From Finsbury Tower to Holborn Viaduct

I’ve become obsessed with walking, there is no doubt about that. Rather than be upset when our exam centre was moved all the way to Moorgate, I was thrilled because it meant my only reasonable option was to walk to Finsbury Tower from Cannon Street Station and why not explore the area while I was at it? My first adventure in the area took me to the Barbican back in March when I posted Beauty in Brutalism: The Barbican Estate.

Sadly, I have written what will most probably be my last exam in Finsbury Tower as I have moved to a new course provider. (Okay, I'm not sad at all - I liked the area but I truly disliked my old course provider). Join me on my last walk from Finsbury Tower to Holborn Viaduct (of course, my walk should have been longer but somebody only got three hours of sleep the night before and eventually climbed on a bus).

The view from Finsbury Tower

The view from our fourth floor centre was pretty impressive and I wasn’t the only person to stand staring at the view and unwinding after my exam. In fact, I kind of had to wait my turn before I could do so.

Ant people on Bunhill Row, London. EC1

I enjoyed watching the ant people down below. It was lunch time and people were just beginning to emerge from their offices into the crisp October sunlight.

The old gate to Smithfield Market, Lindsey Street entrance

It always amazes me that no matter how many walks and tours I take around London, I always make new, intriguing and fascinating discoveries. On this occasion I found the Smithfield Market which I had certainly heard about but had never actually seen.

Intricate Victorian design, Smithfield Market, London

Smithfield is officially known as London Central Markets and is the largest wholesale market in the UK. They begin trade very early in the morning and were just cleaning up and closing down when I walked through just after noon.

Roof detail, Smithfield Market

Holborn Viaduct

Coming out of the market, I turned to the south and suddenly saw a majestic red bridge ahead of me. Knowing that it was in the area, I asked a passerby whether this was the famous Holborn Viaduct. She said that she did not know as she too was not from the area but she did say that it must be.

Holborn Viaduct

Because really, what else could be so beautiful?

It turns out that we were both correct. This is indeed the Holborn Viaduct, a road bridge that links Holborn with Newgate Street. I must have walked around this bridge so many times but never across it or beneath it. The Holborn Viaduct was once a railway terminus but closed with the establishment of the City Thameslink service.

So there you have it, a pretty random post about random items I might not have discovered on any other day and certainly might not have blogged about.

Have you discovered any oddities in your neighbourhood lately? I’d love to hear about them!