Tuesday, December 22, 2009

How To Enjoy Soho In London - An Insider Guide

By Rajul Chande

London's Soho district has recently made a major comeback. An area which was once a bit seedy is now the vibrant heart of London.

Soho today has some of the capital's best bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants. It feels lively 24/7.

Here we present you some of Soho's key highlights to help you have a fantastic time when you next visit:

* Bars, cafes and clubs on Dean Street and Wardour Street. You could try All Bar One or the Bath House pub on Dean Street; on Wardour Street, good options include the O Bar and the Slug & Lettuce pub.

* Bar Italia (Frith Street) is where the Italians themselves go for the best cappuccino in London. It's hard to get a free seat but is always buzzing!

* Ronnie Scott's is London's premier jazz club and is opposite Bar Italia on Frith Street.

* The Curzon Soho cinema shows European art-house and mainstream films. It has a great cafe (try the cakes!) on the ground floor as well as a lively basement bar.

* Chinatown is also in Soho -it's great fun, especially after dusk! There are some enticing Chinese shops and bakeries as well as some very inviting restaurants. The Wong Kei restaurant on Wardour Street is very well-known to Londoners with service so bad it's actually good! If you're on a budget you can get great value from some of the many all-inclusive buffets in the area.

* Soho's restaurants are famous for serving just about every type of food on earth. You can "window shop" for restaurants until you find something irresistible, since the choice is so mindblowing. You'll find Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Malay...and that's just the tip of the iceberg! Corean Chilli by Leicester Square tube is good value and fun!

The intense competition between restaurants in Soho means that prices are generally OK.

By walking a few minutes to Leicester Square, you'll find yourself at the centre of London's vibrant nightlife. You could enjoy an ice cream at the Haagen Dazs ice cream parlour or go to one of several large cinemas where you're sure to find your favourite movie.

If nightclubs and bars are your thing, that's another Soho "speciality". You can spontaneously pop into almost any place you fancy depending on the music and atmosphere you most enjoy.

What if you prefer to chill out? Soho's multitude of cafes are perfect to do just this and great fun for people watching too! Enjoy a light snack, a long drink, a latte or whatever else takes your fancy.

Since Soho is buzzing 24 hours a day, being there really helps you make the most of your stay in London. It's even lively on a Sunday!

Please check the London Hotels Insight blog for more tips on Soho including expert advice on choosing the best-value hotels and insider London restaurant recommendations.

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