Clerkenwell

Photo of a grassy square, with a block of flats behind it. — Photo by me, Charterhouse Square.

I don’t get it, readers. Why are there no fewer than six bathroom shops along Farringdon Road in Clerkenwell? Why do I never see anyone visiting them? Who are they for?

This enigma aside, Clerkenwell is perhaps a slightly unassuming area. It is mostly low rise Victorian offices, grimly busy roads and a few ’60s housing estates around the edges.

Charterhouse Square, to the south, is a nice break from all the concrete, and Smithfields market is soon to be redeveloped as a museum.

Things to do

A bust of Lenin in the museum — Photo by me.

Islington Museum

I really enjoyed Islington Museum, once I’d got past the man blocking the door with a leaf blower. Naturally I was the only visitor.

It is curated by Islington Council and they do a great job of telling the stories of ordinary people who lived in the area through the ages.

The museum has a definite socialist flavour - As a Guardian reader I was in my element.

Free

www.islington.gov.uk

Exterior of St John's Gate — Photo by me.

Museum of the Order of St John

The Museum of the Order of St John consists of two galleries, one dedicated to the original Medieval order and the other to its Victorian revival

They’re both worth looking in on, the medieval artefacts were particularly impressive. Alas when I was there the one other person in the museum was so loudly unwell that I assume they thought the place was still a hospital.

Free

museumstjohn.org.uk

Photo of a horsedrawn mail carriage — Photo by me, a bit dark really.

Postal Museum

Located near the misleadingly named Mount Pleasant sorting office, The Postal Museum houses a surprisingly wide ranging collection of artefacts.

It is particularly geared towards families, with lots of interactive exhibits for children.

The ticket includes a ride on the Mail Rail, which I thought made it reasonably good value.

£18.60 - Children £10

www.postalmuseum.org

Speciality coffee

Photo of a flat white in a red cup. — Photo by me, such a good coffee.

Dose

Just south of Farringdon, Dose is absolutely tiny and always rammed. I go there so often they know my name - never a good sign. 😬

If you sit outside you can enjoy watching one of London’s most fraught Zebra Crossings, the scene of a thousand tiny dramas every rush hour.