Why is soho so called

Get your fix of steak, burger, or chicken in Soho. Check out Honest Burgers for both meat and plant-based burgers.

Go for small sharing portions at Soho restaurants such as Polpo and Blanchette. Explore the eclectic eateries within alfresco hotspot Kingly Court. Cuisines range from Caribbean to Japanese and everything in between. Pubs and bars in Soho. Popular bars such as Soho Residence and Bar Soho provide plenty of cocktail opportunities on a night out in central London. Alternatively, you can do it yourself at the Lucky Voice karaoke bar! Or step back to the s with cocktails, "rationed" snacks and live entertainment at Cahoots.

Theatres near Soho. A number of Soho theatres — such as the Prince Edward Theatre and the Prince of Wales Theatre — have been entertaining visitors for a very long time. From big-budget musicals and classic plays, to quirky cabaret and stand-up comedy, there is a Soho show to suit every taste. Take in comedy, cabaret, theatre and various writer events at the Soho Theatre on Dean Street.

Find a Soho hotel. Few place names in London or elsewhere roll off the tongue like Soho. It's a salaciously dangerous whisper of a word, like that of an exotic club you should steer well clear of. But where was the evocative moniker conjured from in the first place? The common held theory is that 'soho' is an old hunting cry. In the 16th century this area of central London was a hunting ground, and it's widely claimed 'soho' was used either to encourage or to call off harrier dogs when fetching game, namely hares.

The word Soho is an ancient hunting call, and there is evidence that hunting took place over the lands to the west of Wardour Street. Already reputable itself, the London Survey uses the Oxford English Dictionary as its source for this nugget, which, you would have thought, puts an end to the matter.

But there's a spanner in the works; when mentioning the word 'soho' the OED never explicitly mentions London, let alone the area of central London we're concerned with:. In fact, the more you delve into the hunting cry premise, the more iffy it becomes, being winkled by various sources as ' not well defined ' and an ' unsubstantiated urban myth '.

Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Hampton by Hilton London Park Royal. Eccleston Square Hotel. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. It's been a hot spot for sex shops, gay clubbing and posh restaurants, but Soho might owe its weird name to another, older London pastime.

There is another Soho, of course. I think not. Check out the best restaurants in Soho.