For a few walks during the winter period I am doing a few of those from Andrew Duncan's Favourite London Walks. Today is a combination of two of those walks, Soho to Trafalgar Square and Notorious Soho. I found issues with mine being the 2002 edition which meant many of the landmarks had changed and also with the second walk it gave long descriptions of the nasty things which may have happened at various places but where there was absolutely no visible evidence they had happened. I have not covered these notorious things, rather it was just a varied walk through the Soho area where there is plenty to see.
When I arrived at Waterloo I found that SWR were having a launch event for their long delayed Arterio trains. I missed the action on platform 19 where the dignatories were but passed by in time to see the orchestra setting up and playing a few pieces. Then up to Goodge Street on the tube where the first walk began. Round the corner is the Post Office tower and a building has a huge mural on it commissioned in 1980.
Pollock's Toy Museum which has had to move and is now in temporary premises in Croydon. Then through a couple of narrow alleyways.
Down to Oxford street with its Christmas lights. Here I broke off the first walk and did the second one, Notorious Soho, heading along to Tottenham Court Road station. The Astoria cinema there was demolished and replaced with a big new one as part of Crossrail development and the alleyway by there was blocked off so I had to find a different way to Soho Square, one of the two squares in Soho.
Down Greek Street and Frith Street, where much scandal happened over the years. to Cambridge Circus and the large Palace Theatre. A short bit of the busy Shaftesbury Avenue with traffic lights to negotiate.
Into Garrard Street and Chinatown where they are celebrating their mid Autumn festival.
The walk continues through the streets of Soho, crossing Shaftesbury Avenue and Oxford Street again. At Eastcastle Street the Great Mail Van robbery took place in 1952. A little further on in Cleveland Street a blue plaque marks a house Charles Dickens lived in for a time.
Back down to Oxford Street where the Notorious Soho walk ends. Back to the first walk, which proceeds down Soho Street, past Soho Square and along Frith Street. At the Dog and Duck, frequented by George Orwell, I stopped for a nice lunch then continued through more streets of Soho and past Berwick Street market. In Broadwick Street a replica pump and plaque marks the spot where during the cholera outbreak in 1854 Dr John Snow realised the street pump was the source of the outbreak.
In Marshall Street a plaque marks the place of birth of William Blake. Then into Carnaby Street.
Golden Square, Soho's second square, with the statue of George II in the centre.
St. Annes, the parish church of Soho. Then into Lisle Street, once filled with surplus radio gear but now just an extension of Chinatown.
Out of Soho and into Leicester Square with many Christmas market stalls and activities. The walk should have passed through John Nash's Royal Opera Arcade but this was closed off for refurbishment.
Passing the Theatre Royal in Haymarket I finished the walk in Trafalgar Square and from there back to Waterloo and home.