Month: October 2012

Explore Goodge Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism

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Historically, Goodge Street was a shopping quarter. It is centrally located to a number of London’s landmarks and attractions, including the University of London to the east, Regent’s Park to the northwest, the British Museum to the southeast, and the shopping district along the world famous Oxford Street to the south.


(Image © Terry Moran)

About Goodge Street

Goodge Street is located in Central London’s Fitzrovia neighbourhood, a traditionally bohemian area that has been home to various authors and poets, including Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Rimbaud. English composer Thomas Linley lived at Number 40 on Goodge Street between 1793 and 1788. Today, the area includes a mix of residential and commercial properties, including a variety of business.

Goodge Street is bound by Tottenham Court Road to the west. To the east, Goodge Street emerges as Mortimer Street following the junction with Newman Street. The street forms part of the A5204 road and is within the London Borough of Camden. The road stretches under half a quarter of a mile in length and features a mix of uses, including residential, offices, retail and grocery shops, pubs, and restaurants.

History

Many of Goodge Street’s original buildings have been demolished or destroyed during the Second World War, with few original buildings remaining. The area near Goodge Street once belonged to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral and a 13th century manor house was once found nearby, towards the north-west near Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. The area that encompasses Goodge Street was known as Totten, Totham and Totting Hall during the 15th century. To the north of Goodge Street was the 18th century manor estate of the Duke of Grafton and the FitzRoys, which now sits near present-day Fitzroy Square. Continue reading “Explore Goodge Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism” →

Guide to Baker Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism

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Stretching along more than 1.5 miles, Baker Street runs from Marylebone to Oxford Street, and is one of the main arteries in this area of London. Like other neighbouring streets, Baker Street was first laid out under its current name during the eighteenth century. The street received its name from the builder who laid it out.

In the beginning, Baker Street was mostly a residential area for affluent families. However, as London grew in size, population, and economic importance, the street welcomed new tenants and transformed some of its residential buildings into office space and commercial premises.

Famous buildings

Perhaps the most well known building in Baker Street is number 221B, otherwise known as Sherlock Holmes’ residence. In fact, the address does not exist, although the Sherlock Holmes Museum is located on numbers 237-241. The Abbey House, home to the Abbey National Building Society between 1932 and 2005, and located on numbers 219-229 of Baker Street, received for many years correspondence addressed to Mr Sherlock Holmes. Continue reading “Guide to Baker Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism” →

Explore Great Portland Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism

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With its elegant mixture of Edwardian and Victorian buildings, Great Portland Street is one of the W1 postcode’s richest places of character. The first mention of this street dates back to 1726, when it was known as John Street. A few years later, the expansion of the estate owned by the Dukes of Portland brought a change in the street’s name, which then became known as Portland Road. Towards the end of the 18th century, the street layout was pretty much identical to the one we see today, with large period buildings lining each side of the street.


(Image © Tony Day)

Towards the beginning of the 19th century, Portland Road became an important residential and commercial hub. Great Portland Street received its name in 1870. By that time, the street was known to be home to many restaurants, shops, massage parlours, and antique shops. In the early twentieth century, Great Portland Street was dubbed “Motor Row” due to the number of companies in the automobile sector that chose the street as their base. Benz Motors, Jaguar, Austin, and Vauxhall were some of the most important firms that were represented in the showrooms that lined Great Portland Street at the turn of the century. The textile sector was also very important until the 1970s, and for decades Great Portland Street was the place to go for those who wanted good quality garments made to order.

Important and notable buildings

In an effort to preserve the historic and architectural value of the street, the local authority has designated Great Portland Street as part of the Harley and East Marylebone conservation areas. Great Portland Street is home to four Grade 2 listed buildings: the Great Portland Street tube station and the structures on numbers 78/80, 94, and 126. Interesting Edwardian buildings can be seen on numbers 160-180, 226, and 229. Continue reading “Explore Great Portland Street: Key Facts, History, Architecture and Tourism” →

Tips for Office Moves in London

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Moving office can be both equally exciting and daunting a prospect. Moving within the London area can also provide equal benefits, through lots of choice and removal options, and disadvantages such as traffic, parking restrictions and the general business found in the capital. Your office move will certainly disrupt your usual business for the duration and this can easily result in negative impacts. In order to limit the negative effects associated with the big move, here are some tips for office moves in London.

Planning

Planning is the most important part of this process and understanding its importance could make or break the success of the move. Communication is perhaps the most important so plan to have your phone line and Internet in place before the move. There could be nothing worse than having a delay on your line connection and being un contactable for longer than you need. During the move, forward phones to mobiles and look into mobile email access. Having a set layout of the new office will speed things up at the final stop. Based on this plan, make sure you have considered power points, network cables etc. Use the opportunity of the move to rid yourself of unnecessary clutter that as built up in the office place and ensure staff do the same. Continue reading “Tips for Office Moves in London” →