Banner Street can be found in the north eastern corner of the City of London. It is bounded by Whitecross Street to the west, Old Street to the north, Chiswell Street to the south and Bunhill Row to the east. The area consists largely of Victorian shophouses around the border of the neighbourhood, while a post-war council estate is hidden inside this postcode’s core. Despite being in central London, the area is close to green spaces such as Fortune Street Park to the west, Bunhill Fields to the east as well as Quaker Gardens in the centre of the area. To the south, Cass Business School has a building, as does Trowers & Hamlins LLP which is just next door, arguably marking the start of the City of London’s business district.

Whitecross Street Market is one of the oldest markets in London, having been around for more than 150 years. Now composed mainly of street food vendors serving hungry office workers, this market was once a place of destitution – becoming a by-word for poverty and alcoholism, and was known as Squalors’ Market. Today’s clientele are definitely-not-destitute even if the lunchtime rush is generally a little hectic.

Sir John Cass, who founded the Sir John Cass’s Foundation (one of the largest and oldest education charities in London), as a London politician and philanthropist, who gave away large chunks of his fortune to the endeavour of education. Born in 1661, he served as both Alderman and Sheriff of the City, and was also the MP for the City. According to some, he passed away suddenly while signing the will which he endowed his foundation. Today the schools he founded still wear a red feather on Founder’s Day to represent the bloodstained quill he used at the time.

The Sir John Cass Business School is amongst the highest ranked business schools in the world, holding a rare gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). Located at the heart of the City of London, the Sir John Cass foundation has supported education in the area since Sir John Cass established his school.

While the area is definitely close to the main business district of London, and can get crowded at times, the fact is that the corporate portions of the city stop just short of this area. Old Street meanwhile, has a life of its own, coming across more similar to neighbouring Shoreditch than Moorgate. The shophouses which surround the council flats further add to the serenity of the residential parts of the area. Quaker Gardens in particular, is a good place to escape. As far as new developments go the area is relatively quiet, with Britannia Lofts mixed use office and apartment building being the most recent scheme completed in the area. However, a short walk north towards Old Street will bring you face to face with a plethora of new developments, exemplifying the desirability of this postcode’s surroundings.