SOHO

SOHO

My interest in Soho – is nothing but shopping as the Oxford Street and China Town are part of the district.

The unofficial boundaries of Soho are -Oxford Street, Regent Street, Charing Cross Road and China Town.

CENTRAL LONDON

Soho is located at the West End of central London – is famous for its Red-light districts are areas associated with the sex industry and sex-orientated business such as sex shops and strip clubs, and places of prostitution. 

 

Of course, a walk passed the dimly surrounding of the Red Light District is educational – as one gets to see how the sex area looks like. For years, Soho was synonymous with the Red Light District. London has little such areas compared to Tokyo, Amsterdam and Bangkok. The reason is prostitution and sex activities are illegal and ban in the 60s.

Soho is one of London's most colorful and cosmopolitan areas with many foreign shops and restaurants, though it also has its seamy side, despite the many changes over the years, it has somehow manged to retain its “village” atmosphere. The name Soho is said to derive from a 15^th century hunting cry from the time when the area was still open fields. Soho was actually a grazing farmland until 1536 when it became a parkland for the Palace of Whitehall.

In the 17^th century permission was granted to built on it and it became inhabited mainy by French immigrants. During mid-19^th century, there were small theatres, music halls and working girls everywhere. It finally became fashionable in the 20^th century – popular place for artist and writers as the pubs and food were cheap, here. In the 50s working girls packed the street of Soho and solicit clients. The hidden nature of the working girls and hardcore entertainment (restricted under UK law), in Soho made it easy for unscrupulous owners to rip off sprung up in the 60s.In 1959, the government passed the Street Offences Act – illegal to loiter and solicit for purposes of prostitution. Although the Act remains legal, the working girls was pushed underground as they no longer allowed to openly solicit clients. They started working in pubs, massage parlours and clubs. In the 70s adult shops remain only 60. In the 80s, the government clamped down many of this places.Soho is now popular is selling love aids and lingerie (Ann Summers) with the ever shrinking red light district.

OXFORD STREET

Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors and 300 shops. The first departmental stores in Britain was opened in the early 20^th century including Selfridges, John Lewis and HMV. It has retained an element of downmarket trading alongside prestigious retail shop. The street suffered heavy bombing during World War II, and several stores including John Lewis were completely destroyed and rebuilt from scratch.

Oxford Street has suffered from traffic congestion, a poor safety record and pollution. Various traffic management schemes have been implemented by Transport for London including a ban on private vehicles during daytime on weekdays and Saturdays, and improved pedestrian crossings.

2007/2010/2015