Author(s): Midge Gillies

History

Piccadilly is the beating heart of London -- the place to try something different or to be someone different. Ever since the iconic Eros statue first appeared in Piccadilly Circus in 1893, the junction has been a vibrant meeting place and centre of controversy. Its energy and excitement has attracted visitors and pleasure-seekers from all walks of life: political plans and theatrical careers were hatched at its restaurants and cafe tables, lovers met below the statue of Eros, tourists emerged from its elegant Art Deco station blinking into the bright lights of London's nightlife. Unlike other parts of the capital, such as Soho or King's Cross, Piccadilly's spirit has remained undiluted, its character preserved in a defined patch of the city.Piccadilly: A Century of Bright Lights explores how the area has been shaped by social and historical events -- from female suffrage to two world wars, to technological developments like the underground to the modern shop window -- and its colourful cast of characters includes film stars, Bright Young Things, artists, shop girls, flower sellers, murderers, conmen (and women) and sex workers. Above all, this is the story of why Piccadilly has meant -- and continues to mean -- so much to so many different people around the world.