The beating heart of eclectic London
The streets of Soho are energetic, containing a range of dining options, nightlife scenes and shopping opportunities. It is diverse, fun and never quiet, this borough attracts a wide mix of people. Its history, venues and atmosphere make it a must-see for tourists and Londoners alike.
Arty and urban in design, this cool and individual space has plenty to offer. The history of the building is reflected within the entrance; the sheet music and grand piano which greet you represent the place’s publishing house roots. Much of the original character of the building is also retained further inside the space with features such as the exposed brick wall and large windows being retained. Corridors are lined with Banksy style art yet with added colour painted directly on to the walls, filling them from top to bottom with bright shades and bold prints. Meeting rooms and office spaces are a little simpler in style and feature delicately textured wall paper.
Not looking for an average workspace? How does a private studio sound? And what’s more, the interiors focus around Soho’s iconic spaces so expect plentiful pop art, abstract designs and above all, inspiration. With all this brain power, a great workspace must also have a great lounge space. Well, this Wardour Street site certainly has that. Filled with engaging primary colours and eye catching furniture, it offers a great space to re-focus the mind. And finally, when all those inspired ideas come rushing forward at once, the interactive wall allows you to easily display them to the world – well the workspace at least.
TRANSPORT LINKS
London is famous for its transport, with black cabs and double decker buses. But, the most notable way of transport for locals and visitors alike is London’s underground, which provides transport in and around the whole of the city.
Oxford Circus Tube Station
This London underground station serves Oxford Circus at the junction of Regent Street and Oxford Street, with the entrances being on all four corners of the intersection. It is an interchange station between the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines.
Piccadilly Circus
This tube station is located directly below Piccadilly Circus itself. It has entrances on every corner and is located in Travelcard Zone 1. It is on the Piccadilly Line between Green Park and Leicester Square and serves on the Bakerloo Line between Charing Cross and Oxford Circus.
Tottenham Court Road
This London underground and Elizabeth Line station is located in St Giles in the West End of London. The station transports on the Central Line, the Elizabeth Line and the Charing Cross Branch of the Northern Line.
BIG CORPORATIONS
Soho is where media, creative and digital companies thrive in Soho and the area is a well-known magnet for established businesses to set up new roots.
DIAGEO
This multinational company supplies alcohol beverages in more than 180 countries. It operates directly from its head office in Soho, London. Producing from more than 140 sites around the glove and it was the world’s largest distiller until being overtaken by a Chinese competitor. They have worked with brands such as Guinness, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Ciroc and so many more.
NIO
This company builds smart electric vehicles, provides premium services and creates innovative charging solutions. They empower and inspire a community of users where they can share joy and grow together. They know that smart, electric and autonomous vehicles are the future. They lead the way, add value to your life, and constantly innovate with industry-leading technology.
BUSINESS LOCATIONS
These are any structure, whether it is public or private, that is adapted for the transaction of business. These are scattered all across London, but with the main media and creative services operating from these in Soho.
Soho Square
Located in Soho Square, hence the name, the shared office space of Manor House offers eight-floors of coworking space, featuring art-filled lounges, collaborative conference rooms and sleek private offices. It does actually feature a brainstorming room and a functional outdoor space for meetings. Commuting is also effortless too, with several underground stations within close proximity. Located in the heart of London’s West End and close to Covent Garden, it is work hard, play hard at this unique workspace.
Broadwick Street
Soho’s Radio on-site recording studio animates the front entrance to maximise the visitor experience, where there are also spaces to collaborate and socialise. If you are looking for your own private floor(s), designated office space or simply a desk, this buildings experience is made to heighten productivity, wellbeing and overall satisfaction – for anyone and any business of all sizes. The building allows you to keep yourself connected, keep your business up and running, keep the people positive and productive and you’re free to focus on what’s important in the working day.
INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
Soho proves popular for startup companies in the creative media industry. With affordable office space and a lot of it, no wonder why startups and sole businesses are flocking to the streets of Soho.
Liberty
A London icon. A department store with rich history that spans over six floors, steeped with luxury female fashion, emerging menswear designers, homeware goods, interior accessories and a haberdashery stocked to the brim with the much-loved Liberty fabric. On top of that, there is also a small, but stacked out food and drink hall too. Even if you’ve been a thousand times before, it is always worth a visit.
Lina Stores
A Soho veteran, making the freshest pasta on the site for 70 plus years and the Italian deli is still standing. By importing and selling authentic Italian produce and still continue to make pasta, cakes, hot dishes and sandwiches on site. Some say its the best pasta around. Oh, and they also do some of the best coffee around.
Phonica Records
Soho is filled with loads of amazing record shops, but Phonica is a favourite within the area because they do it all. You will be able to find anything from rare soul 7″s to library soundtracks to big room house and techno 12″s. And if you don’t believe it Four Tet, Floating Points and Caribou are all regular customers.
Soho Radio
This independent online radio station broadcasting from Great Windmill Street. It is an institution with a vibrant culture at its centre, with it showcasing different types of musicians, poets, artists and so much more, with one channel for music and another for culture.
HISTORY
This specific London borough was first developed from farmland by Henry VIII in 1536, when it became a royal park. In the late 17th century, it was made a parish in its own right in the late 17th century, when buildings started to be developed for the upper class, including the construction of Soho Square in the 1680s.
Soho Square
It is fairly easy to get lost round the backstreets and alleys of Soho, which makes this open space a perfect place to gather yourself and get you’re bearings. It is a small garden oasis that sits in the middle of some of Soho’s most well-known thoroughfares, including Greek Street and Frith Street. Since its construction in the late 1670s, it is now home to several media companies including 20th Century Fox and the popular Toucan Pub.
Carnaby Street
A walkaway filled with shops, pubs and restaurants. Here lies one of the capitals most famous streets which was very popular in the 1960s for kitting out the hippies and mods of the day. However, it now houses huge international and British brands alongside independent boutiques and pop-up concept stores.
Denmark Street
Another famous street, but this is where Adele and Jeff Buckley got their big breaks and where seminal New Musical Express launched in 1952, where The Kinks gained their profound inspiration for the song of the same name. A few facts, it is also where The Rolling Stones and David Bowie recorded landmark albums, the streets place in music history is undeniably graceful. However, it can’t claim to be the centre of British music any longer, it now live on with musical instrument stores that line to pavements.
HIDDEN GEMS
London borough that is a popular spot for tourists and Londoners alike, for may reasons. The restaurants, music scene and unique venues make this place rich for hidden gems, you just need a bit of guidance.
Ducksoup
A unique dining experience, fairly intimate and high quality, look no further than Ducksoup. A natural wine bar and restaurant that switch up their menu on a weekly basis, so it will always come as surprise. With each dish, you will be able to tell that its made with pride, love and care.
The Piano Bar
Even though it may feel like you see a lot of the city in your day-to-day outings, Soho’s basement bars shed light on everything the city keeps secret. The Piano Bar is a favourite around Soho. This live piano bar serves great wines and cocktails and has about 15 seats, so get down quick.
The French House
Don’t fancy a cocktail? One of Soho’s many pubs will set you in the right direction for an after work pint. If you’d rather the sweet nectar from a lager glass, then The French House is always a good option. The Grade II listed pub started out as the York Minster but changed its name after having been referred to as The French House for years.
Candy Cafe
Situated on Macclesfield Street, this Asian inspired cafe offers an Asian inspired menu, specialising highly in the ever-growing and popular bubble tea. It is a milk-based Taiwanese drink containing tapioca balls. It has gained popularity in recent years due to its strange but unique appearance in a variety of inviting colours and flavours, which makes it hard to turn down.
SHOPPING
From independent womenswear boutiques to vintage emporiums and the best places to buy beauty products, consider Soho as one of the prime shopping destinations in London.
END.
This Newcastle-based luxury menswear retailer END. opened its first London store in Soho in 2018. This two storey centre feels bright, modern and well curated. Featuring oversized digital screens so that customers can experience each one of the main brands that the store offers. Expect contemporary labels with a slight streetwear influence: Acne Studios, Common Projects and Champion set the tone.
Hamleys
This store is paradise on earth for children, and even adults too. The elegant decor, seasonal windows and installations of various themes and thousands of toys create the “myth” of Hamleys and make children from all countries want to visit. Live demonstrations and games span each floor, you might get to meet your favourite character or even superhero.
Oxford Street
The world’s biggest shopping high street, offering 1.5 miles of 90 unrivalled flagship stores, from fashion and beauty to technology and homeware. It is the ultimate shopping haven, for anyone. Explore some of the very best high-street brands such as Gap, River Island, Primark, X and the UK’s iconic department store, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer. Fancy a bit of mid-shop food? Take your pick from more than 500 restaurants within 5 minutes walking distance.
FOOD & DRINK
Soho has a history with restaurants that is like no other. Bubbling with diversity and bringing you dishes and drinks that come from all corners of the globe, whether it is cocktails at dusk or seafood for lunch, there’s always something.
Ping Pong
Located right next to Carnaby Street and is within close proximity from Oxford Circus tube station, this Soho restaurant serves dim sum and cocktails – making it perfect for a midday pit-stop when shopping. With two-fun-filled floors, a large bar area and private hire spaces available, the experience is nothing short of a masterclass – shake it up with a cocktail madness or get cooking with a dim sum cooking class.
Absurd Bird
Offering customers an exciting blend of traditional Deep South recipes including chicken and waffles, loaded burgers, creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, vegan options as well as refreshing cocktails. Absurd Bird serves up delicious Southern cuisine to Soho’s many hungry crowds. Located in central Soho, within close proximity to Berwick Street Market, this eatery is a favourite for city goers needing a midday boost.
Ruby’s
If you are looking for bottomless brunch with flowing cocktails and DJs spinning some tracks then Ruby’s is the cocktail lounge that will give you an experience you will never forget. An elevated modern brasserie, serving an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary dishes, with the menu consisting of an all day brunch, an evening dinner menu with cocktails, wine and beer.
The Rum Kitchen
This spot in Carnaby has the same kitsch beach based vibes of its Notting Hill counterpart, with a beach shack to suit its new Soho clientele. With vibrant colours and a exotic dose of Caribbean soul, this is a fun, relaxed and unique venue for tipples and nibbles in the city. If it is food and drink with heart and soul you want, it’s heart and soul you’re going to get at The Rum Kitchen.
NIGHTLIFE
If you are looking for a fun night out, head to Soho. This happening nook offers an eclectic choice of bars, events and club nights as well as being London’s most well-known gay district.
Zebrano
This bar is a cool combination of after-work drinks, stylised restaurant and a late night club, offering its guests great entertainment and astounding value happy hour deals on cocktails, wines and beers. Situated yards away from the heart of West End, this spot is just the ticket for your pre or post-show refreshments. The venue now has a much more contemporary feel. Its’ weekly program of entertainment is varied enough to include live music, DJs and even after work networking events.
Louche
This late-night music spot in the heart of London’s Soho offers guests great live music and classic cocktails with that well-needed contemporary twist. Split within an old three-storey townhouse, the newly refurbished site contains inconspicuous spaces and alcoves that complement the low-lit, raffish interior that celebrates the story of Soho. Louche is the ideal den for chilled after work cocktails or date nights, as well as for spirited night-time revellers to party into the early hours. Expect live music, late nights, and seriously louche attitude…
Soho is famous for plenty of things, whether it be its history, theatre scene or nightlife, it is definitely a highlight of the West End of London. But, even with all of what we mentioned above, we’ve not even scraped the surface of what it is actually like.
For any help in finding office space to rent in Soho, then get in touch with us here or call one of our expert team on 020 3053 3882 for more help and information.