About Fleet Street

Fleet Street is located in central London and was named after River Fleet which is now only a small stream that runs underground. The name is synonymous with the British press who held post here until the 1980s. In popular culture, Fleet Street is associated with Sweeney Todd, ‘The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, a serial killer found in many early English writings.

In the 1500s, the British Press made its home along Fleet Street and, in later years, it became notable for its pubs and coffeehouses. Many famous writers were frequent visitors to the area, using the atmosphere as inspiration for their works. In the 17th century, a great fire destroyed much of England including the west part of Fleet Street.
Today, visitors walking down Fleet will see the offices of constables and the chambers of barristers. C. Hoare & Co. has its home her and is the oldest privately owned bank in all of England. Things to watch for on Fleet Street include: St. Bride’s Church, Child & Co. bankers, The Office of Fair Trading and the dragon statue, The City’s Dragon, atop the current Temple Bar.

For a better idea of the legends and stories surrounding Fleet Street, you may want to watch one of these movies: Sweeney Todd (2007), The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961). You can also read about Fleet Street in two Charles Dickens’ novels: A Tale of Two Cities and The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. The street has been a popular landmark in London, England for centuries. Attractions include: Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, and Westminster.