Cambridge Circus, London facts for kids
Cambridge Circus is a busy crossing in the heart of London. It's where two famous streets, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road, meet. This area is on the edge of a lively part of London called Soho. Other smaller streets like Earlham, West, Romilly, and Moor streets also meet here.
Cambridge Circus is surrounded by beautiful old buildings. Many of these are "listed buildings," which means they are very important historically and protected. The Palace Theatre is one of the biggest and most famous buildings here.
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What's Around Cambridge Circus?
This area is full of interesting places. You can find shops, cafes, and theatres on the streets leading off Cambridge Circus. For example, Earlham Street is known for fashion. West Street has the St Martin's Theatre and a famous restaurant called The Ivy.
Famous Buildings and Stories
The Palace Theatre stands proudly on the west side of Cambridge Circus. This theatre is a well-known landmark. Many of the old buildings around the Circus have even appeared in spy movies and books!
Cambridge Circus in Books and Movies
This London spot has been featured in many stories.
Spies and Secret Agents
In his spy novels, author John le Carré imagined that the headquarters for a British spy agency was located near Cambridge Circus. He even nicknamed the agency "The Circus" because of this. However, the real British spy agency, MI6, has never actually been based here.
A Bookshop Story
Cambridge Circus was also home to a famous bookshop called Marks & Co. This shop was at 84 Charing Cross Road, just north of the Circus. It became famous because of a 1970 book called 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. The book tells the story of her long friendship through letters with a bookseller from Marks & Co. This popular book was later made into a play and a movie starring famous actors like Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins.
A Million-Dollar Question
In the 2008 movie Slumdog Millionaire, the main character, Jamal, is asked to find Cambridge Circus for a big question on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He answers correctly because he learned about it while working at a call centre.
Filming Locations
Cambridge Circus has been a filming location for several movies, including:
- The League of Gentlemen (1960)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
- 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
- Match Point (2005)
See also
In Spanish: Cambridge Circus, London para niños
