Soho
Ultimate Guide to Soho
Soho boasts some of the best theatre, music and food London has to offer. The neighbourhood entirely fits into 1 square mile of The West End and comprises of 4 boundaries: Oxford Street to the north, Cambridge Circus to the south, Regent Street to the west and Charing Cross Road in the east.
Soho was once an area rife with crime and poverty but took on a new lease of life in the 20th Century. After WW2 it quickly became a popular area for theatre lovers, musicians and artists. The Marquee Club opened in 1958 and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in 1959. In the 60’s Soho became a hot-spot for fashion and the birth-place of the fledgling rock&roll scene. There were early performances from The Who in July 1962, The Rolling Stones in late 1964 and Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd all followed shortly thereafter.
Nowadays Soho is an eclectic, vibrant, cultural melting-pot, with a wealth of secret bars, cafe’s and delicious food-spots to explore. It particularly comes to life on a Friday night, where bohemian artists and drunken revellers mix with young couples and bemused locals. It is definately an area worth visiting and as a result Footprints Tours have put together the ultimate guide to Soho…
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is one of the most famous streets in the whole of London, if not the world. It became synonymous with the British youth movement in the 1960s, with many hippies calling it home. Later, it became a popular hang out for bands like the Kinks and the Sex Pistols, and featured in some of their most famous songs. Much of the original charm of Carnaby Street still exists today and it’s still definately worth a visit.
You can find out more about Carnaby Street on our FREE London Walking Tour!
Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Getting Here By Tube
Oxford Circus: (Victoria, Bakerloo & Central Line)
Piccadilly Circus: (Piccadilly & Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
Many bus routes stop nearby at Oxford Street and Regent Street:
Regent Street: 3, 6, 12, 13, 15, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159 and 453
Oxford Street: 7, 8, 10, 25, 55, 73, 98, 176 and 390
Getting Here By Car
Q Park Soho, Poland Street, London W1F 7NQ (0113 238 4200)
Kingly Court
Details
Kingly Court Terrace, Kingly Street, London W1B 5PW, England
Amazing Restaurants
First on our list of things to do in Soho is a real gem. Kingly Court is a gorgeous courtyard surrounded by three floors of amazing pop up restaurants. We recommend checking out the excellent Kingly Court Brasserie, but really everything is good. Well worth a trip!
You can find out more about Soho on our FREE London Walking Tour!
9:30am-3am
Getting Here By Tube
Piccadilly Circus (Picadilly and Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
14, 19
Getting Here By Car
Q-Park Chinatown, (0113 238 4200), 20 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR
Ain’t Nothin’ But…
Details
20 Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5PZ, England
Good Value
Next on our list of the best things to do in Soho is an old standard. Ain’t Nothin But is probably the most famous blues bars in England, with excellent live music happening every night of the week. Get in there early as it gets filled up quickly!
You can find out more about Soho on our FREE London Walking Tour!
Opening hours:
Sun15:00 – 12:00
Mon – Thu: 17:00 – 01:00
Fri: 17:00 – 02:00
Sat: 15:00 – 02:00
Getting Here By Tube
Piccadilly Circus (Picadilly and Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
14, 19
Getting Here By Car
Q-Park Chinatown, (0113 238 4200), 20 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR
London Palladium
Next on our list of the best things to do in Soho is a legendary classic. The London Palladium has been hosting award winning shows since the early 20th century. With a massive seating capacity of 2286 it’s one of the largest theatres in London, and definitely worth a visit for the stunning architecture alone!
You can find out more about Soho on our amazing London Walking Tour.
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 20:00
Getting Here By Tube
Piccadilly Circus (Picadilly and Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
14, 19
Getting Here By Car
Q-Park Chinatown, (0113 238 4200), 20 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR
Liberty London
Details
Famous Shops
Liberty London is one of the oldest and most famous retail stores anywhere in the world. The Tudor-inspired exterior of this upscale department store is a treasure. Inside, find curated designer fashions, homewares, fragrances, and the iconic floral prints for which it is famed.
You can find out more about Soho on our FREE London Walking Tour!
Opening hours:
Sun: 11:30 – 18:00
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 21:00
Getting Here By Tube
Piccadilly Circus (Picadilly and Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
14, 19
Getting Here By Car
Q-Park Chinatown, (0113 238 4200), 20 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR
Dishoom Carnaby
Details
22 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5QB
Great Indian
Dishoom Carnaby has become one of the best restaurants in Soho, and the undisputed king of deliciously cheap Indian food in the capital. The hour-long queues are evidence of its immense popularity, and rightly so, the food is spectacular! Dishoom’s menu consists of a plethora of Indian nibbles, our favourites being the bacon naan bread or the house black daal. Here at Footprints we really do bang on about Dishoom – but there’s a good reason why. It’s one of the most delicious, good value restaurants in central London and the perfect end to our list of the best things to do in Soho!
Monday to Thursday: 8am to 11pm / Friday: 8am to midnight / Saturday: 9am to midnight / Sunday: 9am to 11pm
Getting Here By Tube
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines)
Tottenham Court Road (Northern and Central Line)
Oxford Circus (Victoria, Central and Bakerloo Line)
Getting Here By Bus
14, 22
Getting Here By Car
22 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5QB
PRIVATE LONDON WALKING TOUR
You can find out more information of this site, and some of the most iconic sites in the city, on a private London walking tour!
For more information, click here