Looking for something?

Tap outside or press close

Charlie Kwai's Piccadilly Circus celebrates the eccentricities of human life

Piccadilly Circus is the crossroads of London's West End but has very little to offer except for the usual fast-food chains, convenience stores and buskers.

Written By:
All images courtesy of Charlie Kwai

All images courtesy of Charlie Kwai

It's a central meeting point with its iconic square. It's a place that tourists always seem to have on their 'list' of London landmarks to tick off. It's also where many people grab a quick bite to eat before hopping back onto the tube. As you can imagine, it's an ever-changing melting pot of human life and is quite possibly the world's most interesting place to people watch.

London street photographer Charlie Kwai agrees. He's someone who has captured the spirit of Piccadilly Circus, and all its comings and goings, in his ongoing series entitled, you guessed it, Piccadilly Circus. He loves to celebrate the vibrancy of the human race by highlighting unique eccentricities in people’s personalities and the things they do.

Through this particular work, which is ongoing until June 2015, Kwai picks out the characters that grace the plaza, capturing a snapshot of what happens at one of London's most fascinating crossroads.

Man in light green shirt and white cap holding food at Piccadilly Circus, with Hyundai signage and Victorian buildings visible behind him
Two people sitting on steps wearing winter clothing hold M&M's branded boxes and confectionery items, part of Charlie Kwai's Piccadilly Circus series
Woman in bright red jacket and blue top holding a camera stands in Piccadilly Circus surrounded by tourists and historic buildings
Woman with an afro wearing a textured grey blazer walking through Piccadilly Circus with other pedestrians and shop fronts behind her
A man in a light blue checked shirt stands on the steps at Piccadilly Circus surrounded by crowds of tourists and onlookers sitting and standing in the busy public space
A man and woman embrace on a busy Piccadilly Circus street with Victorian architecture and a red London bus in the background
Man in navy shirt and olive cardigan standing in Piccadilly Circus with classical London buildings and tourists in the background
Man in dark blazer and jeans leaning against concrete wall next to red storefront on London street
Woman in turquoise fleece jacket walking through Piccadilly Circus shopping area with red discount sign visible behind her
Woman in bright pink outfit and gold crown sits on steps at Piccadilly Circus holding shopping bags, surrounded by onlookers
A group of people stand at Piccadilly Circus looking upward, with Parisian-style buildings visible behind them in London's West End
Person in black puffa jacket and fur hat smoking a cigarette while holding a McDonald's drink cup on a busy London street
Man in dark jacket and grey-lined hood sitting against black wall next to a black bag at Piccadilly Circus
Older man in light grey polo shirt standing in Piccadilly Circus with crowded street and blue pharmacy storefront behind him
Four people standing in a busy street scene at Piccadilly Circus, dressed in winter coats and looking in different directions amongst the urban crowd
Man with white beard wearing navy blazer and turban stands on Piccadilly Circus pavement holding wooden walking stick
Family walking through Piccadilly Circus with the Criterion Theatre visible in the background
Baby wearing oversized sunglasses sits in a colourful striped pushchair while an adult looks on at Piccadilly Circus
Woman in purple raincoat and man in yellow jacket with camera stand on a busy Piccadilly Circus street with grand Victorian buildings behind them
Man with long white hair and beard wearing a black jacket touches his head while standing in Piccadilly Circus, London
Share