The name "Soho" first appears in the 17th century. The name may possibly derive from a former hunting cry. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, used "soho" as a rallying call for his men at the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685, half a century after the name was first used for this area of London.
If any area within London typifies the essence of the capital better than the others, it is probably Soho.
For centuries, Soho has existed as a hive of activity, nurturing residents, visitors, and even the city's culture with its heady mix of hotels, restaurants, music, bars, and clubs.
Successive waves have brought French, Germans, Italians, Russian and Polish Jews, Swiss, Greeks, and, most famously, Chinese to the area.
The name Carnaby Street is synonymous with the 1960s swinging London, a phrase coined by Time magazine.
Nowadays, the area has gone through something of a revival and once again boasts cutting-edge designer talents and trendy streetwear.
With over 140 shops, bars, and restaurants to choose from in the area, it's definitely worth a visit.
London has preserved an impressive collection of urban street murals.
The mural in Carnaby Street is called The Spirit of Soho.
This colorful painting adorning the Freeform Arts Trust Centre depicts Saint Anne, to whom the local church is dedicated.
Her gaudy frock contains a veritable A to Z of Soho.
Built in the late 1670s, Soho Square was in its early years one of the most fashionable places to live in London.
It was originally called King Square for King Charles II.
The Chinese community is one of London's oldest ethnic populations.
After Britain began trading with China in the 17th century, Chinese sailors reached London on board East India Company ships.
Regional origins aside, the Chinese are a heterogeneous community.
Over the centuries, various waves of Chinese immigrants have settled in different parts of London.
Today, Chinese Londoners are more evenly dispersed throughout the city and its boroughs.
Covent Garden Station was created in the earliest years of the last century.
The street-level façade uses extensive cherry red tiling that is very much of the era,
though the internal tiling is pale compared with much of the network.
Much of the beauty of Covent Garden is in the infrastructure of the streetscape,
which displays the various influences of architectural design fashion spanning five centuries.
The history of Covent Garden Market is a fascinating story.
Now one of London's most popular tourist attractions,
for much of its existence Covent Garden served as a fruit and vegetable market, the largest in England.
The market once covered the entire square and occupied many of the buildings,
but has since been transformed beyond all recognition.
The land on which Covent Garden stands has been occupied continually for almost 2,000 years,
making it the oldest inhabited part of London.
It is hardly surprising that the history here is rich and curious.
With unrivaled shopping, historic theatres, street entertainment and over 1,000 places to eat or drink,
Covent Garden has a tremendous amount to offer to visitors.
