London Streets

Explore Fleet Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism

Posted on

Explore Fleet Street London LondonOfficeSpace.com @officeinlondonFleet Street – The historic heart of Britain’s newspaper industry is Fleet Street. Given its past as a centre for publishing and printing, Fleet Street has become linked to some of Britain’s most notable literary personalities. A main thoroughfare throughout its history, Fleet Street is today connected with the rest of the city with nearby Underground stations, including Temple, Chancery Lane, and Blackfriars, as well as the City Thameslink and Blackfrairs railway stations.

Continue reading “Explore Fleet Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism” →

Explore Old Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism

Posted on

As its name suggests, Old Street has been a highly transited road for centuries. The first records date from the thirteenth century, when Old Street was part of a Roman road that linked the settlements of Silchester, near Basingstoke, and Colchester. As London evolved into an important metropolis, Old Street became one of the capital’s main thoroughfares. The western side of the street was widened towards the end of the nineteenth century in order to accommodate the increasing amount of traffic and the shops that began to appear in the area.


(Image © Jonathan Brennan)

Old Street’s Silicon Roundabout

Until very recently, the roundabout that marks the intersection of Old Street and City Road had mostly been known for being the location of the St Agnes Well shopping centre. From the beginning of the 2000s onwards, there has been a drastic change in the type of businesses that can be found in the area. In fact, the Old Street roundabout is now known as the Silicon Roundabout, in allusion to the California-based technology centre. This part of Old Street is now a first class technological hub that started with 15 companies in 2008 and has grown to be the base of more than 200 firms by 2011. This is the result of a government initiative that has invested several millions of pounds in transforming this East London area into a premier business address. Continue reading “Explore Old Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism” →

Guide to Broad Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism

Posted on

The Broad Street area is located in the heart of London’s financial district and is comprised of two separate streets. Old Broad Street runs from Threadneedle Street to Wormwood Street, while New Broad Street is a narrow passageway just north of the London Wall. Broad Street was one of London’s medieval wards, covering an area that roughly corresponds to the modern EC2 postcode.


(Image © Ian Press)

Today, the ward still exists as such, and it has preserved the four liveries (trade associations) that historically made up the Broad Street ward. These liveries include the Company of International Bankers, the Company of Furniture Makers, the Carpenters’ Company, and the Drapers’ Company. These associations have evolved from medieval guilds that had strong links with religious institutions to becoming organisations of international standing that abide by the principles of modern business practices.

Famous Buildings in Broad Street

Tower 42, which was previously known as the NatWest tower, occupies a prominent position at number 25 Old Broad Street. The tower was built in the early 1980s, when it became the first skyscraper to oversee the City of London. At 600 feet high, Tower 42 is London’s seventh highest building. The building has 42 floors, which are mainly devoted to premium office space, with some of its main tenants being Daewoo Securities, Hong Kong Airlines, Regus Office Solutions, Samsung, Piraeus Bank, CSJ Capital Partners, and Boston Technologies. Continue reading “Guide to Broad Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism” →

Explore Goodge Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism

Posted on

Historically, Goodge Street was a shopping quarter. It is centrally located to a number of London’s landmarks and attractions, including the University of London to the east, Regent’s Park to the northwest, the British Museum to the southeast, and the shopping district along the world famous Oxford Street to the south.


(Image © Terry Moran)

About Goodge Street

Goodge Street is located in Central London’s Fitzrovia neighbourhood, a traditionally bohemian area that has been home to various authors and poets, including Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Rimbaud. English composer Thomas Linley lived at Number 40 on Goodge Street between 1793 and 1788. Today, the area includes a mix of residential and commercial properties, including a variety of business.

Goodge Street is bound by Tottenham Court Road to the west. To the east, Goodge Street emerges as Mortimer Street following the junction with Newman Street. The street forms part of the A5204 road and is within the London Borough of Camden. The road stretches under half a quarter of a mile in length and features a mix of uses, including residential, offices, retail and grocery shops, pubs, and restaurants.

History

Many of Goodge Street’s original buildings have been demolished or destroyed during the Second World War, with few original buildings remaining. The area near Goodge Street once belonged to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral and a 13th century manor house was once found nearby, towards the north-west near Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. The area that encompasses Goodge Street was known as Totten, Totham and Totting Hall during the 15th century. To the north of Goodge Street was the 18th century manor estate of the Duke of Grafton and the FitzRoys, which now sits near present-day Fitzroy Square. Continue reading “Explore Goodge Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism” →