Soho

A colourful, rebellious neighbourhood oozing with countercultural vibrations.

TravelCurious Tip

Be sure to visit the Broad Street pump. This was where Dr John Snow tracked down the source of a cholera outbreak in Soho — a landmark event in epidemiology

Originals

Soho copycats have sprung up all over the world, from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires, but London’s is the original and the best. It has been the heart of the West End and the city's premier red-light district for centuries, even if it is family friendly most of the time. In spite of its central location, you still get street life here — the kind of spontaneous interactions and events that simply don’t occur in London’s posher districts like Kensington and Knightsbridge, not matter how charming they are.


Thesps Nest

London’s renowned theatre scene is concentrated on the West End. Among Soho’s famous theatres are the Gielgud Theatre, the Prince Edward Theatre and the Prince of Wales Theatre, which have all been entertaining Londoners for decades, with everything ranging from musicals to classical plays, and from cabaret to comedy.


London Pride

Hand in hand with all the art and artists here is a thriving nightlife. Soho is in particular a hotspot for the LGBT scene, with a high concentration of gay clubs and bars. Incidentally, this is where the Pride in London celebrations happen each year — head along if you can, they are wildly entertaining


For a more relaxed evening, you can tap into Soho’s jazz scene. Ronnie Scott’s is still the place to go after all these decades — but then, jazz musicians do simply seem to become cooler and cooler the older they get. They are the exception to the rule!

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in London
Carnaby Street
Historically known to be the birthplace of Swinging London in the 60's, the home to Mod's, rockers, punks and more, Carnaby Street is part of the epicentre of London's West End.
Liberty London
One of London’s iconic flagship department stores, a shopping experience inside the Tudor-style building is a must-see, must-do for anyone ticking off London’s major spots.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is the most buzzing place in London, and it's no surprise it's known as the Times Square of London.
Savile Row
Home of bespoke men's tailoring in London, Savile Row was the place where the elite came from around the world to have their suits custom fitted and designed. This is also the street where The Beatles played their last set on the rooftop.
Berwick Street
Known by all vinyl enthusiasts, Berwick Street is the spot to visit for finding vintage records and vinyls in London
Ziggy Stardust Plaque
This spot, now marked by a plaque, appears on the cover of Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'

Related Tours

London's West End: Soho, Covent Garden & Chinatown Private Tour
Explore the quaint yet uniquely vibrant streets of Soho, Covent Garden, and Chinatown, in the heart of London's West End, on this private walking tour of central London’s arts, music, shopping, gourmet, and theatre scene. 

On your private tour, you will:

  • Enjoy a private walking tour of one of London's hippest parts of town;
  • Stroll through London’s Theatre District the famous West End, and enjoy the buzz and vibrant colours of Chinatown;
  • Wander the rickety cobbled streets, back alleys, and historic squares which are home to a plethora of boutiques, traditional pubs, late-night clubs, bars and gourmet restaurants;
  • Experience Soho’s myriad of alleys and squares, the home of risqué shops, clubs, and counter-culture;
  • Enjoy the huge variety of people, buskers and artists that make up Soho as you wander down famous Carnaby Street, Berwick Street and the spectacular Seven Dials;
  • Learn about the people who made Soho famous, including political figures like Karl Marx, literary figures like Charles Dickens, jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and rock stars like Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and so many more! 
  • Discover the lively energy of Covent Garden, a thriving hub on the West End, featuring iconic attractions like the renowned Apple Market! 

Soho is bursting with fascinating history, architectural curiosities and one of England’s most vibrant entertainment scenes. This colourful neighbourhood continues to be at the epicentre of British counterculture, the arts, and the LGBTQ community. 

Home to the beautiful theatres of the West End, the area is full of actors, musicians and artists of all stripes, and consequentially is a hub of gourmet restaurants and fabulous bars too. 

Walk around the colourful Chinatown with its deliciously mouth-watering aromas, and learn all about its fascinating history; get lost down the cobbled alleys around the magnificent Seven Dials; move away from the tourist traps on Oxford Circus and wander down the glittering Carnaby Street, stop in at Liberty, a famous shopping emporium, with the famous black and white Tudor architecture. 

You’ll pass several historic places, including the Dog & Duck on Bateman Street, a pub from the mid-1700s, Royalty House - formerly Miss Kelly’s theatre, and where Charles Dickens worked as a stagehand, and Quo Vadis - the building where Karl Marx’s family lived in the mid 19th century, and where Engles and Marx worked together on the Communist Manifesto! 

Admire the seamless blend of traditional old pubs, with modern clothes and music shops. Learn all about the people that made the area so special from rock stars to actors, political figures to writers. 
The Beatles Iconic Landmarks: Private Beatlemania Tour in a London Taxi

This private driving tour will take you on a journey to discover The Beatles' history by exploring some of the iconic landmarks where memorable events took place, and though the Beatles were originally from Liverpool, they called London home at several stages in their lives and careers.

On your private tour, you will:

  • Travel in the comfort of a private and iconic London Taxi;
  • Visit key hangouts and spots across London frequented by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr;
  • See outside several flats and homes where the band members have lived throughout the city;
  • Pass by the Old Marylebone Town Hall, home to many celebrity weddings; 
  • Explore Marylebone Railway Station and discover where the opening scenes to ‘Hard Day’s Night’ were filmed;
  • Drive through the neighbourhoods where the Beatles lived, played and recorded their chart-busters, including the West End, Mayfair, Soho, and Piccadilly;
  • Pass by London Palladium, Trident Studios, Saville Theatre, and more! 
  • Pop in the London Beatles Store for a memorable photo opportunity;
  • Recreate the famous Abbey Road album cover as you stand on the crossing by Abbey Road Studios.


Celebrate one of the world's most successful rock and roll bands – on your private British invasion tour, which brings to you several of the Beatles' most famed places in jolly, old London.

Your driver-guide will pick you up in a yellow submarine - and by that, we mean traditional London London Taxi - at your hotel for a groovy Beatlemania Tour experience.

Join the Lonely Hearts Club Band and see where John, Paul, George, and Ringo stayed and played while in London.

On top of many fans, a wish list is the famous Studios on Abbey Road, and your party can re-create the famous Abbey Road album cover on that pedestrian crossing, where you can 'come together, right now over [this].'

You will wake up the next morning singing that, 'yesterday - all your troubles seemed so far away after enjoying one of the city's most popular tours.

See London's Magical Christmas Lights: Private Tour in a London Taxi

Enjoy a magical winter wonderland tour of the Christmas lights and famous sights of London in a classic London Taxi and an expert private guide to lead the way. See the most famous landmarks and shopping streets of London, all sparkling with truly spectacular light displays, festooned with garlands, Christmas trees, and dazzling decorations. 


On your private tour your will: 


  • Meet your expert driver guide at your hotel in central London or Embankment, and be swept up in a traditional London Taxi to see all the razzle-dazzle of London’s spectacular Christmas light displays; 
  • Visit the two most famous shopping areas of London: Regent Street and Oxford Street and be totally dazzled by their historic Christmas light shows that have been going on since 1948 and 1959;
  • Drive through marvellous Marylebone, always tastefully decorated, and admire the sumptuous window displays of the designer shops on upmarket Bond Street, festooned with garlands of holly and ivy as well as artistic lights;
  • Enjoy a walkabout and photo opportunity at Carnaby Street - always one of the most cheerful, ambitiously creative, and brightly coloured streets of London bordering Soho;
  • Wander around the famous Covent Garden - truly the hub of Christmas in London with its vibrant atmosphere, bright lights, comforting winter smells of mulled wine and giant 60-foot Christmas tree;
  • Stop at the iconic Trafalgar Square in central London with its majestic views towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the imposing Nelson’s Column, the magnificent National Gallery and at Christmas a vast 80-foot Christmas tree, an annual gift from Norway since 1947;
  • Enjoy drive-bys along famous streets like the Strand, and hidden gems like Connaught Street and the 7 Dials
  • Pass by Buckingham Palace - home of the British monarchy and stunningly flood-lit at night; 
  • Enjoy views of Westminster Abbey, the bridges over the River Thames, Piccadilly Circus with its flashing billboards, Marble Arch and Mayfair - all beautifully lit with festive cheer; 
  • Drive past the British Parliament, always flood-lit at night with added sparkle for Christmas and head to Chelsea, an upmarket borough of London famous for its dazzling Christmas lights around Sloane Square and the King’s Road.

Enjoy the magic of London’s streets lit up at Christmas time from the comfort of a classic London Cab. With your expert private guide, you’ll also get a whistle stop tour of many of the most important and famous landmarks, streets, views, and markets of the British capital city! 


You’ll enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Christmas markets, soak up the fairy-tale wonder of the dazzling light displays all over the city and learn about famous London sights, history, and Christmas traditions - all from a glass-roofed cab to ensure you make the very most of this incredible experience.

Your 2.5-hour private driving tour will ensure you see all the best viewing points of London beautifully alight at Christmas! 


Downton Abbey Filming Locations in London: Private Half-Day Tour

Explore the city of London like a lord or a lady and follow the footsteps of your favourite characters on this Downton Abbey Filming Locations half-day tour.

Even though Yorkshire and Highclere Castle are the main Downton Abbey filming sites for the earlier episodes, central London started to hog the limelight as the show clocked its later innings, and on this tour, you will flashback to the popular scenes set in the city’s iconic landmarks.

Play guessing games to jog your memory as you see:

  • Buckingham Palace, while not a regular setting, references are made throughout the series due to its importance as the residence of the British monarch;
  • Lancaster House, a neo-classical mansion used for filming historical dramas due to its opulent interiors;
  • Bridgewater House, a privately owned home symbol the exclusivity and wealth of its owner, reflecting the lifestyle of the elite during that era;
  • Belgrave Square, an affluent area in London;
  • Criterion Restaurant, the historic restaurant in Piccadilly Circus;
  • The Ritz London Hotel, built in 1906, 
  • Hyde Park and the Albert Memorial, one of London's largest parks served as a backdrop for strolls and social events;
  • Astor House
  • St. Pancras Station, is used in many scenes boarding trains or meeting others in London;
  • and these are just for starters. How many could you spot?


Be bowled over by a few secret filming locations, including Lord Grantham’s London stately home shared by your Professional Private Driver Guide who happens to be a Downton Abbey fanatic as well.

Brace for non-stop peppy conversation, not crisp commentary.



DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the television series ‘Downton Abbey’ produced by Carnival Film and Television and NBCUniversal International Limited. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the television series ‘Downton Abbey’, Carnival Film and Television or NBC Universal International Limited.
 

London Calling: Rock n’ Roll Private Half-Day Tour in a London Taxi

London’s rich history in the rock n' roll scene is like no other in the world and on this tour, you’ll be discovering the hang-outs of British punk bands and rock superstars in some of the most legendary music venues.


On this private rock n' roll tour, get ready to:

  • Discover the location of the Beatles' historic rooftop concert, where they played legendary tracks like "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down";
  • Reenact the iconic album cover of "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" and strike your best David Bowie pose;
  • See the Prince of Wales Theatre, and imagine the screams of fans during their Royal Command Performance in 1963;
  • Explore Tin Pan Alley, birthplace of legendary bands like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Who;
  • Pass by Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, where music icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi Hendrix left their mark; 
  • Immerse yourself in the rock history of The Intrepid Fox pub on Wardour Street, where Mick Jagger convinced Ronnie Wood to join The Rolling Stones;
  • See the legendary Trident Studios where timeless tracks like "Hey Jude" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" were recorded;
  • Find Sister Ray Record Store and recreate the iconic album cover of "Morning Glory" by Oasis;
  • Discover the Royal Academy of Music on Marylebone Road, where Elton John honed his piano skills before becoming a rock superstar;
  • See the famous Abbey Road EMI Studios, where the majority of The Beatles' recordings took place, shaping their musical legacy;
  • Snap a memorable photo at the most popular and iconic crossing in the world, Abbey Road.


Get ready to dive into the heart of London's rich musical history, where iconic legends and groundbreaking moments have shaped the very fabric of rock and roll. You will follow the footsteps of music's greatest icons, from The Beatles to David Bowie, and relive the unforgettable moments that defined an era.

From legendary concert venues and recording studios to the birthplace of British rock and roll, this tour is your backstage pass to the city's most iconic rock n'roll landmarks.

Strike a pose, re-create album covers, and immerse yourself in the stories that have rocked London's streets.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or a music history enthusiast, our tour promises an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of rock and roll.

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