London Holborn And Clerkenwell

London’s second-oldest area, Holborn was the first part of the city settled by Saxons— Aldwych, on the western edge, is Anglo-Saxon for “old port.” Stately Fleet Street remains synonymous with the British press even though the newspapers have moved out and banks, law firms, and upscale pubs have moved in. Clerkenwell, a monastic center until Henry VIII closed the Priory of St. John, began as a resort destination, then devolved into Dickensian slums, before storming back onto the scene as a popular spot for fine dining and raging nightlife. Holborn is served by Holborn, Farringdon, Chancery Ln., and Temple. In Clerkenwell, everything is near Farringdon; southern and eastern parts can be reached from Barbican, western parts can be reached by Chancery Ln., and northern parts can be reached by Angel.

More Neighborhood Overviews in London

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