Soho is the energetic part of London’s West End.

This is a collaboration with Hotels.com. The spending money was gifted but all views are my own.

With busy streets, plenty of clubs, bars, pubs, and opportunities to people-watch, it’s no surprise that Soho is a lot of people’s favorite neighborhood. Where else in London can you have a fancy cocktail in a plush establishment, access a wide range of cuisines, walk past adult stores & dive bars, as well as head to a colorful costume shop? Soho has it all!

Our first Soho stop was 21 Berwick Street, to a Soho gem: My Place. Here you will find artwork from local artists, decor made from recycled materials, hanging mud-tiles on the ceiling and copper-topped tables. My Place is a brasserie with a diverse menu and serves breakfast from 8am-3pm. Come in for breakfast, a pre-theatre meal, great coffee or an afternoon drink. My Place has everything you could need.

Whilst on Berwick Street you will find quirky shopping opportunities,

vinyl shops, pubs, flower and food/fruit vendors at Berwick Street Market. There are plenty of options for street food. Berwick Street Market has been around since the 18th century and the vendors there pride themselves in being independent stalls. Soho Dairy is one of the most well-known stalls as they sell items from indie farmers.

Any Harry Potter fans out there,

you must head to The House of MinaLima, at 26 Greek Street. This really is a three-story Hogwarts haven! This place is filled with the merchandise of your favorite wizards and witches, such as spell books, potion recipes, and magical newspaper mock-ups. Incredible graphic-art is everywhere to be seen, from a whole host of characters. But it doesn’t just stop with young Mr. Potter… There are floors dedicated to Fantastic Beasts and Crimes of Grindelwald! The exhibitions are brilliant. What makes this place a special spot, is that the details are so well thought out. From the letters printed onto the floor, letters arranged like they’re coming out of a fireplace, and newspaper printed wallpaper.

Princi is a minimalist Minalese bakery on Wardour Street.

The “Armani of bread” Rocco Princi began Princi in 1985. Known for their pastries and coffee, it combines as a restaurant serving focaccia, salad, desserts, cocktails, savoury loaves of bread, sweet tarts, pasta and more. It is a self-service operation, paying at the till with communal counters that is. Simply collect your food from the counter and find somewhere to sit. I heard some great reviews about this place but was a little disappointed after finding out its a chain owned by Starbucks, however the strawberry tart, and large profiterole didn’t disappoint!

Next up was Soho Square Gardens, which is a lovely green spot to take a quiet moment away from the buzz of the shops, bars, and restaurants. There are a few benches next to the grass, where workers from nearby offices grabbed their lunch and had a chat with friends/colleagues by the tiny Tudor hut in the center of the square.

Denmark Street is the mecca of London’s music scene

Walking through the square took us to Denmark Street. A mecca of UK’s rock and roll scene! Here is where the guitar shops line up one after the other, after the other. Some of the biggest names have graced these spots: Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones.

Our final stop on this trip was the Ham Yard Hotel. This plush hotel offers guests a real luxury stay in London, as it features its own cinema room, spa, and even a bowling alley. What’s really striking is how spacious it is. The bar and restaurant area is so vast and so bright. The decor in the bar is elegant, simple, yet grand – as exemplified by the huge chandelier, windows, and the large square black and white art sequence on the wall opposite the bar. There is plenty of space between tables, and the staff are very attentive. The cocktails were delightful, the perfect way for us to wind down the day in Soho.

Before we left, we had to get a glimpse of some of the adjacent rooms. At the back of the bar is a gorgeous, quaint living-room style section. Separated through glass doors with a glass ceiling, the natural light is fantastic. The sofas and large cushions looked seriously comfy, and the decor was really homely. Next to the exit was a similarly styled reading room, which made me want to sink into an armchair and delve into a book – I had to drag myself away! Ham Yard Hotel really is a beautiful spot away, just steps away from the action of Soho.