Soho and Covent Garden area guide

Summary:

In the West End of London, Soho is home to two very different communities both of which manage to thrive side by side in this small district of London. On the one hand there is the residue of its edgy 200-year old reputation, parts of which are still seedy and debauched, and on the other there is the culture lovers' Soho – entertainment, theatres, fashionable shops, smart restaurants and trendy bars. Soho and Covent Garden contain a multi-cultural mix, popular with the gay community and a favoured haunt of designers and artists – a must-see area of London for tourists. Covent Garden, dominated by shops, street performers and entertainment facilities is home to the prestigious Royal Opera House, and is a lively mix of restaurants, shops, clubs and theatres.

Properties:

This part of the West End offers industry, commerce, culture and entertainment. It is not a residential area and is almost entirely made up of flats and maisonettes; above shops, restaurants and first floor offices. There are some beautifully restored 18th century houses, mostly now split into flats and luxury apartments though some houses do exist. Impressive loft conversions and rooftop gardens make the most of above ground space. Warehouse conversions, studios, some cheaper ex-council housing and new developments in Convent Garden. Soho now has 'trendy' status and the price of residential property has soared.

Buyers:

Smart homes appeal to the more successful artists, designers and media folk. There is a healthy rental market for those who like to be central and don't mind the noise, hustle and bustle of this vibrant neighbourhood.

Sales Information:

The table below details the most recent sales information for this area, broken down by postcode, property type and average sale value.

Postcode	Detached	Semi-Det	Terraced	Flat / Mais	Total / Average
W1G	- -	- -	- -	11 sales £1,264,818	11 sales £1,264,818
W1H	- -	- -	3 sales £1,557,500	28 sales £934,035	31 sales £994,370
W1J	- -	- -	- -	5 sales £1,457,000	5 sales £1,457,000
W1K	- -	- -	- -	13 sales £1,133,461	13 sales £1,133,461
W1S	- -	- -	- -	6 sales £955,833	6 sales £955,833
W1T	- -	- -	- -	13 sales £407,538	13 sales £407,538
W1U	- -	- -	- -	26 sales £745,156	26 sales £745,156
W1W	- -	- -	- -	15 sales £476,666	15 sales £476,666

Source acknowledgement: Information produced by Land Registry. © Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of Land Registry. This material was last updated on 29th Nov 2010. It covers the period from Jul 2010 to Sep 2010. Restricted Use. Users of this product must not copy, distribute, sell or publish any of the Crown copyright material without the formal permission of Land Registry. If you think any of the above information is incorrect please click here to notify the Land Registry.