A guided tour of Soho (Soho)

Member Name: Leolover

Product:	Soho
Date:	08/08/02 (303 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: places to eat, places to drink, great fun

Disadvantages: pricey

Soho is the part of London I seem to spend most of my time in these days. There's so much to see and do, and always an electric, bustling atmosphere to enjoy.

These days Soho enjoys a reputation for being brash, bold, on the edge and in your face. Restaurants, bars and exclusive clubs mingle with sex shops, strip joints and theatres galore. Cutting edge writers and artists mingle in the many coffee shops and cafes. Few people are aware that this was once one of the most fashionable areas in London, a place where the privileged dined and partied in style.

*** WHAT TO SEE

Although Soho is renowned for its hedonistic pleasures, There's also plenty to see and do for those looking for a more cultural experience.

Trafalgar Square :

Feed the pigeons, dip your toes in the fountain, gaze at Nelsons column, have your photo taken with the huge lion statues and watch the world go by at this famous Square.

National Gallery :

If paintings are your thing, the nations biggest collection of important art is housed here.

St-Martin-in-the-Fields Church(Duncannon St):

I love this beautiful old church, it's lovely enough for a look around in the daytime, and in the evening they often have choir music and concerts by candlelight which really are lovely. Best at Christmas!

Guinness World of Records (Haymarket):

Go and stand next to the worlds tallest man,
compare beer bellies with the fattest person ever born, and marvel at the weird and wonderful at this great exhibition.


*** WHERE TO EAT

Where shall I start? There's an eatery for all tastes and pockets in Soho. Try Chinatown for delicious, occasionally authentic chinese food, or one of the areas many French bistros for a wine fuelled lunch. Here are three of my favourite places to eat in Soho :

New Diamond (Chinatown)

In my opinion, the best restaurant in Chinatown. S
et menu E (for four or more people) includes crab and sweetcorn soup, prawn toast, crispy seaweed, roasted chinese ribs, grilled fish, salted squid and jumbo king prawns, chicken in black bean sauce, sweet and sour pork, mixed chinese vegetables and a selection of fresh fruit - for only £12 per person! The food is all lovely and fresh and the surroundings are pleasant.

Mr Wu (Chinatown)

For the budget conscious, Mr Wu's offers an unlimited buffet for only £4.50 per person, for lunch and dinner. The food's only average, but well cooked and there's plenty of it, and for less than a fiver for as much as you can eat, there's hardly a cause for complaint.

The Bistro (Lisle Street)

This simply named little french eaterie serves delicious french food that's anything BUT simple. Grilled monkfish, mussels in garlic and white wine, avocado chicken salad and deep fried brie with berry coulis are a few of my favourite dishes - around £15 per person for two courses.

*** GOING OUT

You can't beat Soho for a night on the town. If you're in the mood for clubbing, try the Hippodrome, one of the worlds largest nightclubs. Equinox on Leicester Square has a great 80's night on a Wednesday. G.A.Y at the Astoria on a Friday is great fun whether you're gay or straight. There are numerous bars - try Dover St Wine Bar if you fancy a bit of Jazz, or All Bar One at Leicester Square for great, if slightly overpriced, new world wines. There are also loads of more traditional pubs, such as the Blue Post on Rupert Street.

*** SHOPPING

Soho's not great for shopping - unless you're after - how shall I put it - risque purchases of any kind! More conservative shoppers can try Cecil Court for old books and prints, or Leicester square for touristy bits and pieces.

*** THEATRES

Shaftesbury Avenue is Theatreland, and you can pretty much take your pick from any of t
he fabulous old theatres and shows along here. There are six theatres and two old cinemas. The shows are constantly changing, so I won't list any of the current ones here for fear of going out of date, but try the half price theatre booth at Leicester Square on the day you want to see a show - there's a good chance you'll be able to get a great discount.

*** SUMMARY - WHY I LOVE SOHO

There's simply so much to do. It's impossible to get bored. Places to eat, places to drink, places to dance, plays to watch, and excited, happy, buzzing people to mingle with. It's the heart of London, and close to my heart.

*** HOW TO GET THERE

Leicester Square, Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square tube station, or Charing Cross mainline station is your best bet.

The number 12, 53, 38 and 13 buses all run to Trafalgar Square, and everywhere else can be walked to from here.

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