Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nearby Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square teem with fun-seekers, theaters,
Chinese restaurants, and street singers. To the northeast is London's Chinatown and, bey-
ond that, the funky Soho neighborhood (described next). And curling to the northwest
from Piccadilly Circus is genteel Regent Street, lined with exclusive shops.
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Soho
North of Piccadilly, seedy Soho has become trendy—with many recommended restaur-
ants—and is well worth a gawk ( see the West End Walk chapter). It's the epicenter of
London's thriving, colorful youth scene, a fun and funky
Sesame Street
of urban diversity.
Soho is also London's red light district (especially near Brewer and Berwick Streets),
where “friendly models” wait in tiny rooms up dreary stairways, voluptuous con artists
sell strip shows, and eager male tourists are frequently ripped off. But it's easy to avoid
trouble if you're not looking for it. In fact, the sleazy joints share the block with respect-
able pubs and restaurants, and elderly couples stroll past neon signs that flash
Licensed
Sex Shop in Basement.
The centerpiece of this boutique-ish shopping district is an iron-and-glass arcade. The
“Actors' Church” of St. Paul, the Royal Opera House, and the London Transport Museum
(described next) all border the square, and theaters are nearby. The area is a people-watch-
er's delight, with cigarette eaters, Punch-and-Judy acts, food that's good for you (but not
your wallet), trendy crafts, and row after row of boutique shops and market stalls. For
a block or two away from the eye of this touristic hurricane (check out the places north of
