When someone brings up ‘soho’, what comes to mind?
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Travelers have two options: either the neighborhood in New York City or London. When written, the distinction is a bit easier; SoHo for NYC and Soho for London. Aside from that, they’re easy to confuse thanks to their trendy status, central location, and popularity amongst visitors.
Want a quick rundown of the main differences between Soho NYC vs London? Here’s your crash course on the world-famous Soho neighborhoods on each side of the Atlantic.
Soho NYC vs London—main differences
Soho London is named after a hunting call, while SoHo NYC is an acronym
Like I just mentioned, the easiest way to discern these two similar neighborhoods is when they’re written. SoHo in New York City is written as an acronym. It stands for South of Houston street—remember, that’s pronounced ‘house-ton’, not like the Texas city. SoHo wasn’t widely used until the 1960s, either.
By contrast, London’s Soho is named after an old-school hunting call that dates back to the 1500s. At that time, it was a royal park used by Henry VIII (that’s the one who was mean to Anne Boleyn) for hunting. Eventually, the call used to rally the dogs was used in actual battles in the 1600s.
These names reveal more about each neighborhood’s age. NYC’s SoHo is less than a century old, if we’re judging solely on the acronym. By contrast, London’s Soho has been around for around half a millennium.
SoHo NYC has a longer history than you might think
The name SoHo might be relatively new, but the actual neighborhood has a much older history. From the mid-1600s until the early 1700s, SoHo was part of the Land of the Blacks, a historical term that describes an area for people of African descent who were formerly enslaved.
At the time, Manhattan was a Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam, and parts of the neighborhood were also a holdout for the local Lenape tribe. (For context, during this same period in the late 1600s, London’s Soho Square was laid.)
According to historical records, areas in SoHo and Greenwich Village were home to around 30 farms owned by Africans. Unfortunately, a rebellion would divest most of the land by the late 1600s. By the time the American Revolution rolled around in the 1770s, the area was under the control of a single landowner named Nicholas Bayard.
SoHo NYC is smaller than Soho London
London’s Soho is located in the West End of Greater London in the borough of Westminster. It’s about double the size of NYC’s SoHo—though it’s only around one square mile. SoHo in Manhattan is around .33 square miles, by contrast.
In NYC’s SoHo, you only have 26 blocks to explore. These are surrounded by other streets that are more clearly marked thanks to New York City’s grid-like streets. In London’s Soho, the dividing lines aren’t quite as rigid. Most people agree that Soho is defined by Regent Street (west), Charing Cross Road (east), Oxford Street (north), and Shaftesbury Street (south).
Soho London feels more residential, while SoHo NYC is renowned for its cast-iron architecture
If you’ve graced the streets of London’s Soho, you know that—while there’s plenty to do and see, especially in places like Carnaby Street—it doesn’t overwhelmingly feel like an entertainment district. Instead, the Georgian buildings and later Adam-style architecture have a classic, historical feel. It feels cozy, traditional, and well-maintained.
By contrast, NYC’s SoHo is renowned for its cast-iron architecture and cobbled streets. In fact, the majority of its buildings are part of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places. Their facades are iconic and bold, dating back to the Industrial Revolution that put wrought-iron projects on the map.
That being said, NYC’s SoHo rarely feels like a lived-in neighborhood. It’s overwhelmingly commercial and geared toward sightseeing, shopping, and dining. At night, it tends to go quiet. That’s not the case in London’s Soho, which packs a cultural punch from just about every angle.
London’s Soho has an edgier cultural history
Speaking of culture, let’s dig into the (insanely) rich legacy of London’s neighborhood—it’s the easiest way to differentiate between Soho NYC vs London.
The area has had a longstanding influence on art, music, and entertainment. It has even played a surprising role beyond the scope of culture. For example, in the 1850s alone, Karl Marx penned The Communist Manifesto at a local pub Soho, while a local doctor named John Snow furthered epidemiological studies during a cholera outbreak.
It’s Marlborough Street gave its name to the famous cigarette brand. It’s the setting for the renowned Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It’s where Elton John wrote the lyrics for ‘Your Song’.
Speaking of music, In the 1950s, it played an important role in rock ’ n’ roll history thanks to the Marquee Club, which hosted acts like David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, and The Class. Soho’s Trident Studios is also where hits like the Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ were recorded. More recently, Soho has become a hub for fashion icons and their boutiques.
