Then on your left, between Piccadilly and Jermyn Street is the Piccadilly Arcade which has always offered traditional quality, luxury and style since 1910, with a unique blend of specialist shops. It was opened in 1909, and was designed by Thrale Jell. The arcade’s grand entrances on both Piccadilly and Jermyn Street offers an attractive walk between these two historic streets.

The main entrance is on the south side of Piccadilly directly opposite to the Burlington Arcade.
The attractive colonnaded mall, ornate ceilings, feature balconies and domes, iconic columns, hanging lanterns and the symmetry of the tall bow shop windows has 16 shops operated by very different retailers, offering high quality goods and a service of national and international repute. They sell luxurious goods from modern and vintage jewellery, handmade waistcoats and tailoring to unusual and unique giftware. Many of the retailers sell clothing especially shirts (being close to many shirt makers on Jermyn Street). There is also a showroom for Waterford Wedgewood chinaware. Another unusual shop is "The Armoury of St James" a seller of World Orders and toy soldiers.
These are not the only two arcades on the south side of Piccadilly, there is yet another one, The Princes Arcade. It is to the east of the Piccadilly Arcade, adjacent to St James's Church, Piccadilly and also runs through to Jermyn Street.

The Quirky Soho Square Mile

Soho is a vibrant area in central London that's famous for its theatre, gay scene, pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants. London's Soho has something for everyone and should be on almost every tourists' must-do list. London locals flock here in droves. In Soho you'll find hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, pubs, cafés, music venues, and stores selling everything from guitars to g-strings.

Soho – a long journey to fame
Soho was developed as an urban area from the late 16th century onwards. Rumour has it that the name came from a 17th-century hunting and battle cry. From the 17th to early 20th century Soho was avoided and neglected by the rich aristocrats in neighbouring Bloomsbury and Mayfair and Soho developed a reputation for prostitution, music halls, cheap food and shady dealings.
All changed and during the 20th century, Soho became the centre of bohemian London with intellectuals, writers, artists and poets eating and drinking in Soho's many pubs and restaurants.

Beatnik culture began here and Soho's Carnaby Street was a centrepiece for swinging London in the 1960s.Today, Soho has shed its seedy reputation, although there's still enough sex shops, burlesque shows and gay and lesbian bars to retain Soho's risqué vibe. London's Soho has inspired other cities too! There's SoHo New York, Soho Hong Kong and Palermo Soho Buenos Aires.

How to explore the Soho square mile in the centre of London’s West End
Soho only covers roughly 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometres), so it's easy to walk around the whole area. It is bordered by four central London roads; Oxford Street, Regent Street, Leicester Square and Charing Cross Road.
Other interesting areas near Soho include Chinatown, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Mayfair and Oxford Street.
Nearest underground stations to Soho:
• Piccadilly Circus
• Oxford Circus
• Tottenham Court Road
• Leicester Square
• Covent Garden

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