Piccadilly Circus Station, London

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Piccadilly Circus Station is one of London's most iconic and centrally located London Underground stations. Situated beneath the famous Piccadilly Circus junction in the City of Westminster, the station is a vital gateway to the West End, surrounded by shops, theatres, and tourist landmarks.

Location and Entrances

The station lies directly beneath the intersection of Regent Street and Piccadilly. It has no standalone surface building, and all entrances and exits are via pedestrian subway passages from the traffic island at the centre of Piccadilly Circus. These passages radiate outward to the surrounding streets, providing access to:

• Regent Street (north and south)
• Piccadilly (east and west)
• Shaftesbury Avenue
• Coventry Street

Unlike many other stations, Piccadilly Circus Station does not have a traditional surface building; the entrances blend seamlessly with the urban fabric through a series of ornate Edwardian railings and tiled stairways. The only above-ground features are the access stairs and signage incorporated into the pavement area around the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (commonly known as the Eros statue).

Distance from Charing Cross

Piccadilly Circus Station is approximately 0.4 miles (0.6 km) by road from Charing Cross, generally a 10-minute walk depending on pedestrian flow. The route runs mostly along the Haymarket and Pall Mall East, making it a direct and pleasant walk through central Westminster.

London Underground Services

Piccadilly Circus Station is served exclusively by the London Underground network. It lies on two of the system’s busiest lines:

Piccadilly Line

• Preceding station: Green Park
• Following station: Leicester Square

Bakerloo Line

• Preceding station: Charing Cross
• Following station: Oxford Circus

There are no Overground or National Rail services available at Piccadilly Circus, and the station functions purely as an Underground interchange, with escalator and lift access between street level and the deep-level platforms.

History and Architecture

The station originally opened on 10 March 1906 for the Bakerloo Line, followed by the Piccadilly Line on 15 December 1906. At first, the two lines had separate station facilities and entrances.

Due to rapidly increasing passenger numbers and congestion at the surface-level entrances, major reconstruction took place in the 1920s. The redesigned, unified station was unveiled in 1928 under the direction of the famous architect Charles Holden. His design replaced surface buildings with subterranean ticket halls, corridors, and escalators, making Piccadilly Circus the first London Underground station to eliminate surface-level ticket offices entirely¹.

The station remains a notable example of early 20th-century underground design and efficiency. Holden’s influence is visible in the use of tiling, clean lines, and thoughtful lighting, all contributing to the station’s historic charm.

Name and Origins

Piccadilly Circus Station is named after the road junction above it — Piccadilly Circus, which in turn takes its name from Piccadilly, a street running westward from the junction. “Circus” is used in the traditional sense to describe a circular traffic intersection.

The name “Piccadilly” originates from the 17th-century tailor Robert Baker, who made his fortune selling “piccadills”, a type of wide lace collar popular in the period. His grand house, called Piccadilly Hall, eventually lent its name to the street, and later the junction and station².

Fun Facts

• The station's circular ticket hall, situated directly under the Circus, was once considered the busiest in the world during the 1920s and 1930s.
• Its platform tiling features iconic moquette seating and roundels that make it a frequent location for film shoots, music videos, and photography.
• Despite being deep underground, Piccadilly Circus is famed for its high-speed escalators and unusually spacious passageways, a result of its 1920s reconstruction.
• The famous illuminated advertising signs at the surface — often mistakenly assumed to be part of the station — have become a global symbol of London.

Quick Facts

References

1. London Transport Museum – Charles Holden and Underground Design
2. Survey of London – Piccadilly and the West End

Piccadilly Circus Station is on the Map of London Underground

Painting of Piccadilly Circus Station, London (View image in full size)

Page Details

This page was created on 21 May 2025.

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