The Old Street roundabout has within recent years developed a large community of IT and Tech companies working around it; many innovative start-ups benefit from the creativity and enterprise which fills the area.
Known as Silicon Roundabout after the famous Silicon Valley in California, the locality provides plentiful creative and open co-working space ideal for networking and collaboration. Being very much the place to be for these companies, office space to rent in Old Street is eagerly snapped up. Buildings in the region are very vibrant and contemporary with plenty of complimentary refreshments and games rooms featuring within many spaces. These offices generally provide a relaxed atmosphere and interiors are intended to make clients feel at home. Large buildings commonly house serviced offices within this area and roof terraces often complete the on-trend, cool vibes of Old Street office space.
Reece Gresty
Expert Opinion
Old Street is London’s cool hang out perfectly positioned between the corporate City and trendy Shoreditch; a personal favourite location. The area is brimming with quirky, boutique bars and restaurants and offices here pride themselves on accommodating innovative tech start-ups. Old Street Station is hugely well connected with both Underground and National Rail services making accessing anywhere throughout the city simple.
Old Street Developments and History
Continuing to build diversity within the area in a way which benefits the wider community is the new public art Gallery, Rivington Place which was opened in October 2007. The £8million public building designed by David Adjaye OBE through influences of Africa and the surrounding area is dedicated to culturally diverse visual arts and is the first new-build public gallery in London since 1968. Aiming to promote serious discussion on cultural diversity through its exhibitions of contemporary art and photography as well as hosting talks, screenings and seminars, the gallery spreads awareness and motivates the mind.
The earliest records of the area we now know as Old Street are written as Ealdestrate in 1200 as well as Oldestrete in 1373 however, the positioning and architectural discoveries of Old Street suggest that the road was actually Roman, making it closer to 2,000 years old. Judging by the fact that Eastern and Western ends of the road connect to the Roman roads of Shoreditch High Street and Goswell Road, along with the variety of Roman coins and remains which have been found along this route, causes many academics to associate this stretch with the Romans also.
Since around the seventeenth century, Old Street saw the construction of many houses and this was one of the first places in Shoreditch to do so; the first almshouse was also constructed here providing shelter for the homeless. Eventually the street became a centre of trade with many specialist workshops erected close to each other making the area almost a production line in itself with various stages of construction happening in different premises along the road. The scenes of today’s Old Street almost present a case of history repeating itself and the area is once again a forward thinking business hub.
Local Insight & Information
Old Street is a small but very important part of London and there is certainly nowhere comparable for the young and trendy businesses of the tech world. Home to Silicone Roundabout as well as a variety of art, culture and entertainment sites, the little area has bountiful business and pleasure opportunities all mixed in to one unique little plot. The area offers wonders of both old and new from outstanding modern art galleries to underground shopping destinations named after an ancient well all living together in perfect harmony in this intriguing and influential part of the city.
Typically throughout this section of the city, not much can be described as ordinary and if you’re seeking an experience you’ve never encountered before, Old Street may be the perfect place to visit. The Clove Club for example is a stripped back and edgy place to dine that would certainly not suit everybody’s tastes but their no nonsense and open plan approach to dining is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. The menu offers a set five course option only where the chefs encourage you to trust their judgement and indulge in whatever they lay before you. The open plan kitchen allows you to see what is being prepared right in front of your eyes and the same chefs who cooked your meal will deliver it to your table too. Built within the Shoreditch Town Hall the restaurant endeavours to incorporate often overlooked ingredients within its dishes and includes a vast array of vegetables atypical to many people’s usual choice but with a surprisingly pleasant outcome.
Another extremely unique experience occurs within Old Street when visiting St. Agnes Well and its eclectic mix of bars, shops, restaurants and other entertainment. Named after an ancient well thought to be located around 200 metres to the east although has thus far never been found, sets the tone for the bizarre complex which today fills the space beneath Silicon Roundabout. Everything from the trendy to the traditional can be visited in this wonderful and wacky location and there is always something new to discover.
Extremely modern Google billboards will ensure you’re constantly aware of the latest online trends whilst time old newspaper vendors simultaneously thrust the daily paper in to the faces of passers-by. Similarly, pop up shops range from one extreme to another with a jazz ensemble occupying the space one day to hundreds of white balloons the next, all of which are positioned amongst everyday newsagents and key cutters.
Key Transport Links
Possibly one of the reasons, other than its quirky and unpredictable nature, that this area has developed in to such a successful business community for the new and innovative is that of its great transport links. Silicon Roundabout is only seconds away from Old Street Tube Station linking commuters to both the Northern line of the tube and Great Northern Trains. Moorgate Station is also only an 11 minute walk offering further connections such as to the Circle, Hammersmith & City as well as Metropolitan lines and the Overground is also within easy walking distance. Liverpool Street mainline station also sits only 14 minutes away on foot from the site meaning that direct connections throughout London and the wider country are accessible within just a short walk.
More on Location
Having talked so much about Silicon Roundabout it is probably now appropriate to explain a little more about this stimulating setting. The name alludes to California’s Silicon Valley which has a similar, although much larger congregation of innovate tech firms. The area has become an impressive community with a real sense of entrepreneurship made possible by the thousands of highly skilled and inspired people working for one of the hundreds of companies residing here. The SMEs as well as the likes of Google and Microsoft all sit beside a range of cafés and restaurants making up a staggering 1,300 companies in the area. The immense triumph of this exceptional campus has prompted the UK government to inject further funding in to the site as part of the East London Tech City initiative which intends to create a notable change to the landscape of the region over the next few years.
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