What are the best things to do near Piccadilly Circus?
Date post added: 12th September 2025
Think of Piccadilly Circus as the beating neon heart of London. It’s lively, a little chaotic and the perfect place to start exploring the West End. From incredible theatres to historic squares, world-class shopping and unmissable arts and culture, this area really does have it all.
Whether you’re a visiting London for the first time or a regular who wants to see the city through fresh eyes, there’s plenty to keep you entertained within just a short stroll of those famous billboards. With Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square and London’s west end theatre district just a short walk away, Piccadilly Circus is a must-visit on your sightseeing tour. And here are a few reasons why.
What is Piccadilly Circus?
Piccadilly Circus isn’t a circus in the “big top” sense. Although you may see a few clowns around there. Actually, it’s a busy road junction and public space that’s been buzzing with life since 1819.
The word circus here means “circle”, and it comes from the Latin. Like Oxford Circus, it’s an junction that forms a ring shape. Though funnily enough, the original roundabout shape was lost long ago and now it’s more of a square.
One of our favourites, Charles Dickens described Piccadilly as, “Piccadilly, the great thoroughfare leading from the Haymarket and Regent Street westward to Hyde Park Corner, is the nearest approach to the Parisian boulevard of which London can boast.” This was in 1879, in Dickens’s Dictionary of London, before London cabs and blaring tuk-tuks ruled the road.
Today, the spot is best known for its massive LED screens, ever twinkling lights and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. The fountain is widely known for its statue of Eros. But that statue actually depicts Eros’ brother Anteros, the angel of selfless love.
Piccadilly Circus is the gateway to some of the city’s most iconic streets: Regent Street, Haymarket, Shaftesbury Avenue, Coventry Street and Piccadilly itself. And it’s a meeting point for just about everyone in central London.
10 Best Things to Do Near Piccadilly Circus
1. Marvel at the lights of Piccadilly Circus
Yes, it’s exceedingly obvious. But the giant screens are London’s answer to Times Square in New York. It’s perfect for that classic “I’m in London!” photo. These lights have been sparkling away in Piccadilly Circus since 1923.
2. Visit the Criterion Theatre
Tucked right into Piccadilly Circus itself, this stunning Victorian theatre has been delighting audiences since 1874.
3. Explore Regent Street
One of London’s most elegant shopping streets, it’s packed with high-end designer boutiques, high street brands and flagship stores. Remember to look up and take in the details of the sweeping, curved architecture.
4. Step into Leicester Square
Just a 5-minute walk away, Leicester Square is home to cinemas, street performers and famous film premieres. Look out for statues of much-loved film characters from Harry Potter to Mary Poppins, Mr Bean to Paddington. Oh, and the world’s largest Lego store is here too.
5. Soak in the buzz of Soho
Behind Piccadilly’s lights lies Soho. There’s a buzz here 24/7. Once notorious for its red-light antics, it’s now brimming with quirky bars and cafés, independent shops and legendary nightlife.
6. Admire the Royal Academy of Arts
Discover centuries of world-class art exhibitions from the likes of Turner, Hockney and Michelangelo in the grand 18th-century setting of Burlington House.
7. Enjoy the sights of Trafalgar Square
Only a short stroll down Haymarket, Trafalgar Square boasts fountains, statues and the iconic Nelson’s Column. The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are well worth a visit for an art fix too.
8. Catch a West End show
Shaftesbury Avenue is West End theatreland central, with musicals, plays and comedies running every night. Theatre tickets are best booked in advance, although you can sometimes get bargains on the day too.
9. Clock the timepiece at Piccadilly Circus underground station
It’s easy to get swept away by the rushing crowds leaving the Piccadilly Line. But the Linear Clock at the tube station is worth pausing for. It shows times in various global cities and dates back to the 1920s. It’s beautifully designed and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear its soft tick tock too.
10. Enjoy London at night
Whether it’s cocktails in Soho, late-night shopping, a delectable dinner date or soaking in the glow of the lights, Piccadilly Circus truly comes alive after dark. That’s when its renowned lights look most special too.
A few foodie destinations near Piccadilly Circus
“Bar Italia in Soho” by SomeDriftwood is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
You’re absolutely spoilt for choice of dining destinations in the West End. But there are a few that stand out for different reasons.
If you’re looking for American fare, the Hard Rock Cafe is hard to beat. It’s right in the heart of Piccadilly Circus and you can admire all sorts of rock and roll memorabilia while you eat.
Colourful, vibrant and full of Eastern flavours, Chinatown is a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. With around 70 or 80 restaurants featuring diverse East and South East Asian cuisines, it’s the perfect place to enjoy some dim sum or delicious noodles.
Grab a coffee at Bar Italia in Soho and while away the hours people watching. The cafe-bar is an absolute institution, day and night.
If you’re after something a little more refined, you must take afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. The premier department store has been in existence since 1707. And if you’re after a real treat, handpick some very British delicacies in a traditional wicker hamper.
FAQs
Is Piccadilly Circus worth visiting?
Absolutely. Even if you just swing by for 10 minutes, it’s one of those essential London sightseeing experiences. The atmosphere, the lights and the sheer sense of being in the middle of the action make it a must-visit destination.
How far is Piccadilly Circus from Buckingham Palace?
About a 15-minute walk (or a 5-minute bus ride). Head down The Mall via Trafalgar Square for one of London’s most regal strolls. The nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace either Hyde Park Corner or Green Park.
How far is Piccadilly Circus from Oxford Street?
It’s around 10 minutes on foot via Regent Street. So you can shop you way along the street and then stop to take in the dazzling lights.
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Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.