Piccadilly Circus

This bustling junction at the crossroads of Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Coventry Street hides a secret that surprises every visitor: the famous fountain statue everyone calls Eros is actually his lesser known twin brother. Piccadilly Circus was built in 1819 to connect the grand Regent Street with Piccadilly. The word circus comes from Latin, meaning circle, referring to the roundabout that once existed here. When Shaftesbury Avenue was constructed in 1886, it sliced through the junction and destroyed its circular shape, but the name remained.

The aluminum statue at the fountain's center is mistakenly called Eros, the god of romantic love. It actually depicts Anteros, representing selfless and mature love. Erected in 1893, the Shaftesbury Memorial honors the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, a Victorian philanthropist who championed workers' rights and helped rescue thousands of children from poverty. The statue became the first in the city cast entirely in aluminum.

The glowing advertising screens have defined this spot since 1910, when Perrier became the first company to light up an electric sign here. Coca Cola has held its position since 1955, becoming the longest running advertisement. The lights were extinguished during World War II and switched off twice more: for Winston Churchill's funeral in 1965 and Princess Diana's in 1997.