Piccadilly Circus and Everything You Need to Know About It

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Located at Westminster City, in Londons West
End, is a popular road junction and district
known as Piccadilly Circus. With its distinct
neon signs, Piccadilly has become one of Londons
largest landmarks and is visited by over 100
million people every year. Before deciding to
pay a visit to this place, there are a few things
about Piccadilly that you ought to know about.
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Its not a Circus
Drop all thoughts of eating popcorn and cotton
candy while watching trapeze artists because you
are not going to an actual circus. The word
circus is a Latin word which means circle.
The name actually describes the places physical
layout. Despite not being an actual circus,
however, that does not mean that Piccadilly does
not have quirky spots for you to find. All you
have to do is look a bit closer and tread off the
beaten path.
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The Neon Lights
Although Piccadilly is quite known for its neon
light spectacle every night, they are only a
relatively recent addition. Piccadilly Circus was
established in 1819 but it was only in 1908 that
the first modern billboards and signs were put
up. Back then, these signs used incandescent
bulbs but were slowly replaced by neon ones, and
eventually digital billboards. Piccadillys neon
and digital signs are always ON throughout the
year, only being shut down on special occasions
or for maintenance purposes. You can also read
Enjoy shopping at one of Londons iconic
department stores
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Adding to the areas quirky atmosphere is the
London Branch of Ripleys Believe it or Not!
Museum. This place houses all sorts of oddities
and records of impressive feats that can be found
in London and across the world. As such, you can
be certain that there is never going to be a dull
moment when visiting this place, regardless of
your actual age. This is a favorite for many,
both locals and alike.
Believe it or Not!
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Legos!
Not too far from Park City Grand Plaza Kensington
and located in Leicester Square is perhaps the
largest Lego store in all of Europe. The sheer
volume of toys and building blocks offered here
is enough to draw crowds of children of all ages
to the shop from morning to evening. As such,
if you want to stroll through the shop at a
leisurely pace, it would be best to visit it
during opening hours or somewhere during the
middle of the afternoon. The Lego Shop is just a
minute or two from Piccadillys center and is
located near a shop of MMs and Nickelodeon
memorabilia.
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Its a Sculptors Hot Spot, Too
Aside from the weird and wacky sights, Piccadilly
Circus also has a thing or two to offer for those
who want to get a fix of local sculpture and
architectural art. Located across the district
are several memorials and statues that hearken
back to Britains imperial days. The best of
these is the Statue of Eros which is surrounded
by well-preserved buildings, which all feature
Gothic and Victorian Era architecture. All in
all, these places serve as a contrast to the more
modern sights and sounds of the area. After a
long tiring day, make sure to eat a good food at
any of the restaurants in Kensington London.