Soho is a neighbourhood with a long history dating back to the 1600s. Today, some of the original buildings and streets remain, with newer buildings complementing them and meeting the evolving needs of the urban space. The old and new buildings beckon creatives, tourists, or those looking to quench their thirst at a local pub to wander past Soho’s bordering streets and into the heart of this creative and inspiring district.
Because of Soho’s reputation and popularity among the rich and famous, many sites have historical significance, if not a list of historic moments. Below are some of the most interesting historical places worth visiting in Soho, with histories ranging from the 1600s to the present day.
1. Carnaby Street
While Carnaby Street is one of the oldest streets in Soho, dating back to 1682, it didn’t reach its peak of popularity until the 1960s. But once the 1960s arrived, the street was a hub of excitement featuring moments still talked about as animatedly today as the day they occurred, like when Tom Jones and Christine Spooner walked down the street with a cheetah to promote a new boutique opening.
For years leading up to the 1960s, Carnaby Street drew in influential artists and social elite — the number of recognisable names and faces frequenting the street seemed endless. As a result, the area became world-renowned. Publications like Time Magazine talked about London’s music scene (largely based out of this area), while the street was referenced in music, and clothing from the street’s boutiques was worn by iconic musicians.
Walking the street allows you to walk in the footsteps of music, fashion, and acting icons — including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, Brigitte Bardot, and Elizabeth Taylor.
2. Shakespeare’s Head
If Carnaby Street’s star power doesn’t captivate you, perhaps this historic pub will. It was founded by distant relations of William Shakespeare in 1735 and has stood and served customers ever since. A statue of Shakespeare bears a sign of darker times, missing one hand, lost during a World War II bombing. Today, the pub has a reputation for serving enjoyable classic pub fare and beer.
3. Liberty London
From its earliest days in 1875 to now, Liberty London has set out to be a unique shopping experience. Its founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, wanted a place where the finest items from around the world could be housed and displayed for shoppers.
In the 1920s, Liberty London saw the construction of a grand building that perfectly fit the extravagance its founder initially envisioned. The new building was made with antique materials, primarily wood from two battleships. Between the materials and the founding of Liberty London, there’s no shortage of history present in this still popular shopping centre.
4. Golden Square
Described by Look Up London as a “messy hodgepodge of architectural styles and ages,” Soho’s Golden Square is an eclectic space that has housed global ambassadors, medical practitioners, painters, and dancers. Over time, it evolved to be a bustling industrial space alongside a residential space.
Visiting today, you’ll find plaques at the front doors of buildings, sculptures and signage engraved into door frames, and architectural elements alluding to the square’s many different businesses, residents, and professionals that have come and gone since its humble beginnings in 1675.
5. Piccadilly Theatre
The theatre near the corner of Soho-bordering streets Regent Street and Piccadilly is far more modern than the buildings mentioned previously, but it too has a rich history worth seeing in person. The Piccadilly Theatre was established in the 1920s and made history by being the first theatre to show a film with sound.
Following this history-making event, the theatre became ‘The London Casino’ in 1936. But instead of becoming one of the city’s most trusted platforms for thrilling gameplay, it held cabaret shows. After World War II and a rebuild due to damage sustained during the Blitz, the theatre returned to its original name. The theatre went on to hold famous musicals (and still does) and has even hosted The Beatles.
Whether you visit to look at the building or buy tickets to see a show, you’ll be touching a piece of film and performance history that’s hard not to appreciate.
6. Coach & Horses
The location of the Coach & Horses pub has served as a drinking spot in the Soho area since the early 1700s, and it’s one of Soho’s oldest pubs. In the three centuries since its establishment, it has undergone many name changes and aesthetic changes — though it has been run under the name Coach & Horses more than once. In 1996, it became Molly Moggs, and in 2017, it became Compton Cross.
The return to its earlier name was made in 2019, and the building received a major facelift as a part of the renaming. It’s considered one of the best pubs in all of London, making it well worth trekking to as a destination itself or as a pit stop on your way to a live performance.
7. Berwick Street Market
Berwick Street Market is considered one of the oldest markets in London, believed to have first accommodated merchants and shoppers in the late 1700s. It was formally recognized as a market nearly 100 years after its emergence in 1892. Today, it’s become a street food haven with a huge variety of foods from around the world.
Conclusion
These establishments and spaces filled with history are some of the most interesting historical sites you’ll find in Soho. Truth be told, the neighbourhood as a whole has a long, fascinating history, so even if these places don’t speak to you, you’ll likely stumble upon a place that does while exploring this urban hub.
