Soho, in the West End of London, is a fashionable district which attracts thousands of visitors a year. Full of little alleyways and secret treasures, it is known for its cafes and restaurants and its music scene, and as a centre of London's Gay community.
Developed into a Royal Park by Henry VIII in 1536, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the area underwent gentrification to gain its modern identity. The name ‘Soho’ appeared in the 17th century, referring to a rallying cry used by James Scott, the 1st Duke of Monmouth, who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the crown in 1685, at the Battle of Sedgemoor.
The 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometre) area used to be home to aristocrats before the mid-19th century outbreak of cholera. Their departure, along with an uptake in crime in the area, resulted in a serious decline of Soho. Prostitution became rampant, and soon the area was the most densely populated in London.
Soho was home to the first disco to ever open in London, 1959. Karl Marx, the German-born philosopher famous for his criticism of Capitalism, lived on Dean Street, Soho, above the now Quo Vadis restaurant. But he was not the only famous historical figure drawn to the area. Amadeus Mozart, the Austrian composer, lived in Soho during his European tour in 1764. The first television ever shown in public was in Soho, too, by John Logie Baird.
Today, music lovers will have heard of Tin Pan Alley, full of history and music shops (if you need a guitar fixed or a new piano, that is the place to go). Soho is also known for being home to the historical Marquee Club (sadly closed in 1996) where seemingly every famous band from the 60s played in their early days, and to the world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club which to this day presents the finest jazz made in the UK (and elsewhere). Be sure to check their Upstairs Bar Jazz Jam Session on a Wednesday Night!
Just opposite Ronnie Scott's, you will find another Soho landmark, and the best place to get a perfectly made midnight cappuccino in London: Bar Italia, established over 70 years ago. A rare occurrence in that vibrant part of London: indeed, Soho is constantly changing, evolving, reinventing itself, which makes it an ever-surprising area to explore. From farmland, to Royal Parks, to a Fashion and Entertainment District, Soho is a must visit when travelling to London.
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