Postcards from Farringdon
A day spent working at a NO HQ venue in Farringdon is less about the tasks at hand and more about the rhythm of the neighbourhood—a place that draws you in with its quiet hum of history and the energy of a city that never stands still. Old Sessions House, with its imposing charm, serves as your base, but the real magic lies beyond its walls.
Lunch is where the choices start to weigh on you—but in a good way. Farringdon doesn’t just feed you; it forces you to decide what kind of day you’re going to have. Will it be the no-nonsense perfection of Scotti’s Sandwich Bar, where the sandwiches feel like they were made for people who work with their hands and appreciate the straightforward pleasure of bread done right? Or maybe Exmouth Market calls to you, its cobblestones lined with food stalls and eateries that embody the diversity of London itself. For the brave and the bold, there’s Gerry’s Hot Subs, where the flavors don’t just whisper; they demand your attention.
Coffee, of course, is non-negotiable. Prufrock Coffee has your back, delivering caffeine that doesn’t just wake you up but slaps you across the face in the gentlest way possible. It’s the kind of place where even the foam on your flat white seems to suggest you could do better—and you believe it.
But it’s not all about sustenance. Farringdon is a place that rewards curiosity. Take a break, wander a little. MagCulture and Magma aren’t just shops; they’re temples of inspiration. You walk in with the vague notion that you’re just killing time and leave with your head full of ideas you didn’t even know you needed. This is what Farringdon does best: it fills in the gaps, offering just enough distraction to keep you going but not so much that you forget why you’re here.
As the day winds down and the emails blur into the background, there’s the Exmouth Arms. It’s not a pub that tries too hard, and that’s the point. A pint here isn’t just a drink; it’s a punctuation mark, a moment to sit back and reflect on the day that’s passed. The buzz of conversation, the clink of glasses, the feeling that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be—it all comes together in a way that feels effortless.
Set it all to the soundtrack of ‘These Days’ by Nico, a song that seems made for moments like this. Farringdon isn’t flashy, and it doesn’t shout to be heard. It’s a place that lets you sink in, that rewards you for paying attention to the details. It’s a neighborhood where the past and present overlap, where your day-to-day grind brushes up against something timeless.
So, what’s your Farringdon? Maybe it’s a sandwich from Scotti’s or a spark of inspiration at MagCulture. Maybe it’s the perfect pint at the Exmouth Arms. Whatever it is, Farringdon doesn’t just give it to you; it makes you earn it, and that’s what makes it stick.
