Little Britain, London facts for kids
Little Britain is a historic street in the City of London, England. It stretches from St. Martin's Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield in the west. This area is part of the Aldersgate and Farringdon Within wards. You can also find Postman's Park next to Little Britain.
Long ago, Little Britain was the name for a small area in the City, just north of the old London Wall. The street we know today was part of this larger district.
A famous writer named Washington Irving wrote about this area in his book, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., which came out in 1820. He described it as a quiet, old-fashioned neighborhood in the middle of busy London. He said it had narrow streets and old houses. Irving believed the name came from the Dukes of Brittany, who might have lived there a long time ago. However, some people disagree with this idea.
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History of Little Britain
Little Britain has a rich history, especially when it comes to books and business.
Early Businesses and Trades
From the mid-1500s, many booksellers had their shops on Little Britain. It was a popular place to buy books. Later, around the mid-1700s, goldsmiths and clothing shops also became common here. These businesses stayed in the area until the 1900s.
Newspapers and Famous Residents
The offices of the Daily Courant were located on Little Britain in the 1700s. This was a very important newspaper because it was the first daily newspaper in Britain. A famous American, Benjamin Franklin, also lived on Little Britain for a time. He worked at Palmers printers while he was there.
Religious Connections
In 1738, two important religious leaders, John and Charles Wesley, had a significant experience at a house on Little Britain. This event helped shape their work in the Methodist movement.
Getting to Little Britain
Little Britain is easy to reach using London's public transport system.
Underground Stations
The closest London Underground stations are:
- St Paul's (on the Central line)
- Barbican (on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines)
Railway Stations
The nearest main railway stations are:
