Vibey new restaurants and big cultural destinations are coming to EC1
Farringdon and Clerkenwell have long been among our favourite corners of London. It’s a history-soaked area – technically two – of Dickensian alleyways, vibey restaurants, beautiful boozers and dance-’til-dawn clubs where modern-day storytellers can be found on the mic (or in the smoking area). Once known as Little Italy, it’s a home from home for people from around the world who have built better lives for their families and enriched the city.
Today, it’s pumped up on commuters and visitors using the Elizabeth Line station. More than 50 million passengers passed through Farringdon station in 2025, making it the UK’s 8th busiest station, while global companies like TikTok and Live Nation have moved their headquarters to the area. Despite being an area in constant flux, it maintains a village-y vibe in some of its leafier spots around Clerkenwell Green and St Bartholomew’s Church, and come weekends it’s super quiet.
But there’s a new influx of hubbub moving in alongside the area’s OGs. Moro/Morito, Sushi Tetsu, Quality Chop House, St. John, Luca and, more recently, Cloth, Bouchon Racine and Space Talk have all helped put it on the map. Now, there’s a big new announcement every week. LOTI fave Camille will be making the journey from Borough in autumn 2026. Ex-Kiln head chef Karla Knowles is set to bring fire-led, Thai-inspired flavour bombs to a new address at 61 Charterhouse Street. Chef Jackson Boxer recently added to the hype with his new joint Vesper on Exmouth Market, offering inventive sharing plates and off-menu burgers. Japanese sommelier Raku Oda has just opened Ebi Wines, a bar and shop in one. We’ve also got word that there’s a very Public House coming, an East London wine bar moving in soon and a certain Island taking a spot there.
That’s not all: cultural venues are joining the party too. The London Museum will finally reopen its doors at its new Smithfield site in November, where the story of grime will sit alongside an exhibition exploring the city’s Roman roots. Plus, you won’t be short of options for a post-exhibition snack, as caterer Green & Fortune has teamed up with chef Robin Gill and Mr Lyan Studio on four fresh venues opening alongside the museum on 28 November, including all-day dining room Clerks House, and Bartholomew’s, a street-facing bar on Farringdon Road. There’s also a return for the historic Lockhart’s Cocoa Rooms, reborn as a booze-free café running round-the-clock from Thursday to Sunday, plus The Roost, a rotating residency space for up-and-coming street food talent. We’re excited to see how they document the next chapter at this landmark new address.
Illustrator Sir Quentin Blake, longtime collaborator of author Roald Dahl, has put his name to the world’s biggest space dedicated to illustration, near Clerkenwell’s northern border, a stone’s throw from Sadler’s Wells Theatre. While you’re there, pop into the time-warp boozer Shakespeare’s Head for a reminder of old London, and the chance to rub shoulders with dancers post-show. If you’re after more physical media inspo, head to Mag Culture, where the resurgence in print publishing gets a beautifully styled showcase.
It’s all too easy to feel nostalgic for the past. Pre-Crossrail and Lizzy Line, the area was an outlier in central London: chilled, sometimes weirdly quiet, but still full of cool things to do. The beauty of London, though, is that it never stays still, and Farringdon and Clerkenwell are restlessly creative ‘hoods leading the way.
Find more local tips with our Farringdon & Clerkenwell guide
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