Is Piccadilly Circus worth it?
Skip itLives up to the hype · +26Busy West End junction known for its giant curved LED screens and the 'Eros' fountain
Usually not worth it. Small-sample Google 4.5 aside, guides call it 'a Times Square type' junction that's noisy and annoying, and it takes minutes to see.
Hype15How famous and hyped it is
Reality41Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.5 ★ Google · 1,334 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Piccadilly Circus? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote
Worth the 10 minutes for the screens and Eros if you're already in the West End; it's on most walking routes.
Why Reality is 41
Lives up to its fame2/5Small-sample Google 4.5 aside, guides call it 'a Times Square type' junction that's noisy and annoying, and it takes minutes to see.
Value for money3/5Free, but you get a photo and a crowd rather than an experience.
Can’t get it elsewhere2/5Advertising screens and crowds are its draw; Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus give similar West End bustle.
Easy to do4/5Own Tube station, open 24 hours, no tickets; pavements are congested.
What people loved
Iconic illuminated screens make a striking free photo, especially at nightCentral meeting point linking Regent Street, Soho, Leicester Square and theatrelandConstant buzz with street performers and people-watching from the fountain stepsAlways open, with its own Tube stationWhat wore them down
Essentially a traffic junction with advertising screens; the visit takes minutesCalled 'noisy, crowded, and incredibly annoying', a Times Square type placeLarge crowds are to be expected around the screens and fountainSurrounding chain shops and the M&M's store in nearby Leicester Square are commercial rather than characterfulKnow before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No booking; public space.
EntryFree, public junction open 24 hoursSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Google listing usedThe junction has no rated Google listing; data is from the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain ('Eros') at its centre. The separate Piccadilly Lights listing rates 4.6 from 953 reviewsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Piccadilly LightsGiant curved advertising screen, lit day and night; best seen after darkSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Shaftesbury Memorial FountainVictorian memorial fountain (1893) topped by the winged figure popularly called Eros, a standard meeting pointSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time needed10–20 minutes as a pass-through photo stopSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting therePiccadilly Circus station (Piccadilly/Bakerloo lines) exits onto the junction; ~5–10 min walk from Trafalgar Square or Covent GardenSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
In their words
“It’s a popular spot, so large crowds are to be expected”
“Just to sit here and watch the crowds was a welcome break.”
“It’s a popular meeting point and a great spot to pause, relax, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.”
“I had visited the place at midnight and the view was awesome.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
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Questions people ask
Is Piccadilly Circus worth visiting?
As a quick stop, yes: the screens and Eros fountain are iconic and free. As a destination, no. It's a busy junction you can see in 10–20 minutes.
Is the statue at Piccadilly Circus Eros?
It's popularly called Eros. It tops the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, erected in 1893; reviewers and historians note the figure is meant to be Anteros, symbolising selfless love.
When is the best time to see the Piccadilly Lights?
After dark, when the screens are most striking; reviewers also recommend late evening for the atmosphere.
Which Tube station is Piccadilly Circus?
Piccadilly Circus station on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines exits directly onto the junction.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Survey of London — Piccadilly Circus (British History Online)
- Piccadilly Lights — official site
- The Geographical Cure — London's overhyped tourist traps (updated Jan 2025)
- In Africa and Beyond — London attractions that may be slightly disappointing
- Google Maps — Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain
- Google Maps — Piccadilly Lights