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Where is Holborn?

Where is Holborn

If you want to stay somewhere in London that offers you easy access to The City and the West End, try Holborn for size. This exciting, bustling area of Central London is the traditional home of the legal profession, so the area is steeped in history and packed with remarkable buildings, awe-inspiring museums and world-famous streets. It’s surrounded by world famous districts like Bloomsbury, Soho and The City, and is amazingly close to most of London’s finest attractions like the West End, Covent Garden and Leicester Square, thanks to well connected Holborn Tube Station in Tube Zone 1. You won’t even need your car when you come here, so forget about the fact that the congestion charge applies!

History of Holborn

History of Holborn

Holborn takes its name from the Holebourne, a tributary of the River Fleet which now runs underground. The stream was a major goods route from the Thames into The City and the area was referred to as 'Holeburnstreete' for the first time in 1249. Holborn started out as an empty field beside the City. When a tollgate was installed, a tiny village grew around it. Although the area was bombed during the second world war, much of the architecture and important buildings escaped significant damage.

Holborn is the traditional home of the legal profession. The Inns of Court, (ancient legal centres) were located here to symbolise the law as a mediator in the power struggle between the City and Westminster. The atmosphere of Holborn is still derived from the four surviving Inns: Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, Middle Temple and Inner Temple. The courtyards and passageways of these Inns are a quiet oasis from the busy capital. The magnificent neo-Gothic Royal Courts of Justice, civil courts, are found in the Strand, and Chancery Lane, is home to the Law Society. Many buildings here survive from before the Great Fire of 1666, including the magnificent timber-framed façade of Staple Inn. All in all it’s a historic area with numerous buildings that offer a rewarding and fascinating walk around the area!

The Positives of Holborn

The Positives of Holborn

Holborn is a fantastic place to stay because it’s in the heart of everything that London has to offer – a gateway between the nightlife of the West End and the financial district – The City. The tube transport links are brilliant, so you can get across the whole of the capital in no time; not that you’d want to venture too far a-field, as most of London’s amazing attractions like Buckingham Palace and Oxford Street are within easy walking distance anyway. Holborn is also an historic part of London and the buildings and courtyards are pretty awe-inspiring. Strolling around the Inns of Court is almost like travelling back in time and the courtyards and passageways will provide you with a quite oasis away from the hustle and bustle of this awesome capital city.

Need to Know Holborn

Need to Know Holborn

Holborn is a really busy place with lots of traffic and hustle bustle. But pretty much the whole of central London is like this - and it’s a huge part of the capital’s charm! Holborn has very few open, green spaces to relax in, so it gives you a real chance to experience life in the big smoke. Don’t panic though as vast green landscapes like Green Park and Hyde Park are only a 25 minute stroll away.

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