Holborn

Overview

Holborn - the centre of London’s legal system - is a serious place populated by sensible people, even if they perhaps don’t look it as they flounce around in wigs and gowns.

Pedants will thank me for reminding you that it is traditionally pronounced ho-bn, though even some of the automatic announcements on the tube forget this.

Photo of the Royal Courts of Justice in London
Photo by Dana on Unsplash

Things to do

Gresham College

Gresham College - founded in 1537 - offers free evening lectures on a variety of subjects led by world class experts.

All of their talks are uploaded to their YouTube   channel so they can be enjoyed even if you’re not in London.

Website
gresham.ac.uk
Photo of the sign outside the entrance
Photo by me, no talks on when I was there alas

Hunterian Museum

Located in the Royal College of Surgeons, The Hunterian Museum shows off an extrodinary collection of medical specimens accumulated by John Hunter in the 18th Century.

Expect excruciating looking medical instruments, jars of preserved body parts (!), animal skeletons and a look at how modern surgery has advanced.

Price
Free - pre-booking advised
Website
hunterianmuseum.org
Hours
Tues-Sat
10:00 - 17:00
Photo of the Royal College of Surgeons
Photo by me, the exhibits aren't very photogenic 😱

Sir John Soane's Museum

Former home of Sir John Soane, a celebrated neo-classical architect. The house has been preserved as it was at the time of his death in 1837 and contains a spectacular collection of antiques, including Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress.

Price
Free - some paid events
Website
www.soane.org
Hours
Wed-Sun
10:00 - 17:00
Photo of a stained glass window in the museum
Photo by me

Speciality coffee

Prufrock Coffee

Despite being hidden away behind the market stalls of Leather Lane Prufrock is always busy.

It is table service - not ideal if you’re in a rush but otherwise well worth visiting.

Roaster
Square Mile
Website
prufrockcoffee.com
Hours
Mon-Fri
07:30 - 16:30
Sat-Sun
09:00 - 17:00
Photo of a flat white in a white cup.
Photo by me. 9/10, quite mild tasting.

Parks & Gardens

Lincoln's Inn Fields

If it didn’t make me sound like a property developer I’d be tempted to describe Lincoln’s Inn Fields as an oasis of calm in the city.

It is a popular spot with tennis players, dog walkers and hordes of somewhat tame crows.

On weekdays it is also a hit with people in suits who do laps while having intense business discussions on their phones.

Website
cindex.camden.gov.uk
Hours
Mon-Sun
07:30 - dusk
A view of the structure in the middle of Lincoln's Inn Fields
Photo by me