24 Hours In Finsbury Square

If you’re in London for a brief, flying visit, don’t worry. Twenty-four hours might not seem like a long time, but done right, you can discover some of the best of the city. And if you’re staying in the hotels near Finsbury Square London, then you’re perfectly positioned to have a fantastic time in the area.

Read on to discover more about the hidden gems around Finsbury Square, to make it a great day out.

Arts and culture at the Barbican

Start your day early with some inspiring arts and culture at the iconic Barbican Centre. This world-class centre is home to virtually every art form you could encounter, from fascinating visual art exhibitions, to film, dance and live music performances.

Head to the open space of the ground level, where you’ll find plenty of free activities to enjoy, including public installations, commissions and interesting events. It’s also a great spot to meet up with friends if you’re planning to join others for the rest of your day out.

The Barbican also has a great selection of live special events on throughout the week, and it’s well worth looking ahead before your visit to see what’s on. With performances from several illustrious classical and contemporary musicians performing regularly at the centre, it’s one of the best venues in the city to catch a live show.

Have a shopping spree in the Old Spitalfields Market

The historic covered market in Spitalfields has been around in some form for over 350 years, though nowadays you’ll find a lot more in there than just fruit and vegetables. Close to some of the best 5 star hotels in London, the Old Spitalfields Market has a decidedly more upmarket feel today than it might have had a few centuries ago.

The market is packed with fascinating and must-see stalls, from gorgeous gifts, designer clothing and quirky accessories, to original art for your home, and of course, plenty of delicious food. While you’re at the market, be sure to enjoy the beautiful Victorian architecture around the space, which gives you an insight into its rich history.

It’s also worth venturing around the area just outside the market too. While it changes on a day-to-day basis, you’ll find something to surprise and delight you – from tempting food trucks, to live street performers and boutique pop-ups with limited edition gems.

Stop off for lunch

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding places to eat and drink around the area, with an ample variety of restaurants near Finsbury Square. Just make sure you have a great appetite, as the array of mouth-watering dishes on offer will be hard to resist.

You’ll find restaurants catering to every cuisine under the sun – whether you fancy some classic gastropub fare with favourite staples, light and fresh Japanese food, crafted with fresh ingredients, or fresh and indulgent pizza. One thing’s for sure – it’s the perfect place to head to, if you’re a food lover.

Learn about the history of London

After a satisfying lunch, take a leisurely walk to the nearby Museum of London, which is packed with intriguing and diverse exhibits, all about the city’s long history.

It’s completely free to enter, and has something for all ages, making it an ideal place for an afternoon out. Delve back thousands of years, into the Roman origins of Londinium, and even further beyond, with exhibits showing what was in the area that later became London, hundreds and thousands of years ago.

It’s not all ancient history either – the Museum of London also has some great collections that showcase how the city evolved since the Second World War, to become a global centre of fashion, culture and technology.

Enjoy some tranquillity at The Charterhouse

You might not expect to find a former 14^th century Carthusian monastery in the middle of the city, but The Charterhouse has been an important and long-standing part of the area around Finsbury Square, and provides the perfect place to enjoy some serene tranquillity, just a stone’s throw from the hectic and fast-paced life of the city around it.

While it was once a monastery, The Charterhouse has seen several incarnations over the centuries – serving as a private mansion, a boys’ school, and finally, an almshouse. Today, it still remains true to its heritage, providing support and care to older people, and you can also explore the chapel, where you can get a feel for the building’s history. It’s also worth heading outside to the well-maintained gardens.

Filled with a rich variety of plants and flowers as well as gentle walkways, the gardens around the building are great to visit at any time of the year, and provide a calm and meditative space to reflect and relax in.

End the night in style

You don’t need to venture far from Finsbury Square to have a fantastic night out in the city – in fact, you’ll find some of London’s best-rated clubs and bars within easy walking distance from the area.

The neighbourhood around Finsbury Square is renowned for being home to some of the most creative and lively nightlife spots in the city, with something for all tastes and styles. Relax under the twilight skies in one of the area’s great rooftop bars, where cocktails are served beneath the stars, or party in style a short walk away, around Old Street, where you’ll find the world’s best DJs performing nightly in some of the area’s most cutting edge venues.

And if getting on the dance floor feels a bit too energetic for you, head to one of the chic neighbourhood bars instead, with everything on offer from old-school speakeasies, to circus-themed spots, and more.

With lashings of ambience, unique, charming style, and of course, delicious drinks and snacks on the menu, they’re the ideal place to enjoy a relaxing drink at ease, for a memorable night out to finish off your stay in the city.

Clearly, there’s no shortage of things to do in London and – more specifically- in Finsbury Square. With that said, what are you waiting for? Book your room at The Montcalm Royal London House now!