Soho and The West End are two of London’s most exciting areas. This historic part of the capital has attracted aristocrats, gangsters and musicians thanks to its reputation for debauchery. Today it is still a vibrant place to stay in London.
By: Paul Healey |
Published: April 22, 2024
The West End is an informally defined area north of the Thames between Oxford Circus And Holborn. Home to the country’s mainstream professional theatre, it is one of London’s liveliest areas.
Soho is a smaller area within the West End, roughly defined by the triangle between them Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus And Tottenham Court Road metro stations.
This is one of the most exciting areas in London and a place we like to hang out when we’re not travelling.
It has a buzzing atmosphere 24/7 with excellent live music and small streets full of bars, cafes, restaurants and pubs. You could easily spend days wandering around Soho, visiting interesting shops and still not even scratch the surface.
It’s a great base for your stay in London if you’re looking for somewhere with lots of great nightlife yet still retains a village feel.
It’s one of our favorite areas of London.
WHY STAY IN SOHO AND THE WEST END?
The West End is one of the busiest entertainment areas in London, so if you stay here you will have everything at your fingertips. You can enjoy a great night out, trying out Soho’s small wine bars, live music venues, boutiques and excellent restaurants and walking back to your hotel with ease.
If you’re coming to London to shop, Oxford Street and Regent Street, both in Soho, are a great place to start.
Soho is also very central and within walking distance of many attractions. Some of London’s best art galleries are close by, as are the popular tourist centers of Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Chinatown.
What we like most about Soho is that even though it is very popular with tourists, it still manages to retain a local atmosphere.
KEY POINTS IN SOHO AND THE WEST END
London LGBT scene: The area around Old Compton Street is the heart of London’s LGBT scene, where you’ll find plenty of great bars (they’re open to everyone).
Soho’s Laneways: Soho has a collection of small streets lined with cafes, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Some of the best streets are Dean Street, Firth Street, And Bekstraat.
Chinatown / Leicester Square: As the center of tourist London, Chinatown and Leicester Square are easy to explore, but probably in small doses.
Galleries: The National Portrait Gallery (our favorite gallery in London) and the National Gallery are located in the West End.
Covent Garden: We love Covent Garden, even though it is very busy and touristy. It is a beautiful square, the shops are excellent and there are some very good restaurants.
French House: The French House is a historic pub in Soho with no music, TV or telephones. They are known to only sell half pints, except on April 1st every year when you can get a full pint for charity.
Berwick Street Market: Whenever we are in Soho we head to Berwick Street Market for the best street food in London. Our choice is Jerusalem Falafel.
TUBE STATIONS IN THE WEST SIDE
Dyke | Charing Cross | Piccadilly Circus | Leicester Square | Covent Garden | Temple | Holborn | Kanselarijlaan
WHERE TO STAY?
Z HOTEL BEACH (£)
It’s not easy to find good quality hotels near the West End, but Z Hotels have a few, and the one on the Strand is probably your best bet.
It is in an excellent location and the rooms are clean and tidy, although very small.
10 minutes walk – Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Ronnie Scotts, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Embankment | 20 minutes walk – Oxford Circus, Google Street, Buckingham Palace, Southwark.
Z HOTEL SOHO (£)
The Z Soho is trendy and hip with the right design quirks. The rooms are small but practical with comfortable beds and open bathrooms. There are no wardrobes, only some hanging space, so you must be prepared to travel light. However, it is a great value stay in the center of Soho.
10 minutes walk – Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly, Charing Cross | 20 minutes walk – Green Park, The Wallace Collection, Bond Street, Westminster Abbey, Chancery Lane.
HAZLITT’S (££)
In the heart of Soho I have walked past this hotel many times and never knew it was there. It exudes old-world charm in four Georgian townhouses with a wood-paneled library, leather-bound books and antique furniture.
10 minutes walk – Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly, Charing Cross, Oxford Circus, Savile Row | 20 minutes walk – Green Park, The Wallace Collection, Bond Street, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Chancery Lane.
L’OSCAR (£££)
On the northeast corner of Covent Garden, this beautifully designed boutique hotel is lavishly decorated, somewhere between 1920s glamor and Studio 54. The friendly staff, excellent cocktails and above-average breakfast make this a great stay in Soho.
10 minutes walk – Chancery Lane, Russell Square, Bloomsbury Square, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Tottenham Court Road, Covent Garden | 20 minutes walk – King’s Cross, Euston Square, Oxford Circus, BFI Imax, St Pauls, Smithfield Market.
HAM YARD HOTEL (£££)
Ham Yard Hotel is a cool urban village with a tree-filled courtyard, shops and a bowling alley. The rooms are beautifully designed with chic British sensibilities. The roof terrace has an edible garden and beautiful views of London.
10 minutes walk – Piccadilly Circus, Liberty, Tottenham Court Road, Covent Garden, Fortnum & Mason, The Mall, Charing Cross | 20 minutes walk – Great Portland Street, Russell Square, Southbank, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Bond Street, Hyde Park Corner.
MORE ACCOMMODATION GUIDE IN LONDON
EVERYWHERE WE RAM IS
READER SUPPORTED
When you buy through links on our site we may earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
You can also call us for a coffee.
Thank you for your support – Paul & Mark.
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK