What is Hatton Garden Famous for?

Hatton Garden is one of the most interesting places to visit in London. The district houses over 300 jewellery shops and has a reputation as the most prestigious place for diamonds in the UK. Among the glittering diamonds, the district was infamously victim to a major safe deposit box heist in 2015, which had the world watching like something out of a Guy Ritchie film.

1. Infamous heist in Hatton Garden

In April 2015, during the Easter bank holiday, a group of burglars got into the safety deposit boxes stored in Hatton Garden. There were reports that the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Heist had seen the group take goods of over £200 million. In fact, members of the gang stole items valued at £14 million which still represented the “largest burglary in English legal history”.

2. Inventions from Hatton Garden

• The Machine Gun

The machine gun was invented in Hatton Garden. Sir Hiram Maxim established a small factory there in 1881. It was from this factory that the first machine gun was conceived and designed. This gun fired 666 bullets a minute.

• Charles Dicken’s London

During Charles Dicken’s lifetime, Hatton Garden was emerging as a centre for jewellery and he would have been familiar with the streets and workshops. In Oliver Twist, the magistrates court is set in Hatton Garden and the nearby streets become the home of the criminal underworld. 

3. Historic facts about Hatton Garden

• Hatton Garden - Meet Sir Christopher Hatton

The area adopts its name from Sir Christopher Hatton, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. A famous landowner from the 16th century, Sir Christopher Hatton, built a mansion there and gained possession of the garden and orchard of the nearby Ely Place. Hatton was a London politician who represented Higham Ferrers in 1571 and then his native Northamptonshire from 1572. He died in 1591 and the Queen arranged a state funeral for him.

• Goldsmith’s District

By the early 1600’s Hatton Garden was already well known for its goldsmiths and artisans but its reputation for diamonds didn’t come until much later.

• Transformation into London’s “Diamond Quarter”

In the 1800s, persecution in Eastern Europe resulted in Jewish immigrants fleeing to London and settling in the area. While still a hub for goldsmiths and silver workers, these skilled migrants brought expertise in diamond and gem cutting. This built foundations for Hatton Garden as London’s Diamond Quarter. By the late 19th century, Hatton Garden had gained a global reputation for diamonds, attracting buyers, traders and jewellers from all around the world.

Why visit Hatton Garden?

Over 300 businesses are based within Hatton Garden and over 55 shops, which represents the largest cluster of diamond trade in the country. Several creative industries have based themselves here including the world famous Grey Global Group.

Shining Diamonds is one of the 300 businesses based in Hatton Garden, right in the heart of the diamond jewellery cluster. We have a range of the finest engagement rings, diamond rings and wedding rings that money can buy. Treat your special someone to an impeccable piece of jewellery that they will never forget. Contact us today for more information.