Dominated by a network of tightly-packed streets, sporting rows of independent shops and a weekday market, this neighbourhood area retains a quaint echo of its Victorian past. The bold terracotta building of Holborn Bars to the south is now home to a number of Britain’s key organisations, including Historic England and English Heritage. The northern part of this neighbourhood contains a muddle of architectural styles that is typical of London, ranging from Victorian and Edwardian to Post-War and Modern. City-explorers can enjoy a bite to eat from the ‘Pieminister’ or an after-work craft ale from the Craft Beer Co., this area offers a unique experience tucked away from the bustle of the nearby Clerkenwell Road.

Notable within this neighbourhood area is the Bourne Estate, an Edwardian housing estate composed of flat blocks surrounding secluded courtyards filled with London Plane trees. Built between 1905-1909, it is regarded as one of London’s best examples of tenement housing, which now enjoys a grade-II listed status. Although not widely known, the Bourne Estate is internationally significant as it became the model for the highly popular public housing built in Vienna in the wake of the First World War. The Viennese model was then brought back to England, and used in the 1930s to build many of the private mansion blocks that still occupy London today.

The striking Hogwarts-esque architecture on Waterhouse Square in the south of the postcode was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and his son, Paul. Alfred is best known for his Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in the 19th century, including the Manchester Town Hall and the Royal Courts of Justice. Waterhouse became the most financially successful architect of the Victorian era, and received the commission to build London’s Natural History Museum without contest.

The main downsides of this neighbourhood area are the lack of nearby green spaces, with the neighbourhood becoming extremely busy at rush hours and at lunchtime during the week.

The newly opened Elizabeth Line stop at Farringdon will greatly impact this neighbourhood area. Connected to Thameslink, the Thames Valley commuter belt, and three of London’s five airports, the areas around Farringdon are experiencing a new interest, which local businesses and property owners expect to capitalise on. A number of new office developments are underway slightly to the south of this area which aim to provide retail space on the ground floor. Despite this, the council aims to preserve the historic character of the area, and has made a commitment to protect the local market and the livelihoods of those working there. The lunchtime food trucks and stalls are now hugely popular among office workers looking for a bite to eat at lunch.