Vibrant Narrow Street from St Giles to Soho Square (1.2 Km)

Start at Covent Garden Station

Finish at Tottenham Court Road Station

THE EXPERIENCE

This 1.2 Km route takes you into some of the less well-known areas surrounding the West End entertainment district, such as St Giles and the eastern side of Soho up to Tottenham Court Road. Many started lives as places for the wealthy to live but went downhill in time and became notorious areas with poor living conditions and vice versa. Today, they are renewed and safe and offer some of the best places to eat, drink, and be merry. They still hold stories and characters of their earlier days.

It is great for bright lights, narrow streets and alleyways, a great atmosphere, history, iconic sights, entertainment venues, crowds, transport links, shopping, theatres, and lots of places to eat, drink, and be merry.

MUST SEE PLACES

What to See List

PLACES TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry List

Links to nearby Eat, Drink and Be Merry Routes.

BEST TIME

Morning - The best time to do this route is on weekends in the early morning when it is quiet and free from crowds and heavy traffic.

Day - Most of the route will be busy during the day.

Evenings - Most of the busy during the evening, especially in Covent Garden and Soho

ROUTE OVERVIEW

This route starts outside Covent Garden Station and heads across Long Acre to the narrow Neal Street entrance that takes you into the heart of St Giles. The third narrow turning on the left is Shorts Gardens, and the small Neal's Yard entrance is 20 m on the right - underneath a barrel sign. This colourful yard exits onto Monmouth Street, where it bears left and heads down to Seven Dials. It then takes the second turning on the right onto Earlham Street that goes to Cambridge Circus opposite the Palace Theatre. Moor Street is directly opposite and to the theatre's right, leading into SOHO. Turning right at the end will take you up Greek Street and into Soho Square. The final section continues around the square and exits onto Oxford Street, turning right and heading down to the finish at Tottenham Court Road Station.

Route at a Glance Video

These links open in a new tab

Strava Map

My Google Map Link

DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO GALLERY

This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Use the Google Map above to find their location. Double-click to see its full size.

INTERESTING FACT

Covent Garden and Long Acre Facts

St Giles and Seven Dials Facts

Greek Street and Theatres

Soho Square and Tottenham Court Road

VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA

Click on the picture below to take a 360-degree virtual tour of the area.

Use the black route to explore this location by looking around in 360, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the area and going on a virtual tour.

HISTORY & GUIDES VIDEO LIBRARY

Please note - These date from before 2018 and have been done in a variety of styles to determine which one works best. They all provide very useful information and we would welcome feedback to help create the new version

SIGHT GUIDES