Piccadilly Circus

Billboards or “hoarding” started in Piccadilly circus in the early 1900’s, the signs used to cover the majority of the area but now only cover one building. The earliest signs used incandescent light bulbs; these were replaced with neon lights, as well as moving signs.

The earliest signs used incandescent light bulbs but then these were replaced with neon lights, as well as moving signs. The very first Neon sign was for the British meat extract Bovril. From December 1998, digital projectors were briefly used for the Coke sign, the first to be computerised. However the 2000s saw a gradual move to LED displays and it meant completely replacing neon lamps by 2011. The number of signs has reduced over the years as the rental costs have increased. Using these lights with the billboards attracts attention to the signs and makes them much more eye catching.