Situated in Clerkenwell, this small yet densely-packed area presents striking contrasts between post-war and modern architecture. With a number of refurbs and new builds on the west side of the neighbourhood, and a large post-war housing estate to the east, this area contains the homes and workplaces of people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and professions. The east side is dominated by a range of thriving independent and family-run shops, such as hardware stores, bakeries, pharmacies, and cafes. The west half of Goswell and Old Street is occupied by the William Harvey Research Institute, a leading, interdisciplinary scientific research centre devoted to therapeutic innovations in cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory disease treatment. It is also home to the Society of Genealogists and the Italia Conti Academy of theatre arts.

The Golden Lane housing estate was built in this neighbourhood in the 1950s, in the wake of the devastation left by the Second World War. Unlike the family-oriented builds that were typical of council housing in this era, this estate was designed primarily for single people and couples. Studios and one-bedroom flats make up the majority of the units on this estate. The Golden Lane estate is now listed as grade II*, due to its importance as an example of post-war residential architecture.

The William Harvey Research Institute to the west was founded in 1986 by the Nobel Laureate Sir John Vane, who discovered aspirin and prostacyclin. The Institute’s goal was to create an international pharmacological research centre that operated across both academia and the industry. It now accommodates 380 researchers from 45 different countries, and has been rated amongst the top 20 of multidisciplinary research centres in the world.

The design of the Golden Lane housing estate was heavily influenced by Charles- Edouard Jeanneret, also known as Le Corbusier. Regarded as one of the pioneers of what is now called “modern architecture,” Le Corbusier’s career took him across Europe, Asia, North, and South America. He focused his designs on the creation of better living conditions for residents in crowded cities, and he continues to have an influence on urban planning around the world.

The neighbourhood’s ‘Glasshouse Yard’ street was named for the glass manufacturing works that once occupied the area. Glass and metal works represented the dominant economic activities here during the Victorian era, before these facilities were completely destroyed during The Blitz.

This neighbourhood area is home to the world’s oldest theatre arts training school, Italia Conti. The academy was founded by Italia Conti in 1911, when she produced the now-classic children’s play ‘Where the Rainbow Ends’.

The 2022 opening of parts of the Elizabeth line in nearby Farringdon Station, and the further development of Crossrail into the 2020s, will significantly alter Goswell and Old Street in the years to come. House prices have already been seeing steady increases, and this growth is projected to continue as all five of London’s airports are directly connected to Farringdon Station. Local businesses will see a significant boost due to the increased foot traffic and the influx of new residents to the area.