Carnaby Street
History
In the 16th Century, this area was made up of just fields which were popular for hunting. The huntsmen's cry of "Soho!" eventually provided the name for the whole area.
In 1683, a mansion called Karnaby House was built in the area and Karnaby market soon followed. Carnaby Street gained fame during 1960s "Swinging London" after a bomb-damaged East End could no longer provide a suitable home for London's rag trade.
As a result, during the 1950s it was dominated by sweatshop tailors who made suits for Saville Row. But these gradually turned into trendy boutiques over the next decade leading to a period saw the emergence of Mod suits and floral patterns, among others.
Once its heyday was over, however, Carnaby Street began to develop a seedy image but nowadays the area has gone through a revival and is once again boasting cutting edge designer talents and trendy streetwear.
If you add the surrounding Foubert's Place, Newburgh Street, Ganton Street, Beak Street and Kingly Street there is an impressive array of over 140 shops, bars and restaurants to choose from in the area.
Shopping
Along Carnaby Street itself, shoppers can find international street brands like Carhartt, Diesel and Cinch. Shops such as High Jinks provide a selection of urban fashion from the likes of Triple Five Soul and Pornstar.
Ever-popular jewellery store Mikey is also worth a visit, especially as it now has a men's section as well. If you are looking for cosmetics then M.A.C on Foubert's Place is a good place to start.
For all the fashion that will surround you, a shop selling football shirts may well be the most impressive thing you see on Carnaby Street. Soccerscene stocks over 400 different shirts and the staff are football fanatics. This might be the place that you find that Torpedo Moscow 1971 away shirt that you always wanted.
Thanks for Franks on Foubert's Place is a small café providing a slightly alternative menu, including wonders such as chicken in a spicy mango sauce and red onion, chillies and lime taboulah salad.
In Ganton Street, you can find Pixi, a Swedish cosmetics shop set up and run by three sisters, Sara, Sofia and Petra. Alcoholic refreshments can be had at Zebrano where each table contains a hidden ice bucket in which to store your drink, as well as free mixers, jars of nibbles and an ashtray.
Newburgh Street, which cuts across Carnaby Street, has become home to a number of designers such as John Richmond, Pam Hogg and Jean Paul Gaultier. The Dispensary offers a varied collection under one roof, stocking everything from Duffer of St George for men through Elspeth Gibson for women to footwear by Patrick Cox.
On Beak Street, you can make an appointment to see one of the skilled hair stylists working at Tommy Guns where they will ply you with coffee or alcohol while you wait.
If that proves too much then you can go to Creative Beadcraft and lose yourself in their colourful world of beads from all over the world. If you want to have another drink then the Alphabet bar is another fashionable venue. |
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