Located on the north side of Smithfield Market, this neighbourhood area is rich in both culture and history. From the Architectural History Practice which specialises in advice on listed buildings and historic places, to the legendary nightclub Fabric, this area draws in visitors and residents from all walks of life. Consisting of equals parts businesses, housing, bars, and restaurants, this buzzing central hub maintains a local feel that is well-loved by residents both new and old. With the partial opening of the Elizabeth line at Farringdon station in 2022, this neighbourhood will continue to thrive, with locals working hard to preserve the character that has long made this area unique.

The history of this neighbourhood can be told through the exploration of a single building: The Charterhouse. Originally built in the middle of the 14th century as a burial ground for victims of the Black Death, the structure that still stands today was then built in 1371 as a Carthusian monastery. At the beginning of the Tudor period, the monasteries were dissolved, and the Charterhouse became a mansion for wealthy noblemen. In 1611 Thomas Sutton purchased the Charterhouse as a refuge for injured and disabled soldiers, as well as a school for boys for the next few hundred years. It has appeared in writings by Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. Today the Charterhouse is a public museum that is free of charge to explore.

Until the 1960s, this neighbourhood area was the centre of the gin-distilling industry.

The legendary nightclub ‘Fabric’ in this neighbourhood area was closed down in 2016. It re-opened five months later due to the huge amount of community support it had, with attendees citing its importance as a cultural and historical hub responsible bringing many diverse groups of people together for generations.

This neighbourhood area is certainly not the ideal location for nature-lovers or even those who enjoy taking a break in their local park, as it does not contain any green spaces within it. However, conversations with local businesses stated that green spaces such as Temple Gardens, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and Russell Square were “only a short bus or train journey away”, so this was not perceived to be an issue.

The most impactful development on this neighbourhood area is set to be the completion of the Crossrail at Farringdon station in 2018. This will bring seven times the amount commuters through the station per day, which will greatly increase commerce for local businesses, and has already increased the number of property developments in the area. Residents fear that this will make already-steep housing prices in the area astronomically expensive, ushering in another wave of gentrification. Many local groups are therefore campaigning fervently to preserve the character of the area such as forcing developers to create affordable housing, amongst other measures.