Wandering Through Soho

Leaving Carnaby Street behind, I slowed the pace and simply wandered.

Sometimes that's the best way to experience a city.

Broadwick Street was lined with independent shops, quirky storefronts and record stores that tempted me to spend far more time—and money—than I probably should have.

Eventually I reached Soho Square Gardens, where the atmosphere shifted once again.

The little Tudor-style building standing in the middle of the square almost looked as though it had been transported from another century. Around it, Londoners were making the most of the beautiful summer weather. Every patch of grass seemed occupied, and the table tennis tables were surrounded by enthusiastic players waiting for their turn.

From there I wandered through Greek Street, Moor Street and Earlham Street, passing the theatre hosting Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, before arriving at one of London's most charming little neighbourhoods:

Seven Dials.

Seven streets radiate from a single monument in the middle of the intersection, creating a neighbourhood filled with cafés, boutiques and hidden corners.

My first destination was Monmouth Coffee.

I had read about them long before arriving in London, and they certainly lived up to the hype.

Instead of shelves stacked with neatly packaged bags of coffee, large buckets filled with freshly roasted beans stood behind the counter. After chatting with one of the baristas about my flavour preferences, they recommended a coffee, weighed it out directly from the bucket and packaged it fresh for me.

Now that's a shopping experience.

Naturally, another espresso accompanied the purchase, enjoyed on their little patio while watching the world go by.

Just around the corner, Neal's Yard delivered another surprise.

Tiny.

Colourful.

Hidden away.

It almost felt like stumbling upon a secret courtyard tucked between the surrounding buildings.

For a brief moment I considered sitting down at one of the wine bars and simply soaking up the atmosphere.

But there were still far too many pins left on today's map.

So I reluctantly kept walking, making a mental note that Neal's Yard would definitely deserve a return visit.Read more