Michelle Alger, the Buying Manager for Home and Gift at Liberty walks us on a loop through Soho. Shops, cafes, bars, parks, and even a hairdressers are featured to guide you on a tour which captures the essence of the ever evolving leisure district.
SOHO: Take a Walk with Michelle Alger
“After arriving at Oxford Circus tube, take the exit leading onto Argyll Street and you’ll be facing the large Tudor-style building that is the iconic Liberty. Biased, I know, but in my opinion it is the most interesting store in the area, filled with delights ranging from high fashion through to luxury furniture.
Liberty, Great Marlborough Street.
Walking along Great Marlborough Street you’ll pass the dress-fabric district. Be sure to check out the famous Cloth House stores on Berwick Street, with their lush fabrics and trims.
Cloth House, 98 Berwick Street.
Continue along Noel Street to Hollen Street and the imposing Henry Heath Hat Factory – another fragment of the old artisan Soho.
Henry Heath Hat Factory Building, 98 Berwick Street.
Snake through to Soho Square, with its mock-Tudor gatehouse and welcome green space in the heart of the metropolis.
Soho Square.
On the corner of Old Compton Street and Greek Street, visit Café Boheme and enjoy an afternoon Kir Royale and an atmosphere of Paris circa 1920.
Cafe Boheme, 13-17 Old Compton Street.
Next door is Soho House, where you can enjoy a terrific rooftop terrace if you know a friend with membership. Continue down Old Compton Street past Patisserie Valerie, a must-visit for cakes and coffee.
Patisserie Valerie, 44 Old Compton Street.
On Brewer Street, check out Madame Jojo’s for burlesque dancing and kitsch cabaret and, a few doors further down, Soho’s Original Bookshop, with its edgy collection of fashion and art titles (and a sneaky hidden sex shop downstairs).
Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street.
Soho Original Bookshop, 23-25 Leather Lane.
Carry on along Brewer Street to the Vintage Magazine Shop – great for silver-screen and comic-book fans.
Vintage Magazine Shop, 39-43 Brewer Street.
Continue in the same direction to Tommy Guns for a quick ‘too cool for school’ trim.
Tommy Guns, 52 Brewer Street.
Then do some celeb-spotting at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods, 69-75 Brewer Street.
Take a right into Lower James Street and catch a glimpse of the beautiful arches of lower Regent Street behind you. In Golden Square, stop by Nordic Bakery for coffee and Scandinavian treats before reaching Play Lounge for vinyl collectors on Beak Street.
Nordic Bakery, 14 Golden Square.
Play Lounge, 19 Beak Street.
Cut through Kingly Court – a medley of vintage clothing, homewares and beauty boutiques – and re-emerge on Carnaby Street. Head left to howies, my favourite store on the street, selling unisex ethical clothing.
Howies, 42 Carnaby Street.
Finally, on the corner of Ganton Street and Kingly Street, enjoy a glass of Manzanilla and tapas at Dehesa.”
Dehesa, 25 Ganton Street.
This extract was taken from page 65 of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?
Tags LDG extract | Michelle Alger | Page 65 | Soho | Take a Walk
