Mitchell Street, London EC1

Situated in St Luke’s Conservation Area, between the coveted cultural hubs of Clerkenwell and Old Street, lies this rare, historic former tavern. Its impressive scale and volume have been utilised to create a dramatic and versatile family home of almost 3,000 sq ft across five storeys. Original features, including grand arched windows and herringbone parquet and tiled mosaic flooring, have been retained to celebrate the rich character of its origins. A south-facing terrace provides a private outside spot that looks through the tree lines to the Grade I-listed, Nicholas Hawksmore-designed St Luke’s Church. Within easy walking distance of Mitchell Street are the much-loved neighbourhoods of Clerkenwell, the Barbican, Old Street, Shoreditch and Angel.

The Tour

A striking mixed stock-brick façade is punctuated by a symmetry of fenestration, with eight black-framed sash windows and a classical pitch arranged over the original tavern ‘shop front’ level. The entrance bursts into an expansive living space with soaring ceilings and parquet and mosaic flooring running underfoot.

The kitchen is situated to the rear of this open-plan reception room; it combines black cabinetry with a copper backsplash that reflects the gentle north-facing light of the glazed front façade. To the left of the kitchen is a cork-lined study with built-in bookcases, while to the right is a doorway that leads through a courtyard garden to a utility at the rear.

A black-painted staircase rises to the first-floor level, to a formal living room sublimely lined with four large sash windows and with an original fireplace. To the south is a large room, currently used as a study, that opens through French windows to a brilliant south-facing terrace.

On the second floor there are three further bedrooms, a separate WC and a family bathroom with a freestanding bath. The pitched roof of the third floor contains a bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and views of St Luke’s Church; adjacent is its own recently renovated bathroom.

There is also an enormous lower-ground floor space that is currently used as a gym and workspace.

Outdoor Space

The ground-floor patio has a wonderfully secluded feel afforded by tall walls decorated with pattern tiling. The spot makes an excellent sun trap for growing herbs and evergreens. Nodding to its pre-Dickensian heritage, an external WC has been retained.

On the first floor, a terrace opens out from the study/bedroom; south-facing, it receives plenty of sunlight. There’s enough room for pots and planters here, as well as a table, chairs and an outdoor sofa.

The Area

Mitchell Street was named after Thomas Mitchell, who bequeathed the land in the 1500s, and forms part of St Luke’s Conversation Area. Notable landmarks in the surrounding area include the recently restored Ironmonger’s Row Baths and St Luke’s Church, which was renovated in 2003, and now houses the London Symphony Orchestra. For day-to-day amenities, there is a branch of Waitrose on Whitecross Street, which is also host to a daily street food market.

Clerkenwell was recently named the London winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live in 2024, with restaurants like The Eagle, the first gastro pub in London, the much-loved Moro and the original outpost of Caravan counted among the excellent local offerings. We've written about our Clerkenwell recommendations in greater depth in our Journal.

Leather Lane beckons in the other direction. It has a brilliant mid-week street food market, where great coffee options include Profrock and Attendant Coffee Roasters. Laidback Lamb’s Conduit Street, with its independent restaurants and boutiques, is less than a 10-minute walk away; favourites here include the culinary institution Ciao Bella and the celebrated wine bar Noble Rot. The Brunswick Centre, a Grade II-listed masterpiece is a five-minute cycle away and is home to a large Waitrose supermarket and Curzon cinema.

Slightly further afield, but still within easy walking distance, are Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Columbia Road (home of the world-famous Sunday flower market) to the east, and Exmouth Market and Islington's Upper Street to the north. The world-famous theatres of Soho and Covent Garden are also within walking distance, as are Sadlers Wells Theatre and the Barbican's arts centre.

Old Street Station is an eight-minute walk away and is serviced by the Northern Line. Barbican Station is around a 12-minute walk and runs the Hammersmith and City, Circle, and Metropolitan lines. For the City and National Rail, Liverpool Street is 20 minutes away, while Heathrow can be reached on the Elizabeth Line in around 40 minutes. International rail travel connects to Europe from nearby St Pancras and several bus routes run along neighbouring streets in all directions, including neighbouring Islington.

Council Tax Band: G