William Blake's Soho: birthplace, plaque and mural

William Blake was born in Soho and spent the first quarter-century of his life here. The house is gone, but the walk is short and free, and it is best done in daylight, when the plaque is easy to read and the mural is at its brightest.

The birthplace: Broadwick Street

Blake was born on 28 November 1757 at 28 Broad Street. The street is now Broadwick Street. His father ran a hosiery shop on the ground floor, and the family lived above it. According to Tate, Soho then sat on the northern edge of London, with fields and market gardens beyond.

Blake was christened at St James's Church, Piccadilly, on 11 December 1757. The church was built by Christopher Wren. He stayed on Broad Street until 1782, when he left for Green Street with his new wife.

Nos 27 and 28 no longer survive. The Blake Society places the birthplace on the corner of Broad Street and Marshall Street, and says it was demolished in 1965. Tate notes that surviving old houses on Broadwick Street give an idea of what the Blake home looked like, so look up at the older façades as you go.

William Blake House, Marshall Street

A high-rise block called William Blake House now stands on the site. It was built as shops, offices and flats in 1964 to 1966 for Westminster City Council. The plaque is at 8 Marshall Street. Open Plaques gives its wording as: "William Blake was born on 28 November 1757 in a house which stood on this site." Transcriptions of the plaque vary on the date, so read it for yourself while you are there. A photograph taken some years ago describes it as crumbling, and its present condition is worth a look.

There is a mural connection, but it is not here. Marshall Street has the plaque. The mural is a short walk away.

The Spirit of Soho mural, Broadwick Street

The Spirit of Soho mural is on the corner of Broadwick Street and Carnaby Street, in the Carnaby & Kingly corner of Soho. It was completed in 1991. Accounts of who made it differ: the on-site panel, quoted by London Remembers, says it was created by the Soho community.

St Anne presides over local notables. Her skirt and petticoats carry a map of Soho, craftsmen and London landmarks, and the panel says the dogs and hares recall Soho as a royal hunting ground. Along the bottom is a crowd of more than forty figures. Living London History notes that Blake is among them, and Street Art Cities lists Karl Marx, Dylan Thomas and the jazz musician George Melly in that lower band too.

The mural has a clock with moving figures. On the hour, Theresa Cornelys winks at Casanova, Casanova blows kisses and Karl Marx sips Coca-Cola. It was restored in 2006, when the Lord Mayor of Westminster re-activated the clock on 19 October. Living London History reports a further restoration completed in August 2026, so it should look fresh. Stand across the street on the hour if you want to see the clock perform.

The family shop and the one exhibition

Blake's only solo exhibition was held in the first-floor rooms of the family hosiery shop, in 1809, on the site that is now William Blake House. In Blake's lifetime this corner was home, workplace and, eventually, gallery.

A walking order

• Start at the plaque, 8 Marshall Street, to place the birthplace.
• Walk along Broadwick Street, looking for the older houses Tate points to.
• Finish at the mural on the corner of Carnaby Street, ideally on the hour for the clock.

The replica Broad Street pump stands at the corner of Broadwick Street and Poland Street, a few steps on, if you want the other great Broadwick Street story. Carnaby Street is pedestrianised and Soho is free to walk, day or night.

Blake's birthday

Blake's birthday is 28 November, which makes 2026 the 269th anniversary. Tate Britain has a display titled "Born in Soho in 1757" for anyone who wants to see the work after the walk.