There’s no better place to start than the beginning, and that’s at the actual “Clerk's Well” at 16 Farringdon Lane. The well which this area was named after was rediscovered in 1924, dates from the Middle Ages.

There is a blue plaque on the wall, so you’re able to locate it; however, you can now only see it behind glass. Unless you have made prior arrangements to visit. 

Opened in 1782 and formerly Middlesex Sessions House. This striking building located at one end of Clerkenwell Green was once the seat of Middlesex Quarter Sessions. It served as a courthouse hearing many criminal cases from local ne’er-do-wells.

Just up from Old Sessions House in Clerkenwell Green, although very little “green” is actually to be seen. This is where Charles Dickens literary characters of the Artful Dodger and Fagin introduced Oliver Twist to the art of pick-pocketing. 

Just on the corner here is The Crown Tavern pub and history tells us that Vladimir Lenin and a young Joseph Stalin had a tête-à-tête here in 1905.

The new church of St. James which dates from 1792, dominates the skyline here. It has a delightful green, within its grounds and a play area and café. A lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

Around here are some still very traditional old London streets that conjure up various images of days gone by. While we were strolling around Clerkenwell, there was a film crew prepping for TV series “Gangs of London”. 

Heading over to St John’s Square, we came across an interesting archway and thought we’d pop through. Only to find a peaceful little cloister garden to the Order of St John, and dedicated to St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, which dates back to the 1880’s.  

Formerly, St. John’s Gate was the main entrance to a Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital St John of Jerusalem and was erected in 1148. It was then burnt down by Wat Tyler in 1381 (he was subsequently murdered at Smithfield).

Rebuilt in 1504, although overtime and various iterations the gate has been restored and very little of the stone facing is original. However, it’s still pretty impressive to see. 

I just love all the street names in London, particularly in the City of London where there are no streets named “Road” they are often called something quirky. 

Now we’re getting close to the edge of the City of London, and some may disagree whether this is Clerkenwell or Smithfield, either way, come take a look.

The Charterhouse is a historical set of buildings dating from 1348 and almost looks out of place to its other surroundings. Once a monastery, a private mansion and also a boy’s school (which has since relocated to Surrey), it is now home to Almshouses.

If you’re in Charterhouse Square the beady eyed amongst you will have noticed the beautiful lines, on the Art Deco building of Florin Court. The exterior of this eye-catching structure dating from 1936, was used for filming for 24 years as the residence of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.

During the 1850’s in London, the south-western part of Clerkenwell was known as London’s 'Little Italy'. There was a population of around 2,000 Italians, and in 1863 this led to a beautiful basilica-style church being built along Clerkenwell Road.

St. Peter’s Italian Church may easily go unnoticed, however, take a step inside and you’ll be amazed at the size, as the chapel runs horizontal to its façade.