The Soho Square Hut
a fake tudor cottage in soho
A quaint mock-Tudor hut standing in the middle of Soho Square that is really a disguise for some very ordinary machinery.
Free to visit · Soho · Tottenham Court Road · W1D 3QP
Opening: Square daylight hours
In the middle of leafy Soho Square stands a charming little half-timbered hut that looks like a fairy-tale Tudor cottage, far older than its surroundings. In fact it dates only from the 1920s and is essentially decorative, built to disguise and provide access to the underground equipment and electrical gear for the gardens below.
Generations of Londoners have lounged on the grass around it without wondering what it really is. It is free to enjoy, a delightful piece of mock-historic whimsy at the heart of one of the West End's best-loved squares, a perfect spot to sit with a lunchtime sandwich.
Getting there: In the centre of Soho Square gardens, a couple of minutes from Tottenham Court Road.
Best time to go: A sunny lunchtime when Soho Square fills with workers and the hut looks its part.
Insider tip: Sit on the lawn nearby on a sunny day, this is one of the West End's favourite free lunch spots. The hut looks Tudor but is 1920s set dressing, hiding the workings beneath the gardens.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide