T generally considered enclosed y Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue Cambridge Circus south, Charing Cross R east, Oxford Street north, Regent Street . Oxford Street shopping street London Mayfair-Marylebone district.

T immediately surrounding O Compton Street southern p S widely recognised London's foremost gy village y stylish p London indeed.

S sometimes considered include London's Chinatown. Chinatown, however, south Shaftesbury Avenue , having culture distinctly different W E, adjoining - really p - S.

History

S g colourful history. T first record comes 17 century pasture after being hunting p Royal Court Henry VIII 100 years earlier.

Despite royal attention y grand development taking place adjoining districts, S become fashionable until recent times mostly known settled y immigrants. By -19 century become prostitutes music halls. Things looked p early 1900s gained something Bohemian reputation writers, artists actors moving x industry continued dominate district until recently 1980s. T lucrative business always y organised crime groups ensured S notorious haunt gangsters throughout 20 century.

T music business began really prosper 1950s beatnik j culture y . Perhaps London's famous j venue, Ronnie Scotts, still thriving today Frith Street. My famous bands closely associated S. T Rolling Stones played their first concert ( legendary Marquee) T Sx Pistols lived Denmark Street playing number infamous gg. I 1970s 1980s Soho, Marquee particular, place London check p coming often y controversial British bands.

Since 1980s, whole S undergone rapid transformation development fashionable district upmarket restaurants media offices. There though still places which easily associated colourful p small remnant previously dominant x industry remains.

Modern y S densest concentration restaurants, cafés, clubs central London truly represents vibrant, bustling heart y. I modern London's media world multiple advertising agencies, television radio studios p-production companies choosing their operations.

Reading

Unsurprisingly given colourful nature, written about S. T following short selection books, which great would benefit anyone planning visit S.

Dirty White By, Tales S y Clayton Littlewood, Cleiss Press 2008. T musings observations clothing store owner O Compton S 2000s. Y struggle better modern y commentary S. Littlewood's compared Christopher Isherwood's writings about sordid Berlin 1920s. A apart that, y funny.

Dg Dy S y Nigel Richardson, Phoenix 2001. A biography sailor's S 1950s, perhaps single notorious period history district. Poignant y written. Gives sense period j before evolution modern y S.

S: A History London's M Colourful Neighbourhood y Judith Summers, Bloomsbury Publishing L 1989. N y copies worth effort. Covers social history district 18 230th century.