Piccadilly circus; old and new? - Page 2

***wjfox*** · September 2nd, 2005, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A42251

Neon signs look ugly and out-of place among the type of histric architecture in those Piccadily pics.

Neon fits in fine in Times Square or in Oriental cities but it looks really nasty in stately-old European cities. I think they should get rid of all of it. Piccadily would still be an exciting entertainment hub without these ugly signs.

What utter rubbish!!!

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most buzzing, vibrant and popular locations in London.

The signs are what give the area its character and vibe. It's an amazing place. Removing them would kill the atmosphere in the area.

Besides, London is a city of contrasts - old and new, blended together. The signs complement (rather than spoil) these old buildings.

In somewhere like Rome they would probably look rather out-of-place, but this is London for Christ's sake!

When you think of famous streets in London, Piccadilly Circus is one that immediately springs to mind for most people.

NothingBetterToDo · September 3rd, 2005, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A42251

Neon signs look ugly and out-of place among the type of histric architecture in those Piccadily pics.

Neon fits in fine in Times Square or in Oriental cities but it looks really nasty in stately, old European cities. I think they should get rid of all of it. Piccadily would still be an exciting entertainment hub without these ugly signs.

I disagree....i dont know if you have been to Piccadilly in person, but the signs actually do fit in with the older architecture, and without them Piccadilly circus would be nowhere near a buzzing....the new, super high tech signs are amazing, i've seen them loads of times but each time they still add to the atmosphere.

If they werent there then Piccadilly circus would still look great, but it wouldnt have the identity it has now....it could be a dozen other places in London.

TheOingoBoingoBandit · September 3rd, 2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NothingBetterToDo

I disagree....i dont know if you have been to Piccadilly in person, but the signs actually do fit in with the older architecture, and without them Piccadilly circus would be nowhere near a buzzing....the new, super high tech signs are amazing, i've seen them loads of times but each time they still add to the atmosphere.

If they werent there then Piccadilly circus would still look great, but it wouldnt have the identity it has now....it could be a dozen other places in London.

What I really love about the new LED screens there is that at night they light up the entire Circus like giant floodlights. And the brightness of the entire street changes along with the ever changing images!

The VUE cinema in Leceister Square has now also got LED screens. If only MTV made use of the giant LED screen attached to thier new HQ in the square, a leftover from the time when the place was Home nightclub.

***wjfox*** · September 3rd, 2005, 12:21 AM

Piccadilly Circus really is my favourite place in London, it's just awesome!

asohn · September 3rd, 2005, 12:30 AM

You people are talking like you've never heard of Times Square

TheOingoBoingoBandit · September 3rd, 2005, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asohn

You people are talking like you've never heard of Times Square

Heard of it, haven't been, would love to go!

***wjfox*** · September 3rd, 2005, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asohn

You people are talking like you've never heard of Times Square

What's Times Square got to do with anything?

We're talking about Piccadilly Circus...... in London!

Kuiper · September 3rd, 2005, 12:39 PM

I'm also favour of these huge advertising Screens. They really are part of big city feeling.

samsonyuen · September 3rd, 2005, 05:35 PM

If you've ever been, you'd know you don't need big screens in Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square area to feel like you're in a big city.

Mr Bricks · September 3rd, 2005, 08:58 PM

I heard from an american who had been to Leicester square (i haven´t been there) that he thought it was a poor atemt to copy times square, and he said it was not impressive at all. I haven´t been there so i don´t know what to say....

Monkey · September 3rd, 2005, 09:06 PM

^ It's not Leicester Square but nearby Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus's lights and hoardings are at least as old as Times Square's so there was no copying. Times Square does have more lights but it's a cramped traffic junction (not a square at all) and IMO the buildings and atmosphere at Piccadilly circus are more attractive. Also Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by masses of nightlife which flows continuously through Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Covent Garden. The area around Times Square is disappointingly quiet compred to London's endlessly wonderful West End. I was there today - I love it....

***wjfox*** · September 3rd, 2005, 09:12 PM

There are plans for a revamp of Leicester Square in the near future.

samsonyuen · September 3rd, 2005, 11:49 PM

Really? What are the plans?

***wjfox*** · September 4th, 2005, 12:00 AM

There was a thread in the UK & Ireland forum a while ago... it looked as if they're going to improve the lighting in the middle of the square, and generally make it a friendlier place. There was a rendering which showed a "path" of light running around the grass in the middle. I think they're going to erect some kind of platform or stage as well. Can't remember exactly, but I know it looked good.

MikeHunt · September 4th, 2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A42251

Neon signs look ugly and out-of place among the type of histric architecture in those Piccadily pics.

Neon fits in fine in Times Square or in Oriental cities but it looks really nasty in stately, old European cities. I think they should get rid of all of it. Piccadily would still be an exciting entertainment hub without these ugly signs.

Most of the buildings in Picadilly Circus and nearby Shafstbury Avenue are no older than the ones in Times Square. They're primarily from the 1800's and early 1900's.

Mr Bricks · September 4th, 2005, 12:16 AM

Is times square quiet? Have you been to NYC Monkey?

JDRS · September 4th, 2005, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjfox2002

I don't think skyscrapers would suit the area. They would spoil its character.

I agree with that.

A42251 · September 5th, 2005, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHunt

Most of the buildings in Picadilly Circus and nearby Shafstbury Avenue are no older than the ones in Times Square. They're primarily from the 1800's and early 1900's.

The only pre-WWII building I can think of in Times Square is the Paramount building. TS has a lot of glass towers that were built in the last ten or so years. Neon and video screens fit in nicely with the contemporary architecture in TS but, IMO, look out of place on the style of architecture in Piccadily Circus.

Chibcha2k · September 5th, 2005, 06:19 AM

Great place...i wish Bogotá had something like it.

samsonyuen · September 5th, 2005, 10:23 AM

Good to hear. I really like Leicester Square but it can be a bit choatic and crazy when it's dark. I wouldn't mind some more park benches either...

September 3rd, 2005, 08:58 PM	#30
Mr Bricks Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Helsinki Posts: 5,248 Likes (Received): 28	I heard from an american who had been to Leicester square (i haven´t been there) that he thought it was a poor atemt to copy times square, and he said it was not impressive at all. I haven´t been there so i don´t know what to say.... __________________ Helsinki http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...516&highlight=

September 4th, 2005, 12:16 AM	#36
Mr Bricks Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Helsinki Posts: 5,248 Likes (Received): 28	Is times square quiet? Have you been to NYC Monkey? __________________ Helsinki http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...516&highlight=

September 5th, 2005, 06:19 AM	#39
Chibcha2k XPC Fagua chinanuca Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Altiplano Cundiboyacense Posts: 6,493 Likes (Received): 51	Great place...i wish Bogotá had something like it. __________________ WAYUU Jemeishi taya julü’ü wane mma warattüsiü Kepiashi taya ja’aka jorottüi, jaitairü apain. Taya juwaralain wane lapü jumaiwajatü Vito Apüshana

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September 3rd, 2005, 12:21 AM	#24
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 36,235 Likes (Received): 949	Piccadilly Circus really is my favourite place in London, it's just awesome!

September 3rd, 2005, 12:30 AM	#25
asohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Jersey Posts: 980 Likes (Received): 0	You people are talking like you've never heard of Times Square

September 3rd, 2005, 12:39 PM	#28
Kuiper bad eng lish Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2 Likes (Received): 0	I'm also favour of these huge advertising Screens. They really are part of big city feeling.

September 3rd, 2005, 05:35 PM	#29
samsonyuen SSLL Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canary Wharf > CityPlace Posts: 8,534 Likes (Received): 0	If you've ever been, you'd know you don't need big screens in Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square area to feel like you're in a big city.

September 3rd, 2005, 09:06 PM	#31
Monkey Londinium langur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Londinium Posts: 14,616 Likes (Received): 1	^ It's not Leicester Square but nearby Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus's lights and hoardings are at least as old as Times Square's so there was no copying. Times Square does have more lights but it's a cramped traffic junction (not a square at all) and IMO the buildings and atmosphere at Piccadilly circus are more attractive. Also Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by masses of nightlife which flows continuously through Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Covent Garden. The area around Times Square is disappointingly quiet compred to London's endlessly wonderful West End. I was there today - I love it....

September 3rd, 2005, 09:12 PM	#32
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 36,235 Likes (Received): 949	There are plans for a revamp of Leicester Square in the near future.

September 3rd, 2005, 11:49 PM	#33
samsonyuen SSLL Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canary Wharf > CityPlace Posts: 8,534 Likes (Received): 0	Really? What are the plans?

September 4th, 2005, 12:00 AM	#34
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 36,235 Likes (Received): 949	There was a thread in the UK & Ireland forum a while ago... it looked as if they're going to improve the lighting in the middle of the square, and generally make it a friendlier place. There was a rendering which showed a "path" of light running around the grass in the middle. I think they're going to erect some kind of platform or stage as well. Can't remember exactly, but I know it looked good.

September 5th, 2005, 10:23 AM	#40
samsonyuen SSLL Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canary Wharf > CityPlace Posts: 8,534 Likes (Received): 0	Good to hear. I really like Leicester Square but it can be a bit choatic and crazy when it's dark. I wouldn't mind some more park benches either...