Dean Street in Soho

Dean Street is one of Soho's best-known historic roads. It was named after Henry Compton, the Dean of Westminster, who had a hand in developing the area in the late 17th century. Artists, writers and thinkers settled here early, and the street has kept that lively reputation ever since.

It has changed plenty over the years, but the culture runs deep. Charles Dickens once visited its coffee houses. Karl Marx lived nearby. Today the street holds some respected names, including the Soho Theatre, known for bold performances, and the Groucho Club, a private members' club that draws well-known faces from arts and media.

This is the heart of Soho, only a few minutes on foot from Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus stations. Food, entertainment, creative energy: Dean Street has long carried all three, blending its past with its present. Plenty of businesses here are worth a closer look.