Taking its name from the 12th-century Clerks’ Well lying beneath Farringdon Lane, Clerkenwell is often referred to as the quintessential London ‘village’. Once concentrated with nunneries and monastic houses, its heartland in Clerkenwell Green is now more of a design hub than a centre for religion. Popular with architectural studios and design houses attracted by its central location and multitude of drinking and dining options, the tightly knit, multi-layered neighbourhood is dotted with historic conversions and smart new build blocks.

Here is our guide to the must-see spots in the neighbourhood.

Sessions Arts Club

Old Sessions House, 24 Clerkenwell Garden, London EC1R 0NA

Housed on the upper floors of a former courthouse resides Sessions Art Club. Having just opened in the Summer of 2021, it has the feel of a long and well-established dining room, with a palette of pastel-hued distressed Regency-era glamour. On offer is a seasonal menu of light and playful dishes made with locally sourced British and European ingredients.

Terroni of Clerkenwell

138 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL

Nestled within what is affectionately known as Little Italy, lies London’s oldest delicatessen, Terroni of Clerkenwell. Step inside and you’re far from the metropolitan hub of the city, with a panoply of hams, cheeses, and no-frills pasta dishes on offer. Stop by early for a morning espresso or a sample of the best cannolis this side of Palermo.

Twentytwentyone

18C River Street, London EC1R 1XN

Home to an iconic collection of furniture, lighting, and accessories from the 20th and 21st centuries, the duo behind design store Twentytwentyone have been furnishing the homes of the design conscious for over 25 years. With a simple, underpinning criteria for longevity and quality, co-founders Simon and Tony have curated a space that is a destination in its own right and well worth a visit.

Eye to Pencil Studio

26 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE

Launched in the Summer of 2021, Eye to Pencil Studio is the brainchild of artist, Luci Eyers and art historian, Antje Southern. Together they have formed a drawing studio and collaborative workspace where they host regular drawing and sketching workshops. Located just off Exmouth Market, the workshops allow their participants to explore the fundamental facets of drawing while gaining confidence to pursue their own creative persuasions. Sharpen your pencils and book yourself onto one of their classes!

Embassy Electrical Supplies

76 Compton Street, London EC1V 0BN

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming and dare we say slightly cluttered appearance of Embassy Electrical Supplies. Indeed, a one-stop-shop for all your electrical needs, but amongst the light bulbs and fuses, you will find what many have described as England’s best olive oil. The electrical supplies are still the bread-and-butter money-maker for Cypriot-born owner and electrician by trade, Mehmet Murat, who sells the single estate oil pressed from trees planted by his parents 50 years ago. It's perhaps not what you’d expect in Clerkenwell, but that’s its charm.

Leather Lane Market

Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TJ

This busy weekday market has been home to traders for over 400 years. Perhaps once a place for bootleg DVDs, Leather Lane Market has changed with the times has had somewhat of a resurgence in recent years. Frequented by hungry foodies and the lunchtime office crowd, here you’ll find a host of takeaway dishes from sirloin steak subs to generously filled jacket potatoes.

The Charterhouse

Charterhouse Square, Barbican, London EC1M 6AN

Sandwiched between Smithfield Market and the Barbican, lies a hidden jewel of historic proportions. Having opened its doors to the public in 2017 for the first time since its foundation in the mid 14th century, The Charterhouse is a complex of historic buildings centred around a Carthusian Monastery. In its long history, the site has also served as a plague pit, private mansion, boy’s school and most recently an almshouse. A project led by award-winning firm Eric Parry Architects has seen the civic area transformed into an accessible and sensitively redesigned public space. The perfect spot for lunchtime stroll around the grounds, (plague pit no longer in use!).

The Flâneur: A Guide to Clerkenwell