Soho and Bloomsbury

Soho is a district in the West End of London between Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Soho is an area which has had a cosmopolitan flavour since French Protestant refugees first settled here in the 1680’s. After this first wave great numbers of French came to London during the French revolution of 1793, among them many artistic people. These two groups formed the foundation of the Soho population. Theatres were opened. The actors and the musicians liked this “foreign place’.

The name of this area probably comes from the old hunting cry of “Tally-Ho” or “So-Ho” when Soho fields were used for hunting. It’s a very old call to scare the foxes from their cover in the 13^th century. But its first use as a place - name was found in 1636.

It’s a place of bewitching contrasts. Homely village and red – light district; workplace and playground, Chinatown and Theatreland; a paradise for gourmands and the haunt for artists and artisans. Now it’s a world known restaurant centre, where Londoners and visitors can taste Russian, Italian, Greek, French, Swiss food. This is also the district of cinema producers – all the biggest film companies have offices in Soho; of theatres (they are small, but always full); of small modern bookshops.

Today it’s a by – word for style; in 60s it was the cradle of the British pop-music; a century ago it was the worst slum in town; earlier still, the hub of aristocratic life, there is no place like it.

Soho Square is an area of considerable interest and a welcome relief from crowded Soho’s streets. On the east side of the square is the Roman Catholic Church of St. Patrick, built in 1893. The Post Office Tower was completed in 1964. This 619-ft – high needle of concrete and glass is one of the tallest buildings in London. It has a revolving restaurant and a viewing platform, which are reached by high-speed lift.

Northeast of Soho is Bloomsbury. The Earl of Southampton built Bloomsbury Square in 1660. The whole atmosphere of Bloomsbury was for a long time enhanced by the presence of teachers and scholars, painters, actors and writers. Bloomsbury gave its name to a group of artists and intellectuals who met at private homes during the period 1907 – 1930 (“Bloomsbury Group”). In the area are the University of London and its University College, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.