Holborn

Holborn is a district in central London, within the London Borough of Camden. It lies between the City of London to the east and Bloomsbury to the west, with High Holborn serving as its main east–west artery. The name is from Old English, usually interpreted as hollow brook, a reference to the historic courses of the Fleet River that once ran through the area.

Historically, Holborn developed from medieval lanes and plots around religious houses and markets. In the 14th–16th centuries it became notable as a legal quarter, with the establishment of the Inns of Court in nearby Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Gray’s Inn. The area grew around them into a busy professional district. The Holborn Viaduct, completed in the 1860s, linked Holborn to the City and accelerated urban development. The Fleet River below the streets was eventually culverted.

Today, Holborn is known for its legal and professional services sector, offices, and historic streets such as High Holborn and New Fetter Lane. Notable sites include Lincoln’s Inn and Gray’s Inn, the Inner and Outer Temple, and St Andrew’s Church, Holborn, as well as the Soane Museum at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The area is closely associated with the broader Bloomsbury–City corridor and lies near the Courts of Justice complex in the Strand area.

Transport links are strong: Holborn Underground station serves the Central and Piccadilly lines, with nearby Chancery Lane (Central line) and other bus routes. The district remains a busy commercial hub with a mix of historic buildings, modern offices, and residential pockets.