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Area guide: EC2 - City of Gold
by Sharn Gill
EC2 crams in finance, culture, open spaces,
designer shops, good food and a wealth of bars and clubs into
a small space. Stretching from Liverpool Street to Old Street
(Shoreditch) and Moorgate, EC2 also encompasses the fringes
of Bank and the Barbican.
Being a stones throw away from Shoreditch makes this a popular
and expensive place to reside with studio and one-bedroom
flats fetching around a minimum of £200,000 alone. And as
a place crammed with bars, this area tends to attract the
younger market - usually the financial professionals or media
types. With the Bank of England in the area, it's no wonder
the streets are paved with gold!
EC2 is home to many of the city's most beautiful gardens and
parks, where workers, residents and visitors can unwind during
lunch or after work.
The biggest and most unusual park is Finsbury Circus Gardens.
As one of the areas largest elliptical city garden with an
area of 2,220 square metres, it was originally an open recreational
ground and almost destroyed by the Metropolitan Railway Company.
Fortunately, it was saved and turned into a bowling green
and now houses the City of London Bowling Club. Finsbury Circus
is also known for its collection of fine plane trees (some
over 200 years old) and the rare Pagoda tree.
Or, if you wish, you could amble through Beech Gardens. This
is a hanging garden comprising numerous flowerbeds, fountains
and quiet places to sit to get away from the hustle and bustle
of city life. Finally, you have Cutler's Gardens filled with
courtyards, gardens, fountains and plenty of open space or
Hallows-on-the-wall and London Wall.
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