London Mid Town

Area facts

International rail connections from Kings Cross St. Pancras
One of London’s most prominent economic districts
Up-and-coming tech hub with residents including Google

Your guide to London Midtown

A vibrant district in the heart of Central London, home to legal firms, tech giants, and boutique brands.

Overview

Not quite the City, not quite the West End. Meet Midtown. Sandwiched between two of the most important areas in Central London, equipped with outstanding transport options, and home to some of the most exciting businesses around, Midtown’s proposition is considerable.
Made up of parts of Holborn, Bloomsbury, St Giles, Farringdon, and Clerkenwell, Midtown is a diverse district that has lots to offer businesses of all sizes. It’s also one of the capital’s most prominent economic hubs, with an economy worth an estimated a year.

Story

Midtown is a relatively recent phenomenon. The gulf between the West End and the City was previously unnamed as a whole, until it was formally introduced with the launch of the Midtown Business Improvement District (BID) in 2005.

The naming of the district, generally thought of as comprising Holborn, Bloomsbury, St Giles, Farringdon, and Clerkenwell, caused some controversy at first, but it seems to have stuck.

Despite its recency in London-terms, each of the constituent areas that make up Midtown have a rich history. Holborn’s story, for instance, stretches all the way back to the 10th century where it first appears in a charter signed by King Edgar the Peaceful.

Bloomsbury isn’t quite as old, but has just as significant a reputation as the home to the collection of artists and writers known as the Bloomsbury Group, including Virginia Woolf. It’s also where you’ll find The British Museum and The Dickens Museum.

Industry

Midtown is a natural hub for legal firms, given its proximity to the Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice. However, as its stature developed, it was increasingly chosen by big players in other sectors.

Google made Kings Cross their home in 2016, and since then there has been an influx of tech businesses across Midtown, including Skype and Yahoo. Deloitte and Goldman Sachs also have a presence in the area. But it’s not only giants who can feel at home in this thriving district.

Midtown is also home to many trendy smaller-scale businesses, making full use of the area’s wonderful food and drink scene, incredible transport connections, and growing reputation.

Transport

Arguably one of the best-connected areas in London, Midtown benefits from ample Tube stations including Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Chancery Lane, Temple, and Russel Square. There are also international services departing from Kings Cross St. Pancras.

The Northern, Victoria, Piccadilly, Central, and Elizabeth lines all serve the Midtown area, making it easily reachable from practically anywhere else in London. It also has access to the Thameslink via the City Thameslink station.

Things to do

Culture

Russell Square Gardens – A beautiful garden square in Bloomsbury, laid out in 1804 and appearing in iconic novels including Vanity Fair and Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day.

The British Museum – An iconic museum dedicated to human history, art, and culture, containing a permanent collection of over eight million works.

Shopping

Hatton Garden – London’s well-known jewellery quarter, home to over 50 jewellers, perfect for window shopping or finding the perfect special gift.
Leather Lane Market – A long-lived street market in Holborn, with over 400 years of history, showcasing handmade wares and tasty street-food.

Food & Drink

Holborn Dining Room – British fine dining fare, a bar containing one of London’s largest gin collections, and a dedicated pie room make up this brasserie’s offering.
Smithfield Market – One of Europe’s largest meat markets, and one of London’s oldest markets full stop, perfect for buying top-quality fresh ingredients.