Let me take you by the hand
...in the words of Ralph McTellHave you ever wondered while wandering the streets of London, where some of the unusual street names originate from?
I must admit I certainly have, and the City of London where I worked for 27 years has some of the strangest, I’ve ever seen.
So, my curiosity got the better of me, and I dug a little deeper, into some of the City of London’s quirkier street names.
![The pin image of our post - 'Names behind some of the Streets of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Names-behind-some-of-the-Streets-of-London-Pin6.jpg)
Savage Gardens
![The City of London Street sign for Savage Gardens in the EC3 quarter of the square mile. The street sign has a red font for the City of London & EC3, and the street name is in a black font, all on a white background.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Savage-Gardens-Streets-of-London-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
We have a little book on our shelves that we sometimes delve into when we're about to hit an area of London.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different regions of London, it's a great resource to help you see what's hidden in plain sight.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves London.
Pope’s Head Alley
![A City of London street sign for Pope's Head Alley mounted on a stone wall in the EC3 district of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Popes-Head-Alley-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Cornhill
![An ornate street clock suspended above a sign for Cornhill in the EC3 area of the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cornhill-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Chancery Lane
![A modern street sign for Chancery Lane in the London borough of Camden WC2 next to a Blue Plaque for John Thurloe - Secretary of State - 1652](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Chancery-Lane-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
What’s with the Blue Plaques?
Bow Lane and Bow Churchyard
![The church at the corner of Bow Churchyard in the narrow streets of the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bow-Churchyard-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
This historic church was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren due to the Great Fire of London in 1666.
According to London tradition to be a true Cockney you must be born within earshot of the sound of Bow Bells.
Austin Friars
![A sign for Austin Friars Passage, on the tiled alleyway, in the city of London.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Austin-Friars-Passage-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![A modern sign for Austin Friars Passage, that leads to the Dutch Church & Dutch Centre, in the City of London.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Austin-Friars-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Where to stay in London
If you want to stay in the heart of the financial district then why not choose the Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s (formerly Grange St. Paul’s), as we did? A short hop from Bank.
There are plenty of choices, why not check out Booking.com for something that suits your requirements?
Threadneedle Street
![The street sign for Threadneedle Street attached to the Royal Exchange building in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Threadneedle-Street-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Cloth Court
![The view along Cloth Fair towards Cloth Court in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cloth-Court-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
The fair was for the woollen and drapery industries, with Italian and Flemish cloth merchants.
There’s so much history just within this small region of London, take a look at my Smithfield post.
How strange!
Little Britain
Little Britain got its name from the Dukes of Brittany who built a house here in the 15th century. From 1575 – 1725 there were mostly booksellers on the street until they all moved to Paternoster Row where it was free to sell books.
Little Britain is also mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations as the location of Jaggers', Pip's surly lawyer office.
![A street sign for the street known as Little Britain on a column on the corner with West Smithfield.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Little-Britain-streets-of-london-places-near-st-pauls-station-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Cock Lane
Cock Lane in EC1 doesn’t have a very upbeat history, as it is thought to be named after cockfighting and cock breeding that formerly occurred here.
Although just on the corner with Cock Lane is the “Golden Boy of Pye Corner”.
![The 'Golden Boy of Pye Corner', above the sign for Cock Lane in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cock-Lane-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-things-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
This golden memorial was erected in memory of the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is ascribed to the Sin of Gluttony.
The Golden Boy once sat above the “Fortune of War” pub, which was pulled down in 1910.
Pudding Lane
![The street sign for Pudding Lane, attached to dark stonework, in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pudding-Lane-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-things-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
If you've yet to discover London and its ancient history, then let's start planning. I find these DK Eyewitness Travel Guides invaluable. They're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more of those fascinating sites.
You can now grab a recently revised copy of this guidebook, so you won't miss a thing.
Change Alley
![The street sign for Change Alley in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Change-Alley-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Tube Station Walks
We love to explore London on foot; a great way to break it into bite-sized pieces is to pick an underground station.
Why not browse our posts on tube station walks to find out what we uncovered in different districts?
Watling Street
![The Ye Olde Watling pub on Watling Street, a traditional tavern, on the historic London to Dover way.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Ye-Olde-Watling-historic-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Passing Alley
![A street sign to Passing Alley. One of those quirky little roots you'll come across as you discover more of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Passing-Alley-Clerkenwell-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
However, the Victorians changed its name to Passing Alley.
This is another interesting part of the City of London, take a look at our Clerkenwell post, for little more, behind the scenes.
Jerusalem Passage
![The Street sign for Jerusalem Passage, in the Borough of Finsbury, within the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jerusalem-Passage-Clerkenwell-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-places-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
I understand it has been called Jerusalem Passage since the 17th-century.
It was named after the St. John of Jerusalem tavern which up to 1720 was at the northeast corner of the lane.
Explore London on foot
French Ordinary Court
![The archway leading to French Ordinary Court in the City of London.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/French-Ordinary-Court-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-things-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
The ‘ordinary’ part refers to a ‘cheap eating place’, which were common during the 17th & 18th centuries and served meals that all cost the same price.
A French-style Ordinary stood on the site of the court in EC3.
Friday Street
![Janis's office for 24 years, One Friday Street with its glass frontage, between two brick columns, in the City of London,.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Friday-Street-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-places-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
How to get there
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Who is Houghton Street WC2 named after
Hi,
Unfortunately I don’t know, do you have any insight, could it be relating to your name?