Soho, London

Soho's name is thought to derive from a hunting cry, 'so-ho!', used when the area was a royal park in the 16th century. The land was developed in the 1670s by speculators such as Richard Frith, and the grid of streets laid out then still defines the district. By the 18th century, Soho attracted French Huguenot refugees, followed by Greeks, Italians, and other immigrants, giving it a cosmopolitan character. In the 19th century, it became a byword for poverty and overcrowding, but also for small workshops and music halls. The 20th century brought a shift to nightclubs, jazz venues, and the film industry, with studios like the now-defunct Walton Studios nearby. Post-war, Soho became the center of the UK's sex industry, which declined from the 1980s onward, replaced by upscale bars and restaurants.

Soho is synonymous with London's nightlife, offering a dense concentration of pubs, clubs, and theaters. The district is home to the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, founded in 1959, and the Groucho Club, a private members' club for the media elite. The area has been a center for LGBTQ+ culture since the 19th century, with Old Compton Street serving as the heart of the gay village. Soho's theaters, including the Soho Theatre and the Prince Edward Theatre, contribute to its status as a performance hub. The annual Soho Film Festival and the Soho Jazz Festival highlight its ongoing creative energy. The district's streets, such as Carnaby Street, became iconic in the 1960s as a fashion destination, and today they attract tourists seeking both history and contemporary entertainment.

Since the early 20th century, Soho has been a center for the film and media industries, with many production companies, post-production houses, and advertising agencies based there. The British film industry's early studios, such as those on Wardour Street, earned it the nickname 'the heart of the film trade.' In the 1990s, Soho became a hub for digital media and post-production, with companies like The Mill and Framestore establishing a presence. The area is also known for its music publishing and recording studios, including the famous Trident Studios, where artists like David Bowie and Queen recorded. Today, Soho remains a cluster for creative businesses, though rising rents have pushed some to nearby areas like Shoreditch. The Soho Theatre continues to nurture new writing and comedy, linking the district to contemporary performance.

Soho's history includes several overlooked details. The district once had a significant Italian community, with a 'Little Italy' around Soho Square, and the remains of the 19th-century Italian church of St. Peter's still stand. The area was also a center for the 18th-century French Huguenot silk-weaving industry, and a few original houses survive on Frith Street. Soho's streets have been used in countless films, such as 'The Krays' and 'Shaun of the Dead,' and the area's alleyways hide the remains of old burial grounds and a former plague pit. The 'Soho Poly' was a pioneering feminist theater in the 1970s. Additionally, the term 'Soho' has been adopted by districts in New York, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, but the original remains the most culturally significant. The area's grid of streets is unusually intact, preserving a historic layout that contrasts with the surrounding grand avenues.

Huguenots

French Protestants who fled persecution and settled in Soho in the 17th century.

LGBTQ+

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minorities.

Post-production

The stage of film and video production after shooting, including editing and effects.