Central District Alliance encompasses five distinct and vibrant districts: Holborn, Clerkenwell, Bloomsbury, Farringdon, and St Giles. Each area boasts its own unique identity, rich history, and thriving community, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of central London.
Holborn is historically known as the law district. The area covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and has a vibrant mix of legal buildings and offices, such as the imposing Royal Courts of Justice and nearby Inns of Court. The area also includes small museums like the Sir John Soane's Museum, filled with architectural drawings.
Popular with creative firms and dotted with smart apartment blocks in converted warehouses, Clerkenwell sits within the London Borough of Islington and is home to cutting-edge restaurants and cosy gastropubs, plus historic pubs, sleek bars, and nightclubs. The area has great attractions such as Cow Cross yard and their Urban Fest food market as well as the Museum of the Order of St John.
Bloomsbury sits within the London Borough of Camden and is an intellectual and literary hub for London, with publishers of the Harry Potter series and the home for the economist John Maynard Keynes. Bloomsbury is also the home of the British Museum, the largest museum in the UK, and several educational institutions, including University College London, the University of Law, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the British Medical Association.
St Giles came into existence in the year 1101, when Henry I’s wife Matilda founded a hospital for lepers here. There have been three churches of St Giles-in-the-Fields; the present one dates from 1734. Now home to Tottenham Court Road Station and the impressive Centrepoint building.
A historic area bordering the City of London, Farringdon is known for Smithfield Market, a centre for meat trading since medieval times. St. Bartholomew the Great is a 12th-century, Romanesque-style church, while The Charterhouse complex, dating to 1348, includes a museum with tours. A lively nightlife scene around Charterhouse Street includes upmarket bars, trendy restaurants, and the long-running Fabric nightclub.
Relaxing exploration
The Central District Alliance is situated in walking distance of great attractions such as shopping destinations like Hatton Garden and Oxford Street as well as great historic sites like the British Museum and Shaftesbury Theatre.
There are many ways to cycle into the area whether through hiring a Santander bike, renting a dockless bike, or using your own on the many dedicated cycle lanes across Islington and Camden.
Central District Alliance has some of the best public transport hubs in Central London.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road (Northern and Central Line), Holborn (Central and Picadilly), Chancery Lane (Central), Farringdon (Thameslink, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Circle) and in 2022 the opening of the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court and Farringdon.
Bus: a number of buses serve Central London. Check them out here.
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