Quick Answer:
Clue: “Neighborhood in both London and Manhattan”
Answer: SOHO
Length: 4 letters
Clue number and direction: 2-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Neighborhood in both London and Manhattan” has the answer “SOHO”, a 4-letter entry for 2-Down.
Why “SOHO” Is the Right NYT Answer
- The clue asks for a neighborhood name that exists in both London and Manhattan, and Soho/SoHo is the famous shared district.
- NYT Mini helper sites for the February 4, 2026 puzzle confirm SOHO as the 4-letter solution for this exact clue.
- In the grid, 2-Down needs four letters, and SOHO fills it neatly as S O H O, often appearing with patterns like S_HO or _OHO once you’ve placed a couple of crossing letters.
- Other city names that overlap between London and New York (like CHELSEA) are too long, so the length strongly points to SOHO.
What “SOHO” Means in Plain English
- In Manhattan, SoHo is a Lower Manhattan neighborhood “South of Houston Street,” known for cast-iron buildings, galleries, shops, and lofts. In London, Soho is a West End district famous for nightlife, theaters, restaurants, and creative industries.
- For crossword purposes, you just need to know it’s a named neighborhood used in both cities, which is exactly what the clue is describing. Constructors like it because SOHO is short, vowel-rich, and widely recognizable.
Crossword-Specific Help for 2-Down
It must be a neighborhood name in London and Manhattan.
The entry length is 4 letters.
That combination narrows you to SOHO immediately. Crossings from 1-Down and 3-Down will likely give patterns such as:
S O H _
_ O H O
Once those letters appear, SOHO is effectively locked in. SOHO is a recurring NYT entry and also appears with slightly different clues like “Neighborhood in N.Y.C. and London” or “Trendy Manhattan neighborhood.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
Place-name clues often hinge on shared geography or abbreviations:
“Neighborhood in N.Y.C. and London” → SOHO.
“Neighborhood in N.Y.C. or L.A.” → often SOHO, ECHO PARK, or other shared names, adjusted to length.
When you see a clue mentioning two cities plus “neighborhood,” first list short, globally known districts: SOHO, CHELSEA, HARLEM, KENSINGTON and then match by letter count. A 4-letter slot heavily favors SOHO, especially if you already have an S or O from crossings.
