This central part of Soho is bursting with wonderful restaurants and theatres. Londoners from all backgrounds love the entertainment offerings in the neighbourhood. Between the films at the multi-storey Picturehouse Central, stand up shows at Comedy Carnival Leicester Square, and the theatrical shows at the Apollo and Piccadilly Theatres, there’s almost too much to choose from. After one of these many entertaining events, visitors have more than enough restaurants nearby. If wandering through after a show, you’ll find locals enjoying the delicious Italian food at Spuntino and Bocca di Lupo, while others opt for Indian food at Kricket. Throughout the work week, you’ll also see young professionals rushing in and out of the new co-working space at Archer Street Studios, and music fanatics curating playlists at Soho Radio. With all that the neighbourhood has to offer, you’ll find yourself continuing to come back to Soho.

The Apollo Theatre dates back to 1901, when it opened with a production of The Belle of Bohemia. At the time that it was constructed, the theatre consisted of four levels - with three balconies all decorated in the Louis XIV style. The theatre opened to great crowds and remained extremely popular throughout the 20th century. However, in 2013, a part of the auditorium ceiling collapsed during the performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Over 70 people were injured during this accident. As the ceiling hadn’t been replaced since the theatre’s opening in 1901, some were not surprised to hear about the incident. The theatre has since reopened, and has undergone extensive repairs and investigations.

The Piccadilly Theatre was the site of the first viewing of a talking picture within the United Kingdom. The film was The Singing Fool with Al Jolson, and drew in large audiences.

Shaftesbury Avenue passes through this neighbourhood and is often characterised by its terrible automobile and bus traffic. For anyone looking to get through this section on wheels, it will surely take a while. However, for pedestrians - the slowness of these vehicles keeps the streets rather safe.

Launched back in 2007, Westminster City Council has been hard at work to deliver on their Soho Action Plan. The plan includes commitments to improving the area’s crime rates, focusing on the cleanliness of the streets and supporting new enterprises. So far, there has already been great progress! In 2019, the council released their Soho Neighbourhood Plan, which aims to further enhance the area, taking into consideration greater sustainability needs and, following their updated ‘Vision for Soho’, the economic and housing needs of the community following the pandemic.