London is clearly a huge city and is home to so many exciting areas with their own personality. After I first arrived I deemed it too big even for me! I’d describe it as 5 cities in one. So you can imagine it’s quite difficult to choose one area to party, shop or live in that fits what you or your friends are looking for.
Among the popular areas of London Soho and Shoreditch often stand out as popular spots, which are both referred to as ‘places to go in London’, each with its own distinct personality. In this article, we’ll delve into crucial categories to determine which is better: Soho or Shoreditch. Both places will be scored across these 6 categories.
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Activities
- Food options
- Accommodation
- Cost
1. Nightlife: Soho’s Musical vibes vs. Shoreditch’s Trendy Vibes
Soho is renowned for its nightlife since it has a great history of iconic jazz clubs, theatres, and bars where top celebrities have hung out over the years. The area is a real melting pot of venues for all tastes, from historic pubs like The French House to music clubs like Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Not to mention the lively gay bars and clubs dotted around the area. There’s so much choice in a small space so it’s convenient for a good bar crawl.
Shoreditch, on the other hand, is more new to London’s history of great nightlife. It therefore attracts a younger crowd with its trendy bars and underground clubs. But around the Brick Lane area the area, does offer a dense choice of different bars and pubs. It’s a little further out from the very centre but is a cool district in its own right.
While Shoreditch does offer a more varied modern night for the younger crowd I’ve often found it difficult to find a good choice of venues open very late. After midnight the options start to dwindle fast. Soho however is more compressed with plenty of late bar options within a few minutes walk of each other, plus access to Leicester Square, Covent Garden, etc. So that convenience just edges it for me.
Winner: Soho
2. Shopping: Soho’s boutiques vs. Shoreditch’s vintage scene
Soho’s streets are filled with a mix of high-end boutiques and flagship stores. Carnaby Street is a shopper’s paradise, especially for luxury fashion and unique finds. To be honest you will probably need more expendable cash here to make the most of it. It is also linked to Oxford Street too, which has all of the big high-street stores.
Shoreditch, however, is quite different. It’s a real haven for those who are into vintage clothing or indie and alternative fashion. Brick Lane is a prime area for vintage shops, independent designers, and quirky underground markets. It also has some great food markets and stalls dotted around.
This one depends on what you’re into as a shopper but the variety of options nearby gives Soho the edge for me. There’s a shop for everyone here somewhere.
Winner: Soho
3. Accommodation: Soho’s fancy hotels vs. Shoreditch’s hipster spaces
Soho has a decent range of upscale hotels for a luxurious and convenient stay for visitors. The district is very centrally located so it’s easy to access London’s main landmarks. They often feature boutique hotels here and there are not too many high-rise budget options around. Expect to pay above £100 a night here.
Shoreditch, however, offers a very different choice with its hipster-inspired accommodations. Boutique hotels, modern high-rise hotels, or even stylish hostels for a budget option, with that comes a younger audience too. Expect to pay above £80 a night here but the options have a wide range.
While Soho caters for luxury and convenience, Shoreditch’s range of regular and quirky accommodation options at different prices claims a win here.
Winner: Shoreditch
4. Food options: Soho’s diverse fine dining vs. Shoreditch’s foodie innovation
Soho does have a diverse range of great cuisines that cater to all tastes and budgets. From Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden gems in hard-to-find doorways serving international flavours, Soho has it all but it can be hard to find the better budget options and the outdoor food stalls aren’t as prominent here.
Shoreditch, however, is a real hot spot for food innovation. The district is home to amazing eateries experimenting with flavours and presentations. Plus Spitalfields market is a huge area offering stalls with flavours from around the world. You can get the cheaper street food options here while sampling some great fine dining in a modern restaurant.
Due to the range of options in Shoreditch, it appeals to a wider crowd and really does have something for every nationality and budget so wins in the food takes in my opinion.
Winner: Shoreditch
5. Activities: Soho’s central history vs. Shoreditch’s creative ideas
Soho is rooted right in London’s cultural history and in its own right as an area it offers a good range of activities ranging from theatres, live music, and art galleries to historic walking tours. It is conveniently located near the big landmarks such as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace and surrounding parks so most big attractions are walkable.
Shoreditch, in contrast, is a more creative scene with pop-up art galleries, modern escape rooms, hyped-up bingo or bowling venues and generally energetic activity options. It’s a less historical area of London unless the Jack the Ripper tour is your primary activity, but it makes up for that with more modern activity options.
While Soho itself isn’t huge it does have some good activities within its streets. The beauty of this area is its accessibility to the immediate areas around it for a greater range of history and modern things to do. Shoreditch is exciting but Soho’s surrounding areas and taste of the real London earns it the victory here.
Winner: Soho
6. Cost: Soho’s luxury vs. Shoreditch’s affordability
Soho’s prime location and expensive tastes come at a price. Accommodations, food, and entertainment in Soho are not cheap! You could spend a few hundred pounds per hour if you’re freely spending without care. Shoreditch, with its more diverse and budget-friendly options, allows a wider audience to enjoy themselves with different options.
Whether it’s affordable street food or reasonably priced accommodations, Shoreditch allows for a more economical exploration of London without compromising on experience.
Winner: Shoreditch
In conclusion, Soho stands as the best experience gateway to London’s history and offers a luxury-filled, condensed convenience for local London highlights that is hard to match. The nightlife is one of the best in London and this area is especially good for secret doorways and researching the real hidden gems.
Shoreditch is ideal for those seeking a more vibrant, younger, hipster experience with budget-conscious benefits. But I certainly wouldn’t say it is lacking in any of the above categories, so you will find great options in Shoreditch across all 6 of the categories too. However, I can’t say that’s enough to be an overall winner here.