Things To Do In Soho #AD

London has so much to offer that there really is something for everyone to do and to enjoy. Soho is no exception, with energetic streets such as Dean, Firth and Old Crompton Streets being the hub of activity day and night. With a vast range of dining options, nightlife and shopping. There are also many theatres for the theatre-goers and Soho is also London’s LGBT heartland, home to the famous G-A-Y bar and of course, the area is particularly rambunctious during the Pride in London Parade each July when over a million revellers descend on Soho.

Soho is situated in the heart of London’s West End. The area covers roughly one square mile, so it’s easy to explore on foot. It is bordered by: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road, with the following areas also accessible within walking distance: Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Mayfair.

With so much to see and do, where do you start?

Table of Contents

Here are just a few suggestions to help you enjoy your day/night – Things to do in Soho:

Music

For the Jazz lovers out there a must-visit place is Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. This is the most legendary jazz club in the world and has been for at least 50 years now.Ronnie Scott and Pete King opened this venue in 1965 and have been followed by other huge stars who have performed here for decades.These walls have heard the voices of some of the most iconic performers in the 20th century: Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, The Who, Tubby Hayes, Chet Baker, Prince, and Jimi Hendrix – just to name a few., and it was here that Hendrix played his last EVER performance.

For Karaoke fans you can head to Lucky Voice Karaoke Soho where you can rent a private karaoke room. Fill it with you, your mates, a few beers and lots of loud out of tune singing!
Add to your vinyl collection – Soho is renowned for having some of the best record shops where you are bound to find that missing piece of your brilliant collection.

Nightclubs:
Cirque Le Soir – You’ll have to dress to impress to get into Cirque Le Soir, but once inside this deluxe circus-themed nightclub, expect to rub shoulders with the likes of Drake and Miley Cyrus. A party spot for the capital’s elites, Cirque Le Soir hosts various themed nights where top-shelf liquor runs in rivers.
Soho Residence – This club spans three floors, each a distinct space. The ground floor bar welcomes you with classic cocktails and tasty bar snacks, the upstairs lounge offers a relaxed setting for chatting and socialising, and the basement club keeps you dancing to popular tunes late into the night.
G-A-Y Bar & G-A-Y Late – these two venues provide an inclusive space for partying to energetic pop music. G-A-Y Bar is where the pre-party vibes start, with three floors catering to energetic crowds and hosting themed nights. Those who want the night to go long can continue the fun at G-A-Y Late around the corner.

Dining Out

Soho is the London neighbourhood with the most game-changing foodie hotspots and some of the best restaurants in London. But if you keep to the main streets and you might miss some of Soho’s greatest places. With plenty of backstreets buzzing with secret supper clubs and the latest dining trend, the choice of where to eat here is seemingly never-ending.

It doesn’t matter what type of food you prefer, you will find something for all tastes and one of the best ways to discover these Restaurants in Soho is to look at Open Table where you can search in various ways to find what you are looking for.

You can search for London restaurants with availability right now, outdoor dining, new restaurants or you can filter via type of cuisine or even family-friendly options.

This is such a great way to find new restaurants which you wouldn’t have found otherwise, with the added bonus of being able to ensure you get a table by pre-booking online.

Looking at child-friendly options I discovered Beasy which I know the kid’s would absolutely adore – comfort food with a modern twist. They have Hotdogs but not as you and I know them. Made with Steamed buns, delicious toppings and the ultimate in flavour – they have something for everyone, including Plant-based dogs. They also have another US iconic dish here – the tater tot. It’s a BEASY twist on a classic. But adults don’t have to fear that the place is just geared to kid’s style comfort foods they are also known for their wonderful cocktails too so it really is the best of both worlds especially if you’ve fussier eaters in your group.

On the other end of the scale for when you’ve left the children at home and you want a luxurious meal for the grown-ups only, you have Petrus – Gordon Ramsay. Here you could enjoy a dining experience like no other in our Michelin-starred kitchen at Pétrus. Available for up to eight guests, you will be greeted by the restaurant team and served a seven-course bespoke menu. Dining in front of the pass, witness our expert team of chefs in action from the comfort of your private table. Completing the experience, our expert sommelier will be on-hand to guide you on a journey through our celebrated wine list. Our Michelin-starred chefs are delighted to reveal the secrets of Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay’s innovative cuisine.

Shopping

London’s colourful Soho neighbourhood offers a fun shopping experience in a lively area that offers plenty of styles and still a touch of the avant-garde atmosphere that made this a fashion epicentre in the 60s.

Some of the world’s best independent fashion labels have steadily been moving into Soho over the past few years, joining a run of established record stores, vintage boutiques and jewellery and haberdashery shops.

Start off at Carnaby Street, a historic pedestrian shopping street with a mix of international fashion brands and local British labels. A few blocks away, Berwick Street is a lesser-known shopping area that offers a broader range of independent shops and a stronger alternative feel that will appeal to teens.

You will also be very close to all the famous stores you will not want to miss from Hamleys Toy Store, Liberty London, Berwick Street Market. You also have regents street, oxford street and London market close by.

London really is the best place for shopping and I just love all the tucked away markets where you will find something different from all the high-street fashions and you can also grab a vintage bargain too.

Culture

There is so much culture in London and Soho is no exception. For a taste of culture, catch a show on Shaftesbury Avenue. Running along the edge of Soho, the street forms a central vein through London’s West End Theatreland and is home to the iconic Gielgud, Apollo, Queen’s, Palace, Lyric and Shaftsbury theatres.

Search for the seven noses of Soho – As you stroll around Soho, keep an eye out for noses on the walls and buildings. Installed by artist Rick Buckley in 1997 as a protest against the increase of CCTV cameras on the streets, there were originally about 35 noses (made from plaster casts of his nose) attached to buildings in Central London. Seven remain in Soho, and since Buckley didn’t initially take credit for them, many urban myths about their origin have sprung up. For example, it’s said that if you can find all seven, great fortune will come.

Walking tours – these are a great way to see some of the iconic sights and to learn the history around them too. Some include: Rock ‘n’ Roll history tour, The Beatles Tour and even a Soho evening food tasting tour.

The Photographers Gallery – The Photographers’ Gallery was founded in London by Sue Davies opening on 14 January 1971, as the first public gallery in the United Kingdom devoted solely to photography.

If you are a Harry Potter fan then Minalima is a must. This is situated in between Leicester station and Tottenham Court Road in Greek street. MinaLima is A fabulous museum and shop for fantastical Beasts fans and Harry Potter fans alike.

Close by you can also visit: