If you are heading off to London for the day near Holborn, its good to know whats nearby. There are so many things to do near Holborn London, from shops, museums, interesting attractions and numerous cafes and bars. It is really easy to get from Holborn station to other places in london as it is a central station! It is always our choice of the best station to hop of in to Londons West-End partly because we come in from Londons Liverpool Street.
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Everything you Need to Know About Things to do in the Area of Holborn
Holborn is also in the Bloomsbury district and within walking distance to Covent Garden. A Guide on the Best Attractions and Top Things to Do in Holborn London
In the Holborn located in central London, England, you will find stunning historic buildings, leafy green parks, museums and hidden gems all within walking distance.
The vibrant neighbourhood near Holborn station in the heart of London is right next to Bloomsbury london, which is yet another pretty place to explore.
Holborn offers a wealth of experiences and history for locals and visitors alike. It is only a short walk from Covent Garden and the West- End so it is a perfect place to hop of of the tube and explore with less crowds.
A Brief History of Holborn
Holborn, a fascinating district in London, has a rich and storied past. Here is a bit of Holborn’s History;
Holborn started with the ancient parish of St. Andrew Holborn and its subsequent sub-divisions. The area evolved as a medieval suburb of the City of London, with houses gradually growing in grandeur over time.
Holborn is home to two of the four Inns of Court: Gray’s Inn and Lincoln’s Inn. These prestigious legal institutions have played a central role in the district’s history.
In the mid-1860s, the eastern part of Holborn underwent significant changes. Houses were demolished to make way for Holborn Viaduct, which Queen Victoria inaugurated in 1869.
Since then, Holborn has seen progressive redevelopment, with substantial office buildings dominating the landscape.
Among these buildings are the terra-cotta fortress of Holborn Bars, designed by Sir Alfred Waterhouse and his son Paul. It was originally built for the Prudential Assurance Company in the late 19th century and is now known as De Vere Holborn Bars.
The Pearl Assurance Company also chose Holborn for its headquarters, which now houses the luxurious Rosewood London hotel, restaurant and Scarfs Bar.
Holborn was once renowned for its medieval inns, although most of them have either vanished or been rebuilt. Staple Inn is she only one that remains further down high Holborn with its 16th-century timber-framed frontage.
Find The Old Curiosity Shop
The old curiosity shop was well written about in the Charles dickens book but did you know you could actually visit it? It is tucked around the corner of Lincoln inns fields and is definitely worth a visit. The Old Curiosity Shop is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1841. The story is set in London, specifically in a shop located in the borough of Westminster, near the church of St. Clement Danes. The actual building that inspired Dickens’ description of the shop is located at 13-14 Portsmouth Street. It is currently undergoing a heritage restoration project this semester at the LSE.
- Where: 13-14 Portsmouth Street.
- When: currently under renovation
- Cost: N/A
The British Museum
The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture. It documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. It has a permanent collection of eight million works and counts as one of the largest and most comprehensive. The museum features a vast collection of art and artefacts from around the world, including the famous Rosetta Stone. Not only that, the building itself is a work of art!
- Where: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
- When: Everyday, 10:00 – 17:00, except Friday: 10:00 – 16:00
- Cost: Free Entry
Walk Around The Charles Dickens Museum
The Charles Dickens Museum occupies a typical Georgian terraced house that used to be Charles Dickens’s home from 1837 to 1839. It’s the place where Oliver Twist was written and a fantastic thing to do in London; it allows you to step back into 1837 and Charles Dickens’s life. They also offer a lot of events, especially at Christmas time.
- Where: 48-49 Doughy St, London WC1N 2LX
- When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 – 17:00
- Cost: £12,50 (+ £0,63 booking fee
Sir John Soanes Museum Holborn
Sir John Soanes museum is an amazing museum and hidden gem right near Holborn station. This museum is located on Lincoln’s Inn Fields and is dedicated to the life and work of the architect Sir John Soane. Here you will discover the extraordinary home and museum of Sir John Soane who was a renowned neoclassical architect and collector. The museum is packed with Sir Johns’s personal collection containing thousands of objects ranging from ancient Egyptian antiquities and Roman sculptures to models of contemporary buildings. It is a real hidden gem in London and is absolutely fascinating. It is just outside of Bloomsbury in Holborn.
- Where: 13 Lincolns Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP
- When: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 5
- Cost: Entry is free.
- How to get there: Walk from Holborn to Sir John Soanes.
The Hunterian Museum
The Hunterian is a Museum is just outside Bloomsbury that holds unrivalled collections of human and non-human anatomical and pathological specimens. You can find it in the building of the ‘Royal College of Surgeons of England’. At this museum you can discover the art and science of surgery from ancient times to the present day. It is just outside of Bloomsbury in Holborn.
The museum’s collection includes over 3,500 anatomical and pathological specimens, as well as Hunter’s extensive collection of coins, books, and manuscripts. The specimens include preserved human and animal bodies, bones, and organs, many of which were used by Hunter for research and teaching purposes.
- Where: 38-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE
- When: Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am–5 pm
- Cost: Free
Find the Upside down World
The World Turned Upside Down is a sculpture by the Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger. It is found near the campus of the London School of Economics. Mark Wallinger is also the artist behind the project on the Underground: “Labyrinth”, which comprises 270 individual works of art. The name World Turned Upside Down comes from a 17th-century English ballad
Where: 1 Sheffield St, London
The Foundling Museum
This is one of the most interesting museums in London, and it is dedicated to the history of the Foundling Hospital. The Foundling Hospital was founded in 1739 by philanthropist Thomas Coram as a home for abandoned children. The museum is located in Brunswick Square at Coram’s Fields, near the site of the original hospital.
One of the most significant objects in the museum’s collection is the “Foundling Hospital Admission Token“, which was given to mothers who left their children at the hospital. The token could be used to reclaim the child if the mother’s circumstances improved. The museum also has a collection of paintings and other artworks that were donated to the hospital by artists such as William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, and Joshua Reynolds.
- Where: 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
- When: Open 10 am until 5 pm Tuesday to Friday ( 11 am to 5 pm Sunday )
- Cost: £9.50 for adults
- Closest Tubes: Holborn, Russel Square, Tottenham Court Road
The Cartoon Museum
The Cartoon Museum was founded in 2006 and celebrates British cartoon art and comic art. In 2019, it moved to its current location in Fitzrovia. The Cartoon Museum’s collection includes over 6,000 original artworks, from political cartoons and caricatures to comic strips and graphic novels. Some of the most notable works on display include pieces by well-known British cartoonists like Steve Bell, Martin Rowson and Posy Simmonds.
Where: 63 Wells Street, London W1A 3AE
Opening times: Monday- Closed, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun- 10:30 am-5:30 pm, Thursday- 10:30 am-8 pm
Cost: Adult- £9.50, Concession (over 60 y/o)- £6, Universal Credit recipients (proof required)- £2, Under 18s (proof of age), ArtFund, London Pass, Members- Free
The Camera Museum
The Camera Museum is a Secondhand camera shop beside the British Museum which serves tea, coffee and sandwiches in its cafe. The Camera Museum Gallery is a non-profit Museum Gallery open to the public. You can discover a timeline of camera equipment dating from the 19th century to the present.
Where: 44 Museum Street LONDON WC1A 1LY
Opening times: Mon to Fri: 11am – 7pm, Saturday: 12noon – 6pm, Sunday & B/H: Closed
Cost: Admission fee is £3 per person, FREE for Camera Museum Club members and Children under the age of 10.
Russell Square Brunswick Centre and shopping in Bloomsbury
Walk a few minutes to Russell Square in Bloomsbury and you will find a bustling community with a large shopping area. It also includes hotels, restaurants, and residential buildings. Take a stroll around the shopping centre and visit one of the many shops and cafes in the area.
Where: Bernard St, London WC1N 1BS
Closest tube: Russell Square
Quirky shops in Bloomsbury:
There are many places to shop in and around Bloomsbury, including some very unique and unusual shops. Other Quirky shops in Bloomsbury include:
- Skoob’s books, Second hand book store
Sicilian avenue
Sicilian Avenue is a small pedestrian shopping parade in Holborn, London, in an open-air structure that diagonally runs in between Southampton Row. It is a stunning building and is worth a stroll through. Maybe stop for a glass of wine.
Explore the Bloomsbury Literary Circle group plaques.
The Bloomsbury area played a significant role in London’s literary history, being home to some of the most celebrated writers and thinkers. Explore the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of intellectuals including Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and John Maynard Keynes, who shaped the early 20th-century cultural landscape. Many of their blue plaques are in and around the Bloomsbury area.
The group’s gatherings, which took place in the homes of its members in Bloomsbury, were characterized by lively discussions, artistic collaborations, and an open-minded, free-spirited atmosphere. The Bloomsbury Group’s influence extended beyond their immediate circle, as they had a significant impact on the development of modernist literature, art, and cultural movements in the 20th century.
As you explore the Bloomsbury area, keep an eye out for blue plaques, which are used in the UK to mark places of historical significance, including those related to prominent individuals like the members of the Bloomsbury Group.
- 46 Gordon Square: This house was the residence of Virginia Woolf and her siblings, Vanessa Bell and Adrian Stephen. A blue plaque commemorates Virginia Woolf and her association with the Bloomsbury Group.
- 37 Fitzroy Square: This house was occupied by writer and art critic Clive Bell, a Bloomsbury Group member. A blue plaque honours Clive Bell and his contributions.
- 51 Gordon Square: This house was the residence of writer and economist John Maynard Keynes. A blue plaque acknowledges his connection to the Bloomsbury Group.
- Tavistock Square: There is a blue plaque commemorating writer and philosopher Bertrand Russell, who significantly influenced the Bloomsbury Group.
Explore Lincoln Inn Fields
The most notable park is Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the largest public square in London. This is a lovely park with that is also a steeped in gruesome history. It once was the scene of several important executions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The square was originally laid out in the early 17th century as part of the Lincoln’s Inn legal complex.
The layout of Lincoln’s Inn Fields is rectangular, with well-maintained lawns, trees, and pathways. There is a bandstand in the middle and even a cafe. You will often find people picnicking in the summer and sun bathing.
You will find some interesting places in Lincoln’s Inn Fields such as:
- Sir John Soane’s Museum: Located on the north side of the square, this museum was the former home of architect Sir John Soane. It houses an impressive collection of art, antiquities, and curiosities.
- The Royal College of Surgeons: The college occupies a prominent building on the west side of the square. It houses the Huntarian with exhibits related to surgery and medical history.
- Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn: Facing the square, this grand hall is used for legal functions and events.
Other Parks and square near Holborn include:
- Bloomsbury Square
- Russell Square
- Bedford Square
- Red Lion Square
- Corum Fields.
Walk to Covent Garden Piazza
The Piazza at Covent Garden used to be a wholesome fruit- and vegetable market until 1974 and the open square infront of St Paul’s Church (people also call it the Actors Church) has been a famous place of performance. Now it’s a nice place to shop among the Italian-style arcades, eat and drink in the cafes and restaurants and browse through the cute market stalks. While you’re there you can also visit the London Transport Museum.
Where: Covent Garden a 10 minute walk away
Discover Chancery Lane silver vaults
Whoever has a passion for shiny and unique things should visit the Silver Vaults. They originally opened in 1885 as ‘The Chancery Lane Safe Deposit’ until they became a secure place for London’s Silver and Jewellery Dealers.
Opened again 1953 as the Silver Vaults, it is now considered ‘The home of silver shopping in London’. Not only does it offer 29 specialist shops of crafted antique and modern silver and jewellery, it’s also underground which provides a unique shopping experience. Even international royalty and film stars are seeking The Vaults worlds finest silver.
Where: 53 – 64 Chancery Ln, London WC2A1QS
When: Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:30, Saturday 9:00 – 13:00
The Old Victorian loos, Victorian Pissoir
Tucked behind Lincoln’s Inn Fields is Star Yard where you will find a Victorian cast-iron urinal called a ‘pissoir’.
This quirky bit of street furniture is an old pissoir and public urinal. Now owned by whoever owns the house but an interesting find.
Where: Star Yard
The Museum of Freemasonry
The Museum of Freemasonry is a free museum in the Freemasons hall. If you’re a Freemason, the museum is a treasure trove for exploration. If you’re not a Freemason, it’s the perfect place to visit and discover what Freemasonry is all about. The museum was established in 1838, and has a dedicated home at Freemasons’ Hall. It looks after an extraordinary array of artefacts, many almost 300 years old. The collection also includes the records of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Supreme Grand Chapter and various Masonic charities. The building is specatular to explore and the also have a cafe open to the public.
Where: Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street
When: 10:00 – 17:00 Monday – Saturday
Cost: Free
Explore Temple Church and Lincolns Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. You can walk around these beautiful buildings and visit the church. Temple Church, located between Fleet Street and the River Thames in the City of London, is a remarkable historical gem. Built by the Knights Templar: The church was constructed by the Knights Templar in 1185 as their English headquarters.
The Templars intended it to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem in London.
Temple Church played a pivotal role in history. It was the site where the Magna Carta—a foundational document for English law and individual rights—was negotiated in the early 13th century.
It is also said to be the Birthplace of American Law. The church’s influence extended across the Atlantic. It is said that American legal principles were shaped within its walls.
Temple Church even found its way into Shakespeare’s plays, adding to its mystique.
The church consists of two parts: the Round and the Chancel. The Round Church, consecrated in 1185, was designed to resemble the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Its acoustics make it a perfect space for music and singing.
Despite the passage of time, Temple Church has endured for nearly a millennium, witnessing historical events and remaining a testament to medieval craftsmanship.
Bow Street Police Museum
The Bow Street Police Museum tells the story of the Bow Street Runners. The Bow Street Runners were part of the Metropolitan Police and a group of officers who patrolled the streets of Covent Garden. The Museum explores policing in London from the eighteenth century to London’s first police stations.
It looks at the Officers that fought crime up to the closure of one of one of the most interesting police stations in London. You will explore the fascinating tales of Bow Street and its original cells which were part of the old Bow Magistrates court. Find unique links with police history in the famous old Bow Street Police station.
Where: 28 Bow Street, London, WC2E 7AW
When: Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 16.30 pm
Cost: Adults £6.00, Concessions £4.50, Local residents and National Art Pass £3.00. Under 12’s and Carers, Free.
Tube: Covent Garden (3 minute walk), Holborn (7 minute walk), Charing Cross ( 11 minute walk), Temple (12 minute walk), Embankment (12 minute walk)
Find the Kings Statues
As you come out of Holborn Station Look up! Kingsgate House is a Grade II listed building at 114-115 High Holborn, London WC1. The red brick Jacobean style building with Portland stone dressings was designed by Arthur Keen. On top are two seated stone figures of Edward VII and Edward I. It was formerly National Westminster Bank building.
Where: 114-115 High Holborn
Pubs near Holborn
Shakepheres head
This Weatherspoon’s pub in holborn, is a traditional-styled pub with columned facade and large windows. It is a large pub so its an ideal place for a quick cheap bite to eat near Holborn station.
Where: Africa House, 64-68 Kingsway
When: weekdays 8:00 – 00:00, weekends 8:00 – 1:00 am
Ship tavern
The Ship Tavern is a hidden gem of a pub tucked behind the Station. A classic mahogany-panelled british tavern of the 16th century, with a traditional real ale bar and a first-floor dining room, situated on the edge of the tranquil Lincoln’s Inn Field.
Where: 12 Gate St, Holborn
When: Monday to Saturday, 11 am – 11 pm, Sunday 12 – 10:30 pm
The Princess Louise Pub
Princess Louise Pub was originally built in 1870. It’s well known for its preserved Victorian Wood panelled interior and snob booths creating private seating areas all around the Bar. It was recently refurbished in 2007 and won pub design awards. The men’s marble toilets are even grade 2 listed!
Where: 208 High Holborn
When: Monday to Saturday 12:00-23:00, Sunday 15:00-21:00
Where to eat near Holborn
Check out these restaurants and cafes which are great places to eat near Holborn:
The Drury
The best cafe in Holborn in my opinion. The Drury 188-189 is the result of two best friends from east London who decided to leave their jobs and dive into the world of independent cafes in London.
Their goal was to create a cafe that is different than the other cafes in Holborn, a space where the customer can feel disconnected from the real world and breathe (which is why they don’t have wifi , but offer books instead). Check out the cute pictures and messenger left on napkins all around the cafe. Turns out their concept worked out perfectly with now being rated top 3 best cafe in London!
Where: 188-189 Drury Ln
When: Weekdays 8:00 – 17:00, Weekends 8:00 – 18:00
No bookings required – walk ins only!
The Shakespheres head
Weatherspoon pub (look above)
My Old Dutch
This original dutch pancake house doesn’t only do sweet but also savoury thin pancakes, as well as traditional dutch starters, salads, and a lot more served in a rustic setting.
Where: 131-132 High Holborn
When: Monday to Friday 11:30 – 19:00, Saturday 10:00-19:00, Sunday 10:00-18:00
All bar one
A trendy chain bar serving food and cocktails. The pub chain consists of 56 bars in the UK, one of them in Holborn. All bar one is known to be first to remove plastic straws on the high street.
Where: 58 Kingsway
When: Monday to Wednesday 9:00 – 23:00, Thursday 9:00 – 23:30, Friday & Saturday 9:00 – 00:00, Sunday 9:00 – 22:30
More Restaurants for a quick bite to eat near Holborn
Try these close by restaurants and cafes:
- Nando’s- 9-10 Southampton PL
- Wasabi- 115 Kingsgate House
- McDonald’s- 112 High Holborn
- Redemption Roasters- 71 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
- Leon- 77 Kingsway
Bars near Holborn station
Scarfes bar
This refined social bar is really artful and offering not only creative cocktails, it is also paired with live jazz every day of the week.
Where: Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn
When: Monday to Saturday 16:00 – 00:00, Sunday closed
London cocktail club ( shaftsbury avenue)
A bar influenced by the love of rum with leather banquettes and tattoo art. It’s the perfect hair-down, tie-off party location serving quirkily named cocktails like “Bees Knees”.
Where: 224a Shaftesbury Ave
When: Everyday of the week 16:00-00:00
More Bars in Holborn
- Simmons Bar- 109 Kingsway
- Sway- 61 -65 Great Queens Street
- Flight Club Darts Bloomsbury
- Bar Polski
- Bloomsbury Club Bar
Afternoon tea near Holborn station
The Rosewood
The Mirror room in the 5-star hotel “The Rosewood” is offering artful tea with colorful pastries. The Art Afternoon Tea by Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins is inspired by the surrealist painter Salvador Dali and his work, designed with the “Surrealism Beyond Borders” exhibition at the Tate Modern in mind.
Where: The Rosewood Hotel 252 High Holborn
Essential Shops near Holborn station
Need some essentials these shops are located close to Holborn Station:
- Boots – Pharmacy at 129 Kingsway
- Tesco
- Sainsbury’s – 129 Kingsway
- Superdrug Pharmacy- 232 High Holborn
Hotels near Holborn station
Check out these places to stay near and Hotels near Holborn Station:
- The Hoxton Holborn
- The Travel lodge
- The rosewood Hotel
- The Z Hotek Holborn
Theatres near Holborn
Gillian Lynne theatre
The Gillian Lynne Theatre was formerly known as the New London Theatre until it got renamed after the legendary West End Choreographer Gillian Lynne. It was built in 1973, rebuilt 1911 and counts as one of the newest theatres on the West End. It’s also the first West End venue to be named after a woman.
Where: 166 Drudy Lane
The Shaftesbury Avenue theatre
Another West End theatre near Holborn is located on Shaftesbury Avenue. It was opened as the new prince’s theatre in 1911 and the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. The theatre is taking pride in being the largest independent theatre in the West End and in being distinctive, open and original.
Where: 210 Shaftesbury Ave
The Peacock Theatre
The Peacock Theatre is a newer style theatre showing a variety of shows.
Where: Portugal Street
How to get to Holborn
The main Underground station Holborn include:
The main Station is Holborn Underground Station, served by several tube lines. The underground tube lines include the Central and the Piccadilly line. A few other tube stations are nearby, such as Chancery Lane Station, Temple Station, King’s Cross and Russel Square.
Where is Holborn station?
Holborn is a station on the central line on the London Underground. It is located on the crossroad and junction of High Holborn and the Kingsway which leads to the Strand. There are two underground lines that go in to Holborn underground station the central line and the Piccadilly line. Holborn station sits on the central line between
How to get to Covent Garden from Holborn station
It is really easy to get from holborn station to Covent Garden
By train: The easiest way is to walk from the central line to the Piccadilly line and go one stop to Covent Garden.
Walk: The second was is just as easy to walk by getting off of the tube at Holborn station and walking to Covent Garden by foot.
When you come to the exit of the station at the top of the escalator you will see two exits in front and one to the right.
Take the exit in front of you and cross the street. Turn left and walk along Kingsway to the second turning Great Queen Street with Starbucks on the corner. Turn right walk along Great Queen Street
Is Holborn station step free?
No Holborn station is not step free but it does have an escalator.
If you would like to be added to this list please contact me. I do try to review all places before hand so I can suggest the very best in London
If you are exploring London take a look at my other area guides to London too.
- Guide to Piccadilly Circus
- Tottenham Court Road guide
- A Guide to Greenwich London
- Things to do near St Paul’s
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