Great Windmill Street

Great Windmill Street is believed to derive its name from a windmill that was marked here on a plan dated 1585 and placed on land owned by ‘Widow Golightly’. The windmill was built by Thomas Wilson, a local brewer. On your right are the redbrick remains of a house dating from 1766. In the 1880s the house was gutted to make room for the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

From around 1930 to 1950, this was a colourful and vibrant area of Soho. The Windmill Theatre stands on the corner. In its heyday, this nude revue theatre saw the first performances of some of Britain’s finest comedians and entertainers, such as Tony Hancock and Peter Sellers. 

At number 39, The Nosh Bar served traditional Jewish food from 1944 until it closed for business in 2010. Its patrons were the local actors, boxers, barrow-boys, musicians and spivs, and the food was served with typical Jewish attitude. Today it is an Italian café. 

Dr William Hunter (1718 - 1783) the famous physician and anatomical collector built a house here which incorporated a popular museum. The site is marked with a London County Council blue plaque.

Turn into Archer Street on your right.

This short street runs at the rear of both the Lyric and the Apollo theatres. The Apollo was the first to be built in the Edwardian period. It opened in 1901 soon after the start of King Edward VII's reign. Both theatres run popular performances today.