Friday, August 26, 2011

Clerkenwell: A guide

By Finbar Gurevitch


Clerkenwell is located in Islington, central London. The area gets its name from the centuries-old Clerks' Well in Farringdon Lane, part of which remains visible today. Clerkenwell was once referred to as London's 'Little Italy' due to its large Italian population between the 1850s and the 1960s. There are still small Italian and Jewish communities living in the area today.

Historically, Clerkenwell was a centre of manufacturing and industry, but nowadays it's dominated by creative agencies and media businesses, accompanied by an abundance of stylish bars and high-quality restaurants. Many people cite The Eagle, on Farringdon Road, as London's first gastropub - a landmark in the evolution of Britain's food and drink industry. For those who like good food, other places worth a mention include the St John Bar and Restaurant, the Comptoir Gascon deli and bistro, and Muratori - a back to basics caf that takes pride in producing the perfect fry-up.

Clerkenwell's residents are an eclectic mixture of media types, market traders and city boys. The excellent shopping and nightlife, as well as some very well-appointed living spaces, have proven to be a major draw for many people.

Some of London's most notorious nightclubs are located in Clerkenwell. Fabric, on Charterhouse Street, is probably the best-known venue, with nights ranging from drum & bass to house. Some of the world's biggest DJs have played here, and many of the best sets at the club have been immortalised on the FabricLive mix CD series.

For some quirky retail therapy, the 300-year-old Leather Lane market sells everything from clothes to food to electrical goods. If you're after something more intellectual, the Marx Memorial Library on Clerkenwell Green and the London Metropolitan Archives on Northampton Road are well worth a visit.

Other highbrow pursuits on offer in Clerkenwell include a trip to the Hunterian Museum within the Royal College of Surgeons, or a visit to Somerset House where you can view artwork by the likes of Matisse and Kandinsky.




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