Piccadilly

Piccadilly is a major street in the West End of London, England, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It passes through the upscale districts of Mayfair and St James's and forms part of the A4 road. The street is a key axis in central London, linking grand late-Georgian and Victorian architecture with modern shops, hotels, and cultural venues.

The name Piccadilly is believed to derive from piccadills, a type of wide collar produced by local tailors in the 16th and 17th centuries. The area developed into a fashionable residential and commercial quarter in the 17th and 18th centuries, attracting merchants, clubs, and theatres. Over time, Piccadilly became a prominent shopping and cultural street, while remaining close to the city’s political and social heart.

Landmarks and institutions along or near Piccadilly include the Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House, the Burlington Arcade shopping passage, and the Fortnum & Mason department store at 181 Piccadilly. The Ritz London, a historic luxury hotel, stands on Piccadilly in the nearby Green Park area. At the eastern end, Piccadilly Circus forms a famous traffic roundabout with the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (the statue popularly known as Eros) and connects to Shaftesbury Avenue and other major streets.

Transport and accessibility are central to Piccadilly’s character. The area is served by the London Underground’s Piccadilly line, with nearby stations such as Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and Green Park, in addition to extensive bus routes and taxi access. Today, Piccadilly remains a major commercial and cultural artery, blending historic architecture with global retail and hospitality.