A brand new London map has launched that celebrates the history of Soho

From starting out as farmland in the 16th century to becoming London’s epicentre of seediness to today, as a cosmopolitan home to shops, bars and London’s best-known private members clubs, Soho is one of London’s most culturally and historically rich areas. Now a brand-new interactive map of the area allows users to explore its storied history and architecture from the comfort of their own homes.

Created by the Soho Neighbourhood Forum, with the help of urban design and research firm Publica and Bahar Durmaz Drinkwater, a Soho resident with a PhD in architecture, the Soho Visual Heritage Map documents Soho’s past through photos – from blue plaques, to historic street signs, and quirky features like the seven noses. 

Clicking through the map, users can see photographs of street furniture, architecture, street signage, ghost signs, street art, remnants of the industrial past such as cobbles and cranes, and much more. The map can be filtered, meaning if you only want to see the area’s public toilets (there are two), you can. 

The aim of the map isn’t only to create a fun online place to explore the fascinating streets of the neighbourhood, but to preserve its history and inspire future developments to retain Soho’s charm. 

‘The heritage audit will help ensure Soho’s historic built fabric remains a source of pride and celebration for years to come,’ the Soho Neighbourhood Forum said in a statement. 

‘The Neighbourhood Forum hopes that the Map will become an asset enjoyed by visitors to Soho, residents, as well as useful to planning and heritage groups and the City Council.’

You can check out the map for yourself here.

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