
- Charing Cross Station
- Leicester Square Station
- Covent Garden Station
London Bus
Bus Transportation in London is a hidden gem. It is cheaper than taking an Uber and honestly more convenient.
Buses arrive very frequently and there are bus stops just about everywhere.
They are extremely roomy so you won’t have trouble finding a seat.
The following buses serve Piccadilly Circus directly or its surrounding areas which would require some walking.
- N15
- N109
- 159
- N3
- 12
- N136
- 453
- 14
- 88
- N97
- 9
- 94
- N18
- N9
- 23
- N113
- 139
- 6
- 19
- 38
- N19
- N38
Conclusion
When visiting London, it is such a worthwhile experience to visit Piccadilly Circus.
It is very easy to get to and the amount of attractions located within a walkable distance makes this area so attractive, especially if it’s your first visit to London.
We hope you found this guide helpful. Please share with your network!
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Circus
https://www.coventgarden.london/
