The Howland Street neighbourhood area is a small region covering parts of Bloomsbury and the West End. Some also refer to the area as Fitzrovia. Sitting on the cusp of the boroughs of Westminster and Camden, this area is sandwiched between multiple tube stops. Notable landmarks in the area include the BT Tower, Whitfield Gardens, and the American International Church. The area is less residential than others in London, and instead serves as a popular destination for students attending the University of London schools, employees at the local corporate offices, and Londoners looking to dine out at any of the wide range of restaurants in the area or visit local galleries. Its architecture is defined by its traditional Georgian terrace houses, some of which have been converted into offices and academic buildings.

The Bloomsbury segment of this postal area is named for William De Blemund, who was a prominent landowner in the area in the 1200s. Once passed over to the Duke of Bedford, the area developed into a space with many green squares and parks for wealthy residents. Later on, in the early 1900s, the Bloomsbury area began attracting authors and artists, such as Virginia Woolf as well as other Bloomsbury Group members. Today the streets surrounding this neighbourhood area house multiple world-renowned universities, such as UCL and SOAS.

Sir Robert Smirke, renowned architect, lived in this neighbourhood area He’s most famous for designing the main block and façade of the British Museum.

At the time it was built in 1964, the BT Tower, or Post Office Tower, was the tallest building in Britain.

In the mid 1960s, the southern part of this neighbourhood area, Goodge Street, was known for its visitors’ heavy drug use, and was mentioned in Donovan’s song Sunny Goodge Street.

Whitfield Gardens, although a park managed by Camden Council, is frequently left littered at times, and crime rates in this area are significantly higher than London as a whole. The majority of these crimes can be classified as miscellaneous theft. Even so, locals in the area take pride in the space. Recently, the Friends of Fitzrovia Parks launched weekly volunteer gardening days in the park to get the community involved in its beautification.

Although there are high levels of theft and rough sleeping in the area, Camden Council is committed to improving the public spaces. Through the local authority’s West End Project, which was initiated in anticipation of the Elizabeth Line’s activation, Whitfield Gardens and the Fitzrovia Mural that faces it were both restored in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The Gardens in particular were revived with the inclusion of a planting scheme that thrives in shady locations, better accessibility and easy crossing between Tottenham Court Road and Whitfield Street/Tottenham Street. The new square also provides space for people to stop and enjoy as well as a space for future events.