A major arterial road in central London, Shaftesbury Avenue was
built between 1877 and 1886. It was designed to fulfil several
purposes: to connect Oxford Street with Piccadilly Circus, to
provide easier access to the borough of Soho, and to enforce a
policy of slum clearance from the serving government. Today it is
considered to be one of the major features of London's West End,
home to several large theatres, and at the southern end allows
direct access to London's Chinatown, with many Chinese businesses
open on the Avenue itself.
In Sherlock, the southern end of the Avenue near Piccadilly
Circus appears onscreen. Sherlock and John literally bump into each
other by the bus stop outside Adam's Ribs Restaurant, at 19-23
Shaftesbury Avenue, before heading off into Chinatown to continue
their investigation.
The nearest Underground is Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo,
Piccadilly). Exit the station and head towards the famous
electronic signs of the Circus, which connect directly to
Shaftesbury Avenue. The bus stop is a few yards along on the north
side of the road.
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