Area Guide: Soho

In the heart of the West End, Soho’s vibrant nightlife, diverse live entertainment and stunning array of restaurants make it a hot location for Londoners and tourists alike. The shopping opportunities alone are a great reason to spend a day in Soho when you get the chance!

As a trendy and fast-paced district, Soho is a place where modern businesses can flourish, either on the front line at street level or in one of the many well-appointed offices hidden away from the hustle and bustle.

The Area:

Soho occupies the space between Regent Street, Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue and encompasses Carnaby (home of the world famous Carnaby Street). With it wide variety of nightlife and theatrical history, Soho is often considered to be London's most vibrant districts and visitors can expect an explosion of colour and sound.

Historical famous locals are as varied as Karl Marx to the Sex Pistols, illustrating the creative and innovate breadth of Soho that seems to inspire everyone who steps foot into the cobbled streets.

Getting Around:

Stretching across roughly 1 square mile, Soho is packed with things to see and do but remains easy to explore on foot.

Like most places in the city, parking is at a premium, so both visitors and commuters are generally better off taking public transport in. There are good links to the rest of London from the Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square tube stations.

Eateries:

Soho is known for its diversity of high-quality restaurants, spanning everything from the Michelin starred Barrafina (Spanish) to the unusually specialist Bao (Tai bao buns). There is quite literally a restaurant to cater for every taste within the confines of the district.

Once you’ve finished indulging in savouries, we would recommend heading over to the Chin Chin Dessert Club for a liquid nitrogen frozen masterpiece in ice-cream engineering.

Photo credit: @chinchinicecream

If you choose to eat out, we suggest booking ahead where possible to avoid disappointment, especially during the busy lunch and dinner hours. This is even more vital when arranging work socials, as large parties will rarely be able to get seated on the fly.

However, be aware that not all restaurants take bookings, so be prepared to plan ahead for a potential wait in line.

Our Top Restaurant Recommendations:

Bao

A Taiwanese street-food inspired kitchen that oozes experimentation and style in equal measures. The house Sake’ is not to be missed!

Photo credit:@rebekahcheng

Barrafina

Situated on Dean Street, Barrafina is the last word in Tapas. Here, guests clamour for seats at the marble cooking station whilst talented chefs rustle up specialties such as milk-fed lamb’s sweetbread - think Spanish food gone cosmopolitan.

Photo credit: Timeout.com

Breddos Tacos

If you're after something with more a kick, you should definitely pay a visit to Breddos Tacos. Serving tasty Tacos as their specialty, this Mexcian restaurant on Kingly Street is the ideal place for good food, great music and a fine spot for drinking.

Photo credit: Breddos Tacos

Nightlife:

The streets of Soho are teeming with live music venues, clubs, bars and theatres. There is no shortage of things to keep you occupied in the evenings and nights.

If you are feeling cultured, the Queen’s, Lyrics, Prince Edward and Prince of Wales theatres are well-worth a visit and feature everything from the big-budget, Broadway-style musicals all the way down to live music and stand-up comedy.

For those who prefer to socialise over a round of drinks, Soho is definitely the place to be, you won’t find a bigger selection of bars and clubs than those within the bright lights of Soho. Hit Ronnie Scott’s for some live Jazz, or Jazz@Pizza Express if you fancy a Pollo Ad Astra with a side of Trumpet. Or for a true night out, why not head to the exclusive Box Club or Club 49 but be warned, there’s a waiting list!

If you’re into heavier music, the Crobar Rock ‘n’ Roll bar might be more your scene. Or go back in time to the 1940s at Cahoots and drink cocktails from a milk bottle. Whatever you are into, there is a place to suit you.

Our bar recommendations include:

Bar Termini

Providing both coffee and cocktails, what more could you possibly want? Whilst the venue may not be the biggest, Bar Termini is a perfect place for socialising with friends and unwinding at the weekend.

68 & Boston

For a more cosy setting, we suggest visiting 68 & Boston on Greek Street. Described as a 'three-way project between experienced bar professionals' this cocktail come wine bar serves a wide range of beverages from around the world.

Brewdog

If craft beers are more to your taste, Brewdog specialises in serving a mouthwatering range of pale ales and craft beers. Spread over two floors and serving a 'kick-ass' burger menu, Brewdog has everything you need for a great evening.

Shopping:

A trip to Soho wouldn’t be complete without exploring the many retail outlets that are in the area. With plenty of unique stores in the windy lanes of Soho and retail hotspots like Oxford Street and Regent Street on the outskirts, there’s no better place to get your retail therapy.

Liberty is one of London’s most well-known outlets and is packed full of high-end fashion, accessories, gifts and stationery. Situated in one of the oldest building in the area, the store is hard to miss in a beautiful mock-Tudor building.

Over in Carnaby, Kingley Court packs a number of trendy, retro vintage shops, mixed in with established chains and a number of small cafés. It’s a great place to while away a few hours and get lost in the bustle.

Working in Soho:

As one of London’s upcoming, trendy areas, Soho tends to attract a wide range of businesses, including the likes of Google and Facebook.

Whilst the area is most appealing to small to medium-sized businesses in the creative industry, this isn’t to say that larger companies can’t fit in. With a wide range of co-working spaces and serviced office spaces located in the area, Soho provides a wealth of opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

If you’re looking for something more private, there are also a range of private office spaces in London that might be more preferable for larger businesses.

Looking for an Office in Soho?

With access to the best serviced offices in Soho, we can help you to find the best office space. Our team of experts are here to understand exactly what you need and secure the perfect new home for your office. Whilst we have hundreds of great spaces on offer, here are a few of our top picks for Soho:

Soho - W1D

£650 per person/per month

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Soho - W1D

From £964 per person/ pm

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Soho - W1F

£1100 per person/ pm

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These are just a few of our available office spaces. Contact our agents today to find out more about our other available business centers.