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Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain

Name: Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain
Rating: 4.5

4.5 ·

Discover the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, London's famous "Eros" at the heart of Piccadilly Circus. See the winged aluminium statue up close and learn why this beloved meeting point is actually misnamed.

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Reasons to go

Unveiled in 1893 as a memorial to philanthropist the Earl of Shaftesbury.
The winged figure is officially the Angel of Christian Charity, not Eros, despite near-universal misidentification since it was installed.
The name Piccadilly derives from a 17th-century tailor who made his fortune selling stiff lace collars called picadils.

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Full description

Unveiled in 1893 as a memorial to the philanthropist the Earl of Shaftesbury, the fountain's winged figure is officially the Angel of Christian Charity, though it's been popularly misidentified as Eros, the Greek god of love, almost since it went up. Sitting at the centre of Piccadilly Circus, it's become one of London's most recognisable meeting points, with reviewers with a 4.5 rating enjoying both the statue itself and the trivia around the district's name, which comes from a 17th-century tailor who made his fortune selling stiff lace collars called picadils.

It's a quick, free stop naturally folded into any visit to Piccadilly Circus.

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Address

Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 9HS, UK · Covent Garden

Website

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Hours

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

10 min

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Use it as a well-known meeting point if you're coordinating with a group, as most Londoners recognise it instantly
visit in the evening when the surrounding neon signage is lit up for the best atmosphere
note the statue is popularly called Eros despite officially representing Christian Charity — a good bit of trivia for the group.

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Reviews

Piccadilly Circus is always entertaining! 😁 We had to meet at the statue of Eros for a tour. Enroute we noted a possible theatre show and scored an amazing muffin and breakfast juice. There is always something to see/do/eat in the area! 😎

Nadine Gunputrav

3/5

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