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Uncover the heritage of Carnaby Street and Soho, the world-renowned shopping and dining district packed with 300+ global and British brands
The definition of Soho
One of central London's most exciting districts in the borough of Westminster, the go-to shopping and dining neighbourhood hosts an unrivalled line-up of restaurants, bars, shops and experiences, including the iconic Carnaby Street.
Famously an inclusive square mile, honouring LGBTQ+ communities and leading the way for the Swinging Sixties, Soho is bordered by Oxford Street, Regent Street and walking distance from Chinatown and Covent Garden.
What to expect: Travel to Soho and you'll find an abundance of traditional pubs, streets that come alive with the famous late night scene, independent and global stores, one of London's oldest markets and streetstyle reflective of the fashion movements birthed in Soho over the last 70 years.
Soho - A bohemian hangout, a gastronome’s playground, a media hub, a retail district and a jazz hotspot.
Conde Nast Traveller
The definition of Carnaby Street
Famous across the globe, this single pedestrianised street in Soho is home to years of culture - a trailblazer in fashion, music and art. Tucked behind Regent Street and the most iconic gateway to Soho, this 250m stretch of shopping and dining experiences has made its name as one of London's most unique destinations.
Home to beauty, fashion, accessories, jewellery and apparel brands with global recognition and British heritage, Carnaby Street is a leader in innovation with regular collaborative pop ups and concept stores. Hidden behind the buzz of Carnaby Street, you'll find the entrance to Kingly Court, a three-storey home to some of the best dining concepts Soho has to offer.
History of Soho
Once known as St Giles Field, Soho was an area without buildings, according to a plan dating back to 1585. Moving forward to 1682, the name “SO HO” appears on a map – it is claimed that the name was a hunting cry of the period. Here, The Museum of Soho presents the detailed research they have done into Soho’s history. The reports take in the sordid and unsavoury side of Soho’s past as well as the music heritage, the textile industry and the iconic Berwick Street Market.
Berwick Street Market
Soho's Berwick Street Market is one of the capital’s oldest markets. Street trading in Berwick Street is said to have started in the late 1770s when shopkeepers displayed their wares on the pavements, but it was not officially recognised as a market until 1892.
French Huguenots, Greeks and Italians populated the Soho area, a cosmopolitan but modest district. By the 1890s many had opened eating-houses serving their native cuisines.
As the market traders attempted to supply the ingredients, Berwick Street Market earned a reputation for selling a bewildering variety of fruit and vegetables. In 1880 tomatoes first appeared in London at Berwick Street Market, grapefruit followed in 1890.
In the 1950s when the only place to buy olive oil in England was a chemist - not for eating but for softening ear wax - famous TV cooks such as Fanny Cradock and food writers such as Elizabeth David bought exotic ingredients from Berwick Street Market.
Walking down Berwick Street in the 1990s, you could expect to hear the Soho street traders' cry, 'Fill yer boots with bananas, 19p a pound.'
Berwick Street Market has recently become a foodie destination with concept traders in the market open Monday to Saturday from 8am until 6pm.
Music & Culture
Soho has strong connections with the music industry throughout history. In the 1980s, Berwick Street became a destination for vinyl record collectors when it was known as ‘The Golden Mile of Vinyl’. This corner of Soho is still home to central London’s largest concentration of independent record shops; Reckless Records and Sister Ray on Berwick Street, Phonica on Poland Street as well as Sounds of the Universe around the corner on Broadwick Street.
Berwick Street was the location for the cover shoot of the 1995 Oasis album ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’. Ian Brown cycled backwards down Berwick Street in the music video for F.E.A.R. and T-Rex front man Marc Bolan worked on his mum’s stall on Berwick Street market in the 1960s.
On 14 April 1964, David Bowie’s first band, Dave Jones and The King Bees played The Jack of Clubs (later Madame JoJo’s) on Brewer Street. This is claimed to have been David Bowie's big break.
History of Carnaby Street
There is no dispute, Carnaby has an iconic heritage. From being the birthplace of Swinging London in the 1960’s, the home of Mods, Skinheads, Punks and New Romantics to the street style of today. Carnaby has and always will be the epicentre of culture and lifestyle in London’s West End.
Timeline of Carnaby Street
1600s
In 1682 bricklayer, Richard Tyler, laid out Carnaby Street itself, which took it’s name from Karnaby House, the first house built on the street.
1665 was the year of The Great Plague. ‘Pesthouses’ were built for plague victims, the first one in London being on Carnaby Street.
1700s
In the 1720s the area was redeveloped to include a market for meat, fish and vegetables in Lowndes Market, later known as Carnaby Market.
The Shakespearean public House, which still stands today on the corner of Carnaby Street and Foubert’s Place was built in 1735.
1800s
Regent Street was completed in 1823, segregating Carnaby Street and Soho from Mayfair. The street was built by architect John Nash and was the worlds’ first purpose built shopping street.
Soho was the epicentre of the outbreak of cholera in 1854, epidemiologist John Snow, identified a contaminated water pump on Broadwick Street was the cause and closed it off. He is commemorated by The John Snow pub built on the site of the water pump.
1950s
Vince, credited as the first menswear boutique in the Carnaby Street area, opened at 5 Newburgh Street in 1954.
1952 – John Stephen, previously a shop assistant at Vince, opened ‘His Clothes’ on Beak Street, and later at 5 Carnaby Street. Although his merchandise targeted teenagers, it attracted high profile pop stars including Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. John Stephens went on to open a further 5 shops on Carnaby Street.
1960s
For years Carnaby was the place to be if you were a creative in search of inspiration. Carnaby earned its credentials during the 1960s with vibrant clashes of colour, new cultures, exciting new music and a rebellious identity, there was nowhere else like it in London. Music stars including Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and style icons Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor were all Carnaby Street regulars.
Cranks vegetarian restaurant opened in Carnaby in 1961
Lord John, which went on to become an international chain of menswear shops, first opened at 43 Carnaby Street in 1964 by Warren Gold.
Time magazine first described London as the ‘swinging city’ on 15 April 1966.
To promote the opening of new boutique ‘Tom Cat’, owner Irvine Sellar asked Tom Jones to walk down Carnaby Street with ‘Casino Royale’ actress Christine Spooner and a cheetah. – 1966.
The Kinks ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion, talking about the ‘Carnabetian Army’ was released in 1966.
Henry Moss & Harry Fox opened womenswear boutique Lady Jane at 29 Carnaby Street with girls changing in the shop windows, which resulted in Mr Fox being arrested for obstructing the highway due to the crowds it drew.
1967 – Jimi Hendrix wore a military jacket bought at ‘I was Lord Kitchener’s Valet’
Paul McCartney meets Linda on 15 May at Bag O’ Nails Club, 9 Kingly Street.
1970s
1973 - Carnaby Street was pedestrianised and the iconic ‘Carnaby Street welcomes the World’ sign was installed.
Punk emerged taking Carnaby by storm with The Sex Pistols pictured on the street in 1976, now one of music’s most iconic photographs of the time. Photographed by Ray Stevenson.
The Jam released ‘Carnaby Street’ a B-side to ‘All Around The World’ in 1977.
1980s
A new wave of British designers moved into the area including Vivienne Westwood, John Richmond, Mary Quant and Pam Hogg. Carnaby was the place to showcase defiant style. Whether you were a Mod, Punk, Rocker or a Goth, Carnaby was your fashion home.
The Jam released ‘Carnaby Street’ a B-side to ‘All Around The World’ in 1977.
2002
The legendary hip-hip record store Deal Real opened its doors in 2002 at 3 Marlborough Court. The venue to the likes of Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Mark Ronson, John Legend, Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco. It became London’s epicenter for hip-hop and urban youth-culture, responsible for showcasing, supporting and nurturing a wealth of burgeoning talent, many of whom went on to attain mainstream success.
Deal Real was brought back to life in 2015 with the Deal Real Legacy pop-up shop at 14 Newburgh Street. Hosting nights with Kano, Tinchy Stryder and Kate Tempest, the store held free weekly in-store signings, performances and workshops.