London - Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is one of the great centers of London life and one of its noisiest and busiest traffic intersections, situated at the meeting of five major streets. The many night spots and large cinemas in the surrounding area make it the heart of the West End world of entertainment. It is thus equally busy by night and by day. In the center of the Circus stands the Shaftesbury Memorial, commemorating the philanthropic seventh Earl of Shaftesbury (by Sir Alfred Gilbert, 1893). This is a bronze fountain topped by a cast aluminum figure of an archer, universally known as Eros although in fact the figure was intended to represent the angel of Christian charity. Piccadilly, one of London's most fashionable streets, runs west from the Circus. It is named after the "picadils" (ruffs) made by a well-known 18th century tailor.