Piccadilly Circus, London 1964

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures a wet and atmospheric day at Piccadilly Circus in 1964, highlighting the commercial storefronts of the era. The scene features the brightly lit “Fortes” restaurant with its prominent white and red signage, situated next to “Boots the Chemists” (the first 24-hour Boots and a well-known trouble spot late at night) which displays its iconic orange neon script and a “Day & Night Service” sign. To the left, a “Dolcis” shoe shop and the entrance to the “Cri Bar” are visible, along with the blue London Underground roundel for Piccadilly Circus station. All of these buildings have since been demolished and replaced. A woman in a light-coloured raincoat stands by a metal safety railing in the foreground, while other pedestrians in typical sixties winter attire navigate the glistening, damp pavement. On the far right, a theatre poster for the play “A Severed Head” at the Criterion Theatre adds a cultural touch to the urban landscape. This digital download is a wonderful record of mid-century London street life, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of vintage wall art.