Can somebody from London advice if location to stay in Soho Square W1 is appropriate for a family of 2 adults, 2 children/young adults 18,20 year old.

The prices seems much lower for flats in that area, I know there are many gay bars, but is there area seedy or not? Too bohemian?

Soho Square is as far from being seedy as it's possible to be. It's a delightful gardened square, mostly full of churches and offices of media companies (if you remember your Dickens, it was formerly inhabited by Dr Manette). The tawdrieast things for several hundred yards is a Hari Krishna-style cheap South Asian restaurant, currently under refurbishment just off the square to the north, and the utterly non-homosexual Gay Hussar restaurant just to the south of the square, a traditional haunt of Old Labour politicians,though admittedly most of them are in their anecdotage these days. The biggest downside to staying in the area is probably that the dustcarts might be noisy very early in the morning.

Offhand I can't remember passing anything ressembling a gay bar anywhere near Soho Square, though other posters may have a keener nose than I do for that sort of thing. There are a number of pubs, and a huge number of restaurants all around: there are a few "adult" "bookshops" elsewhere in Soho, though they're all a great deal further away (and less visible) than the great river of real bookshops for real grownups along Charing Cross Road a few yards away.

If I ever decide to buy a pied a terre in really central London, Soho Square will be my absolute first choice.

Totally in agreement with Flanner, Soho Square is perfectly 'respectable', it's not seedy and it's a great location.

Clearly everyone has their own interpretation on what's 'seedy' and what's not (and I fall into the coudn't-care-less-about-gay-bars-and-sex-shops category, so I realise that I am 'biased' in some situations) but I suspect that even my dear Irish-Catholic mother would be more than happy to stay there!

OK, emtravel, fess up. What is the website for this apartment and where did you find it?
I think it is an absolutely IDEAL location for a London flat and I'm anxious to see it!

By the way, do the 18 and 20 year olds know you still refer to them as children? LOL

Patrick,
I do not have website for this apartment, I am a travel agent and deal with this rental agency for years.
The apartment is for my clients.
I remember 2 years ago I booked family with 1 child into area near Soho Square and they were not happy.
I personally not have anything against staying in gay areas, it does not bother me, however with clients one has to be careful. T

his family of clients have "children" 18 and 20. That's why I wanted to check out, in case young people want to stay out in night and if this safe for them to wonder at night.
I personally like Kensigton, Chelsea, but Soho is less expensive and fits clients budget. Your replys make me comfortable.

I do not have address of flat yet, but the price for studio was 100 gbp per night.
I know at this point that it is in Soho Square.

thank you.
Sophia

I totally agree w/ all the above comments. Soho Sq is closer to several churches/synagogues than any gay bars I can think of.

You would be walking distance to Oxford St (just around the corner), teh British Museum, all of Soho, Regent St, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Sq/the National Gallery, etc etc . . . .

(where did you get the idea it was a seedy neighborhood?)

We were posting at the same time - I see you had bad feedback from a prior client.

Guess you just can't please everyone. but just how "near" Soho Sq was that other flat? A few blocks can make a big difference.

I'll chime in, too, and tell you that the location of an apartment on Soho Square is fantastic. If you like the pictures of the apartment and the price is right, go for it.
I feel safe walking by myself across the square in the day time and walking around the square at night.
You'll be able to walk to many of the West End theaters. You'll be steps away from Charing Cross Road and from Oxford Street. You'll be near the Tottenham Court Road tube Station... and not too far from the Leicester Square station.
You'll be near lots of eateries on Dean Street, Old Compton Street, and Waldour Street and you'll be minutes from all that Covent Garden has to offer.
The British Museum is < 10 minutes walk away.
And not that it matters, but since you did ask..there is a popular gay nightclub on Charing Cross Road , near the intersection with Oxford Street.
I say popular, because the line to get in usually wraps around one side of Soho Square .
I 've walked past that nightclub many times, after an evening at the theater, on my way 'home' to my hotel on Bloomsbury Street.

Judy

Well..I was posting at the same time as you and as Janis...
I stand by what I said though.

Patrick, I was going to comment on 18 & 20 year olds being referred to as children too - but thought I'd be told off - ha ha!

Just so that you can be clear with your clients Soho Square is not seedy and perfectly safe but it can also be very noisy. There is only one gay bar directly on the Square - the four storey "The Edge" - the rest is mainly offices of media companies and the football association. In Summer the green in the centre of the square gets busy with office workers during the day and gay men and women enjoying the sunshine at weekends. It can be busy with traffic at all hours of the day and noisy in the small hours as the clubs and bars on Charing Cross Road and Soho turn out.

Thank you for all who replied for my message. I have to be extremely cautious where to send my clients and I am not sure how much freedom they give their "children"
at night.
Btw by own "child" of 18 went to his first trip to London alone this December and I worried. But he survived. As for myself, I would not mind this location.

For clients, I will give them all this feedback .

Appreciate forum help.

www.the-london-map.co.uk has a panoramic view of Soho Square with the lunchtime crowds enjoying the summer sun (I must say, I don't recall ever seeing it that busy).