The Secret Language of London Street Names Explained
Ever walked around London and thought:
Why is everything called “something Lane,” “something Court,” or “something Row”?
Street names in London aren’t random. They’re clues — little time capsules revealing what used to be there, who lived nearby, or what kind of chaos once ruled the area.
Let’s decode the secret language of London street names.
1. “Lane” = A Narrow Road or Alleyway
A “Lane” usually started as a small path, often between fields, markets, or homes.
You’ll still find them tucked into central London — like Chancery Lane (which once led to the legal district) or Fetter Lane (home to printers and scribes).
Back then, “lanes” weren’t charming — they were gritty, dark, and full of smells.
Now? They’re full of law firms and coffee shops.
2. “Row” = Tradespeople and Market Lines
“Row” often refers to a row of shops or workers’ homes.
Take Poultry Row (now Poultry Street) — that’s where chickens were sold.
Or Savile Row — where tailors set up shop.
These weren’t fancy names; they were literally describing what you'd find there.
3. “Court” or “Yard” = Small Clusters of Buildings
These usually described little enclosed areas — often behind or between buildings.
You’ll see Ely Court, Newman's Yard, or Middle Temple Court.
They were places where workshops, stables, or even housing sat hidden from the main street.
Today, some of the city’s best pubs and restaurants are tucked away in these old “courts.”
4. “Circus” = A Roundabout (Not a Clown in Sight)
When you see a “Circus” in London, it has nothing to do with performers — it comes from the Latin word for circle.
Think Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus.
They were circular junctions created to help with traffic (back when “traffic” meant horse carts).
They’ve now become iconic London meeting spots — chaotic, bright, and buzzing with life.
5. “Fields” and “Gardens” = What Used to Be There
Ever wonder why there’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields or Russell Square Gardens right in central London?
Simple: They used to be actual fields or private gardens.
London grew rapidly in the 1700s–1800s, swallowing up the countryside.
Instead of changing names, they kept them — a cheeky reminder that Bloomsbury once had sheep.
6. “Church,” “Abbey,” “Priory” = Religious Past
Any street with “Church,” “Priory,” “Chapel,” or “Abbey” in its name?
It’s a dead giveaway there was once a major religious building nearby.
Abbey Road (yep, that one) led to the Kilburn Priory.
Clerkenwell comes from “Clerks’ Well” — where monks gathered.
Some of those buildings are long gone, but the names stayed — like ghosts in the city’s language.
7. “Gate,” “Wall,” and “Bars” = City Defences
These names reveal where old city boundaries once stood.
Moorgate: A gate that led to the marshy “moor” outside the city.
Cripplegate, Bishopsgate, Aldgate: All former gates in the Roman/London Wall.
Temple Bar: A historic gate between the City of London and Westminster.
These weren’t just doors — they were checkpoints controlling who could enter the old walled city.
8. “Lombard,” “Threadneedle,” “Bread,” “Ironmonger” = Trade Guilds
Many street names come from medieval trades and guilds:
Threadneedle Street: Where tailors and textile workers worked.
Bread Street: A former market for—you guessed it—bread.
Ironmonger Lane: For iron tools and blacksmiths.
Even Lombard Street points to Italian bankers from Lombardy who worked there.
London’s financial power was built on these ancient trade routes.
9. Royal Influence Is Everywhere
Many streets were named after royalty or powerful families:
King’s Road: Once the private road for King Charles II.
Queen Victoria Street: Built during her reign.
Hanover Square: Named after the royal House of Hanover.
Sometimes they’re tributes, and sometimes it’s just a bit of royal branding to add prestige to a new development.
10. And Then... There’s the Weird Ones
Let’s not forget the quirkier names:
Bleeding Heart Yard: Named after a creepy legend of a noblewoman’s murder.
Hanging Sword Alley: Possibly a reference to fencing schools or... something darker.
Cock Lane: (Yes, that one.) Once a red-light district and home to ghost stories.
These are reminders that London hasn’t always been polite or polished — it’s always had a bit of an edge.
So, Why Does This Matter?
Because in London, the names aren’t just signposts — they’re stories.
They help you understand:
What used to be there
Who walked the same paths before you
How the city grew from a Roman outpost to a global capital
So next time you’re on Ironmonger Lane or Bleeding Heart Yard, don’t just walk past.
You’re walking through time.
Want more secrets hiding in plain sight?
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