Hotels near Piccadilly Circus

Exploring Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is a busy square in the heart of London. It is famous for the fountain that was installed here at the end of the nineteenth century and for the neon advertising that turned the square into a miniature version of Times Square.The Circus lies at the intersection of five main roads: Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Street, Covent Street and Haymarket. It was created by John Nash as part of the future King George IV's plan to connect Carlton House - where the Prince Regent resided - with Regent's Park.

Accommodations near Piccadilly Circus

London caters for every type of traveler from budget backpackers to high-brow hunters. Choose from a wide selection of stays, from classic British hotels to quirky boutiques, inexpensive hostels to serviced apartments. Whatever you decide upon, however, you aren’t likely to spend much time locked up indoors as London’s busy streets will beckon you away. Recommended options include the Sofitel London St James, W London Leicester Square or Le Meridien Piccadilly.

Sightseeing near Piccadilly Circus

- Leicester Square

Named for the 2nd Earl of Leicester, London's Leicester Square is at the heart of the city's prime entertainment district. The square is embellished with several monuments including a fountain dedicated to Shakespeare. It is the beating heart of British cinema, with all the major European premieres happening there - you'll often see crowds of fans, expectantly awaiting the arrival of the stars outside one of the state-of-the-art cinemas which line the square. Bronze casts of actors' hand imprints also remind you of the film star glamour associated with Leicester Square - Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Sir Ian McKellen are just some of the A-listers who've contributed. In the middle of the square is a small garden area with plenty of benches which are overlooked by statues of Shakespeare, Hogarth, Charlie Chaplin and 'the founder of scientific surgery', John Hunter, whose collection of 10,500 anatomical specimens were kept in his house on the square.

- Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, the largest square in London, is often considered the heart of the city. Ever since the Middle Ages, this area has been a central meeting place. In the middle of the square stands a tall column honoring admiral Nelson. It's a must-see destination for visitors to London. You'll often find cultural events, performances, shows and other special activities going on in the square by the fountains. At Christmas you'll find the biggest Christmas tree in London, an annual gift from the city of Oslo.

Transportation near Piccadilly Circus

The Piccadilly Circus station on the London Underground is located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner. It is one of the few stations which have no associated buildings above ground and is fully underground. The station is on the Piccadilly line between Green Park and Leicester Square, and the Bakerloo line between Charing Cross and Oxford Circus.