Hatton Garden in Holborn remains the heart of London's jewellery trade

For anyone shopping for an engagement ring, a special gift or a piece made to order, one London street stands above the rest. Hatton Garden in Holborn, on the fringe of the West End in the London Borough of Camden, is the capital's principal diamond and jewellery quarter, and the centre of the UK diamond trade.

The numbers are impressive. The area is home to nearly 300 jewellery businesses and more than 90 shops, making it the largest cluster of jewellery retailers in the UK. Alongside the shopfronts, the quarter is home to goldsmiths and specialist craftspeople, many working on bespoke commissions.

Hatton Garden has a long and colourful history. In medieval times this was the London residence of the Bishops of Ely, with a palace, gardens and an orchard, and the palace stood on the site of today's Ely Place. The land was later taken over by Sir Christopher Hatton, a favourite of Elizabeth I, who built a mansion there, and the street still carries his name.

The area's specialisation in jewellery developed in the early 19th century, spreading from the older centre of the trade in nearby Clerkenwell. For many years the diamond company De Beers was the district's largest business, with its headquarters on Charterhouse Street until 2016.

Today, visitors can choose from traditional jewellers, diamond specialists and designers offering bespoke jewellery design.

The quarter's own directory, which dates back to 2003, lists businesses across many categories, from bespoke design to repairs and valuations, and publishes a monthly newsletter, The Hatton Gazette, for those who want to keep up with the area.

With Christmas approaching, Hatton Garden is a good place to look for something lasting, whether that is a classic diamond, a vintage piece or a design made just for you. Its location, a short walk from Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations, also makes it easy to combine with a visit to Smithfield or Clerkenwell.

Hatton Garden runs north from Holborn Circus in EC1. For a guide to its jewellers and bespoke designers, visit hatton-garden-jewellers.co.uk.