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As soon as Soho is mentioned to those unfamiliar with London, the immediate response often encapsulates its old reputation of seediness and 'colourful' nightclubs! Admittedly Soho still has its fleshpots and red lights, but it is also home to a fantastic pub, bar and restaurant scene (Porter's Bar on Poland Street offers great value snacks and is well positioned for a leisurely drink). Add to this an enormous number of music shops, nightclubs and jazz spots and you have one of London's most vibrant areas.

Gerrard Street is the centre of London's Chinatown and Chinese community - here you'll find scores of Chinese restaurants, many of which serve until the small hours. Leicester Square is a large pedestrianised area surrounded by the plushest cinemas in London including The Empire and The Odeon. It is at these vast movie palaces that star studded premieres and Royal Gala film performances are held. Expect to pay high prices! On Shaftesbury Avenue you'll find a good proportion of London's famous theatres showing everything from top West End shows to Shakespeare. International stars often take to the boards so check the displays outside the theatres to see who's performing.

To be honest, the vast majority of Londoners steer well clear of Leicester Square and Soho unless they have specific reasons to go there (eg. for a restaurant reservation or to see a play or film). It can be unbearably busy and packed full of tourists, unscrupulous minicab drivers, pickpockets and generally odd people. Indeed, as far back as 1908 G.K. Chesterton said of Leicester Square "it will never be known whether it was the foreign look that attracted the foreigners or the foreigners who gave it the foreign look"! Nevertheless, it is well worth a quick visit if you intend to use the place in much the same way as a Londoner - book a table or show (or both), have a quick drink beforehand and then move on. Don't forget to look after your wallet and use black cabs when they're available although (as is often true in London) it's only a short walk to many of the city's major attractions, parks and landmarks.

 

Nearest Underground stops: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus