Piccadilly is the square to which all major London roads lead. There are several interesting sights here. One of them is a sculpture installed at the end of the 19th century and depicting a mythical creature. Where is Piccadilly Circus located? When did she appear in the British capital?
Name
Piccadilly Circus translates into English as Piccadilly Circus. Once upon a time, back in the 17th century, there was a mansion in which a we althy tailor named Robert Taylor worked. He produced at that time quite popular jewelry for men's collars - pickadills. There is no Russian analogue for this word.
Taylor's mansion was then on the outskirts of the city. Today Piccadilly Circus is located in central London. By the way, peccadillo in translation into Russian means "pene". Nevertheless, the name of the square is not related to human vices, but to the house in which a skilled tailor worked. But what relation is not exactly known. Probably Taylor was very rich and famous. In honor of the famousit is a sin for a we althy person not to name the area.
Piccadilly is a major road junction - circus. Here is the metro station of the same name, built at the beginning of the 20th century. What was in Piccadilly Circus 100-200 years ago? What attractions attract tourists here?
History of Piccadilly Circus in London
She appeared in 1819. Designed to connect the street of the same name with Regent Street. The square was originally round. But later, in the 80s of the 19th century, a street was added to it, as a result of which the geometry was broken.
The sculpture of Eros in Piccadilly Circus in London (England) appeared in 1893. An angel with a bow was made in honor of Shaftesbury, a philanthropist, public figure who fought for the rights of children. True, the sculptor Alfred Gilbert turned out not Eros, but Anteros, personifying deliberate, mature love. He is the opposite of the frivolous mythical creature that ancient people represented with a magic bow in their hands. In 1928, the Piccadilly Circus tube station was renovated. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, huge billboards appeared here. By the way, today a giant neon sign is one of the attractions of Piccadilly Circus.
In the 60s of the XX century, this part of the central area of London wanted to be reconstructed. The area was planned to be two-story. The project caused a resonance in the English capital, but was never implemented. In the 80s, walking paths were organized here. The famous fountainmoved a few meters to the side. It was no coincidence that it was moved. Tourists, once in Piccadilly Circus, first of all sought to take a closer look at the famous London landmark, as a result of which they risked falling under the wheels of a car.
Attractions
In the southern part of the square is the Criterion Theatre, built in 1874. It is located underground, designed for six hundred spectators. In the northeastern part is the London Pavilion. Initially, it was located in another building, demolished in the 80s of the XX century. Once in the London Pavilion there was a concert hall, a cinema, a shopping arcade. Now it has a different name - London-Trocadero.
To get to the London Pavilion, you need to get off at the Piccadilly tube station and go through the pedestrian crossing. The world-famous Guinness World Records Museum is located on the third floor. Near the London Trocadero is the Planet Hollywood restaurant. The owners of this institution are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis. There are several famous shops in Piccadilly Circus.
Huge neon ads were turned off only twice. For the first time - on the day of the death of Winston Churchill. The second time - after the disaster in which Princess Diana died. Three other interesting sights located in Piccadilly Circus are the Swan and Edgar Buildings and the County Fire Office, as well as the Cupids of London Museum. It is worth talking about them in more detail.
Swan and Edgar
This building is an important part of the architectural ensemblearea. It was erected according to the project of John Nash at the beginning of the 19th century, but during this time, of course, it was restored more than once. Once upon a time, Swan & Edgar was a large store of the famous British company Swan & Edgar Limited, which ceased to exist in the late 1970s.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was badly damaged. In 1911, a meeting of suffragettes took place on the square. Four years later, during World War I, Swan and Edgar was hit by an enemy airship. Later, the building was rebuilt, the architect R. Blomfield gave it the characteristic features of the Baroque, as a result of which "Swan and Edgar" almost completely lost its original appearance. The building is now owned by Virgin Megastores.
County Fire Office
The building was built in the early 19th century, designed by Robert Abraham. For some time the County Fire Office was used as the headquarters of one of the British insurance companies. The southeast side of the building faces the legendary Pall Mall. Its first floor is an open arcade of five arches. From here you can go down to the Piccadilly metro station. Initially, the facade of the building was decorated with Corinthian columns. Today it is crowned with a clock, a dome and two chimneys. The County Fire Office is adorned with the Britannia sculpture depicting a woman sitting on a lion, wearing a helmet, holding a trident and a shield.
Cupids of London
Piccadilly Circus is often visited by lovers, and not only because of the fountain, decorated with the Eros sculpture. IN 2007A rather unusual museum was opened here. Exhibitions presented in ten halls are devoted to the theme of love, flirting, sensual pleasures. Historians, researchers, artists, sexologists have been working on the creation of the museum, located in Piccadilly Circus, for several years.
The interior here is designed in red and pink colors. The halls are equipped with the latest technologies: interactive sculptures, touch screens, multimedia and more. Everything fits the theme. One of the collections is called “The Encyclopedia of Love”.
It is worth saying that the opening of the museum caused a resonance in society. There were no such original expositions in any of the similar institutions in London. Demonstration of the intimate aspects of the relationship between a man and a woman can first lead to a stupor.
The museum has a small bar, the menu of which contains unusual drinks. For example, aphrodisiac cocktails that stimulate sexual desire. According to psychologists, a person should be liberated from time to time. This is the only way to keep calm and self-confidence. So, once in London, you should definitely visit the museum located in Piccadilly Circus.
