Its infamous history is hard to ignore, yet over the years it has grown to become a destination that is known for its innovation and creativity.
Another draw is its central location – transport links can be found on virtually every corner, which benefits anyone who needs to commute around the city.
As the night draws in, the city comes alive; whether you’re looking for a craft ale or a high end cocktail, Soho offers you it all and more. The Grade II listed pub The French House is iconic in the area and great if you want to simply chat, with their no TV and no mobile phone policy – how refreshing! For something completely different, try Cahoots, a vintage 1940s themed bar on the underground – but make sure you book.
Don’t underestimate what Soho can offer you as a home.
We highly recommend you try the Blue Turtle Trail at Carnaby – each of the pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants on the trail have committed to protect the ocean. When you make Soho your home, you will have plenty of time to work your way around the trail and sample what’s on offer. Located in an 18th century townhouse, our team recommend Mildreds for its vegetarian and vegan menu, or head to Bob Bob Ricard for a luxurious evening indulging in English and Russian classics. Ham Yard Hotel is certainly something different, revolving around a garden within a unique miniature village complete with its own bowling alley, its interior is to be admired.
Soho has a strong artistic presence, with around a fifth of creative industries being housed here, as well as a strong film presence. It’s home to the legendary Ronnie Scott’s, The 100 Club, and G-A-Y, and West End venues such as Queen’s Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre and London Palladium can be found here. For comedy, Soho Theatre has a fantastic and varied programme.
Properties in Soho
Soho estate agents report that over 50% of properties in this area are rented rather than privately owned. It’s a great area for young professionals to live while working in the capital and is being taken over by entrepreneurs and creative types.
There are several property development schemes currently taking place in Soho, with estate agents Soho expecting more apartments and houses available to purchase or rent in the near future. Soho is home to many fine Georgian houses, which sell for around £4-5m. There are also several period conversions to apartments and flats above shops and restaurants, along with warehouse conversions and recently, office-to-residential schemes.
New build homes are also cropping up in the area, including Tottenham Court Road West with a collection of more than eighty studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom flats on Dean Street, which are expected to be completed this year.
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Transport in Soho
As a central London district, Soho benefits greatly from Underground stations that can be reached in minutes. You can easily get to Tottenham Court Road, which is served by the Northern and Central lines, Oxford Circus on the Victoria, Central and Bakerloo lines, Leicester Square on the Piccadilly and Northern lines, and Piccadilly Circus served by the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. Regular buses also serve the area, which is located in Zone 1.
Soho Shops and Dining
The eating and drinking scene in Soho is always changing with new options opening, but some things seem to be permanent fixtures here. I Camisa & Son, Italian delis in Old Compton Street, and Lina Stores located on Brewer Street, which has recently opened a new restaurant on Greek Street, are long-standing names in the area along with Algerian Coffee Stores, a coffee and tea merchant in Old Compton Street. There are two one-star Michelin restaurants in Soho; Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House on Poland Street, and Barrafina, a tapas restaurant on Dean Street. Some other popular restaurants worth visiting in the area include Blacklock on Great Windmill Street, The Palomar on Rupert Street, Spanish restaurant Copita on D’Arblay Street, and two options: Bao, or the romantic Andrew Edmunds French bistro on Lexington Street.
When it comes to shopping, there are a lot of fashion options in the area, including The Groucho Club on Dean Street, where the fashion for members clubs in Soho started. Dean Street Townhouse is an all-day dining room and boutique hotel.
Outdoor Spaces in Soho
As a tightly packed, urban area where the street patterns have remained mostly unchanged since the eighteenth century, there is not a huge amount of outdoor space in Soho. You can find some small pockets of green space at Golden Square and Soho Square, which are popular with workers for eating their lunches on a sunny day. If you want to visit a park, Green Park is located to the south and is around ten minutes from Soho on foot.
Soho Arts and Leisure
At the centre of London’s theatreland, Soho is packed with entertainment and cultural options. Recently, a new venue, Boulevard Theatres, has opened in Walker’s Court. On Frith Street, you will find Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a hugely popular music venue that has been going strong since the 1950s.
Schools
Soho is becoming more and more of a family-friendly location with various schools to choose from in the area. There are two primary schools nearby including Soho Parish Primary School on Great Windmill Street, which has an Ofsted rating of ‘good’. Nearby you can also find St Clement Danes CofE in Drury Lane, Covent Garden, with a rating of ‘outstanding’. Other primary schools nearby with a rating of good include St Joseph’s RC in Covent Garden and All Souls CofE in Fitzrovia. Parents can also find two rated ‘outstanding’ girls state comprehensive schools, which are Grey Coat Hospital, for girls aged eleven to eighteen, and St Marylebone CofE, for girls aged 11 to 18. Westminster City, for boys aged eleven to eighteen, has a rating of good. There are also various colleges in the area offering sixth form education and education for adults. These include Harris Westminster Sixth Form, educating students aged sixteen to eighteen. Mary Ward Centre and CityLit, located in Holborn and Covent Garden respectively, offer a wide range of courses for students of all ages.
There is also a good selection of private schools available for students in the Soho area. Central London has a lot of excellent private schools to choose from with several that cater to international families. The Royal Ballet School is located on Floral Street in nearby Covent Garden, while Piccadilly is home to Eaton Square Upper School for children aged eleven to eighteen. Southbank International for children aged eleven to eighteen is located in Portland Place, and Marylebone Lane is home to the Wetherby Senior School for boys aged eleven to eighteen. You can also find French/English bilingual schools in the area, including EIFA International and Ecole Jeannine Manuel. Nearby you will also find the high-achieving Westminster School, which educates boys aged thirteen to eighteen and girls in Sixth Form.
Employment
Soho is a creative hub in London, and it is often recommended by Soho estate agents and property professionals for people who want to work in creative media. It is a popular choice for professionals who work in the TV and film industry in London, along with professionals in advertising, digital marketing, and other creative industries. The area is popular with various types of artists and creatives including musicians. However, more recently, the vibrant nature of Soho has begun to attract professionals from other industries, particularly due to the fact that Soho has excellent connections with wider London, making it an easy location to get to areas like Westminster and The City from. The central location of Soho makes it a popular choice for anybody who is working in London, with quick and easy transport to offices anywhere around the capital. Employment opportunities in Soho on Indeed include retail, hospitality, media, marketing, management, PR, tourism, healthcare and more.