London’s Other Square Mile: A Soho Walking Tour

(23 reviews)

London audio tour: London’s Other Square Mile: A Soho Walking Tour

This is a 1.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$11.99

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About the Tour

Soho is known for its vibrant and sometimes exotic nightlife, right in the heart of London’s West End. It’s always been a very cosmopolitan and diverse place, and there’s history on every street corner. On this walking tour, I’ll share the stories that most visitors miss, including tales of death, disease and robbery.

On this 120-minute tour, I’ll tell you how the area was transformed from farmland on the fringe of the medieval city into the city’s French quarter and, later, into slums and, eventually, a mecca for bohemians. You’ll stroll down the world-famous Carnaby Street where I’ll reveal the truth about whether the Shakespeare’s Head pub was really founded by two of the renowned writer’s descendents. I’ll also show you a few picturesque squares like Golden Square and Soho Square Gardens, as you make your way down several interesting and quirky streets.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

Take in the world-famous London Palladium which has connections to the Beatles
Pass by the iconic Liberty Department Store that Oscar Wilde described as “the chosen resort of the artistic shopper”
Have a drink at the French House pub where Charles de Gaulle was once a regular visitor
Find out how a cholera outbreak from the Broad Street Pump’s water led to a breakthrough in medical science, that saved countless lives
Hear about Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and its neighbour, Bar Italia, another authentic Soho club

Join me on this tour through one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods where I’ll share the history you won’t find in guidebooks.

There are several listed heritage sites to explore en route, so allow more time if you’d like to visit any of them. There are so many cafes, restaurants, pubs and food outlets that you’ll be spoilt for choice if you feel the need to take some time out during the tour.

Tour Producer

Steve Matthews

20 tours

I’ve been guiding in London since 2010, and in that time I’ve led thousands of people through the backstreets, river paths, and half‑forgotten corners that rarely make it into the guidebooks. My work is rooted in years of on‑the‑ground experience, a lot of digging through old maps and archives, and a genuine fascination with how London’s past still shapes the city we walk through today.

What began as a hobby has grown into a long‑standing practice of researching local history — from lost streets and vanished industries to the characters who left their mark on the place. I keep my tours updated with new findings, fresh angles, and the odd surprising detail that brings a street or story to life.

I specialise in the parts of London people often overlook, helping visitors and locals alike see the echoes and footprints hidden in plain sight. My aim is simple: to share the stories I’ve gathered over the years with accuracy, enthusiasm, and a real affection for this endlessly surprising city. Whether you’re joining me for the first time or returning for another walk, you can expect a well‑researched, engaging, and reliable tour shaped by more than a decade of experience.

Preview Location

Location 24

The Blue Posts

Please stop here with the pub on your left.

The Blue Post's sits at the entrance to Berwick Street Market and the pub's earliest mention comes in 1790 as a meeting place for the local Masonic Lodge while the market itself dates back to 1779. The market became famous for its... Please stop here with the pub on your left.

The Blue Post's sits at the entrance to Berwick Street Market and the pub's earliest mention comes in 1790 as a meeting place for the local Masonic Lodge while the market itself dates back to 1779. The market became famous for its foreign cuisine and "exotic" ingredients, like olive oil.

There has been a Jewish presence in Soho since the 1600s, but the area changed when more Jewish people came to the UK in the 1800s to escape persecution. Many settled in Soho and a Jewish community was formed. The area around Berwick Street Market became predominantly Yiddish speaking. More than 70% of all shops and stalls were owned by Jewish people in the 1930s.

Modern Berwick Street has connections with music and the music industry and there are a number of very good second-hand record shops selling rare and classic vinyl. You may have noticed the plaque set over the doorway to the pub which commemorates the life of Jessie Matthews, actor, singer and dancer. She was born into a large family in Berwick Street in 1907. She made her name in theatre and in the 30s was Britain's favourite musical film star. Post-war, her career flagged but in 1963 she got the title role in the long-running radio series 'Mrs Dale's Diary' and became a household name all over again.

Those of a slightly more modern musical age may be familiar with the view looking back up Berwick Street in the direction we’ve just come from. It was used as the location for the band Oasis; second album, What’s the story, Morning glory. The cover is a picture of two men passing each other on Berwick Street. The two men are London DJ Sean Rowley and album sleeve designer Brian Cannon. The album's producer Owen Morris can be seen in the background, on the left footpath, holding the album's master tape in front of his face.

Ok let's move on. Continue along Berwick Street through the market and I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the street.

Oh I nearly forgot, my favourite anecdote concerning this area is not something that I think is best described by words alone. The Blue Posts was once attacked by a marauding Brontosaurus. It’s true.

If you take a look on YouTube there is a film called The Lost World, made in 1925. It’s a silent classic made long before Jurassic Park, apparently, the film's animators used to be regulars in the pub. If you find it scroll through to about 1 hour and five minutes and watch from there and you’ll see I’m telling the truth, honest. Read More

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Major Landmarks

The London Palladium
Liberty London
Shakespeares Head
Carnaby Street
Golden Square
Broad Street Pump
The French House
Ronnie Scott's
Berwick Street Market
Soho Square Gardens

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Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
236 Oxford St, London W1C 1DE, UK
Total distance

3km
Final location
1-7 A40, London, UK
Distance back to start location

793m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts outside of Oxford Circus underground station (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines) If you are arriving via the underground you will need to leave the station by Exit 2 (Oxford Street East, Regent Street South) and once at pavement level you should see in front of you the large Ikea store.

There are a number of Bus routes that stop close to the underground station, which include numbers, 12,22,88,94,159

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The iconic Liberty department store is always worth a look around. In terms of eating there are so many places to choose from, restaurants and fast food outlets abound. I would recommend that you stop for a coffee in Bar Italia on Frith Street. There are several iconic pubs in the area, The Clachan in Kingly Street with it's Victorian interior, The Blue Posts in the vibrant Berwick Street Market and the French House in Dean Street, please be aware that there is a ban on mobile phones here, so switch it off before you enter.

Best time of day

Any time of day is fine for this tour. Expect the evenings to be just as busy as during the day, as the area is one of the busiest for entertainment and night life.

Precautions

The area has many shops, offices and business premises, so there are a lot people around during the day, night and at weekends, although possibly a little quieter on Sundays. The area is considered safe, but please take the usual precautions regarding valuable items such as bags, phones and cameras.

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