This neighbourhood sits on the northern end of Soho, just near Tottenham Court Road. As it’s a bit removed from the craziness of the nearby West End, there are some quaint residential pockets throughout the neighbourhood. The expensive real estate means that most of these residents are wealthy Londoners or young professionals with a large disposable income. Luckily, one doesn’t have to be rich to enjoy the pleasures of the neighbourhood. The area is packed with great eateries - like the iconic and award winning British restaurant Quo Vadis. Locals also love the Spanish food at Barrafina. Many young Londoners find themselves in the area in order to frequent the bar at the members’ only club - Soho House - or to catch a wonderful comedy show at the Soho Theatre. Between all of this and the historic Soho Square Gardens, it’s no wonder that the neighbourhood is such a pricey one.

Soho Square Gardens dates back to the 1670s when it was called King Square in honour of Charles II. At that time, there was even a statue of Charles II that stood on site. The statue was later removed in 1875 and replaced by a wooden toolshed. During WWII, the square served as the site of air-raid shelters. These were built beneath the grass and were meant for residents to use during the London Blitz. It wasn’t until 1954 though that the gardens were opened to the public. In 1959, the City of Westminster installed railings and gates. Today, many Londoners stop there to enjoy a break from the chaos of the West End.

Famous revolutionary and author, Karl Marx, lived in the area. While residing in his Soho home, he wrote the first volume of his influential Das Kapital.

Since the area is home to many top restaurants and entertainment spots, the neighbourhood brings in a fair number of tourists. For those who live in the neighbourhood, this can make the area feel a bit transient at times. However, locals find that this is a small price to pay for having everything at your doorstep.

Soho House, the famous global network of private members’ clubs, has its original location nestled within this neighbourhood. In 2017, it secured a £275 million refinancing agreement with Permira Debt Managers to help with the care of its current locations, then in 2019 a further £100 million of financing to drive further global expansion of the business, and then again raised £100 million in investment in 2022. While its ventures have been seen as risky, Soho House expects big returns on all of its investments as it expands its members leisurely opportunities. Across all of its locations, it has 65,000 members and a 40,000 person waiting list.

In other news, architecture and urban design studio DSDHA is poised to get planning permission to redevelop a corner plot in Soho Square with a new mixed use scheme that would be one storey taller than the 1970s structure currently occupying the site. Additionally, a major new West End theatre is to open in autumn 2022 near Soho Square. Named @sohoplace, the project forms part of a £300m regeneration scheme for the area and is Soho’s first new-build West End theatre in 50 years.