The gardens of Holborn grew a wide variety of herbs and flowers: musk, roses, spurge olive, monk's privet, dogsbane, balsam and thorn-apple. Carrots and cabbage grew wild.

Situated between the city and open countryside, the area was known for its many coaching inns.

Harrison, A Description of England, 1577:

If the traveller have a horse, his bed doth cost him nothing, but if he go on foot he is sure to pay a penny for the same... If he lose ought while he abideth in the inn, the host if bound by a general custom to restore the damage... Certes, I believe not that chapman or traveller in England is robbed by the way without the knowledge of some of them: for when he cometh into the inn, and alighteth from his horse, the hostler forthwith is very busy to take down his budget or capcase in the yard from his sadle bow, which he peiseth slyly in his hand to feel the weight thereof: or if he miss of this pitch, when the guest hath taken up his chamber, the chamberleine that looketh to the making of the beds, will be sure to remove it from the place where the owner hath set it, as if it were to set it more conveniently some where else, whereby he getteth an inkling whether it be money or other short wares, and thereof giveth warning to such odd guests as haunt the house and are of his confederacy, to the utter undoing of many an honest yeoman as he journeth by the way. The tapster in like sort for his part doth mark his behaviour, and what plenty of money he draweth when he payeth the shot, to the like end: so that it shall be an hard matter to escape all their subtle practices. Some think it is a gay matter to committ their budgets at the coming to the goodman of the house: but thereby they often betray themselves.

Travels in England, by Thomas Plater, 1599:

There are a great many inns, taverns and beer-gardens scattered about the city, where much amusement may be had with eating, drinking, fiddling, and the rest, as for instance in our hostelry, which was visited by players almost daily. And what is particularly curious is that women as well as the men, in fact more often than they, will frequent the taverns or ale-houses for enjoyment. They count it a great honour to be taken there and given wine with sugar to drink; and if one woman only is invited, then she will bring three or four other women along and they gaily toast each other; the husband afterwards thanks him who has given his wife such pleasure, for they deem it a real kindness.

In the ale-houses tobacco or a species of wound-wort are also obtainable for one's money, and the powder is lit in a small pipe, the smoke sucked into the mouth, and the saliva is allowed to run freely, after which a good draught of Spanish wine follows. This they regard as a curious medicine for defluctions, and as a pleasure, and the habit is so common with them, that they always carry the instrument with them, and light up on all occasions, at the play, in the taverns or elsewhere, drinking as well as smoking together.... and they use it so abundantly because of the pleasure it gives, that their preachers cry out on them for their self-destruction, and I am told the inside of one man's veins after death was found to be covered in soot just like a chimney...

Fynes Morrison, Itinerary, 1617:

For as soon as a passenger comes to an Inn, the servants run to him, and one takes his horse, and walks him till he be cold, then rubs him and gives him meat, yet I must say that they are not much to be trusted in this last point, without the eye of the Master or his servant to oversee them. Another servant gives the passenger his private chamber, and kindles his fire; the third pulls off his boots, and makes them clean. Then the host or hostess visit him; and if he will eat with the Host, or at a common table with others, his meale will cost him six pence, or in some places but four pence (yet this course is less honourable, and is not used by gentlemen); but if he will eat in his chamber, he commands what meat he will, according to his appetite, and as much as he thinks fit for him and his company... while he eats, if he have company especially, he shall be offered music, which he may take freely or refuse; and if he be solitary, the musicians will give him the good day with music in the morning...

The Journeys of Celia Fiennes, in 1697 and 1698 (writing about an inn in Buxton which wasn't very good):

So much a piece for your dinners and suppers and so much for our servants besides; all your ale and wine is to be paid besides, the beer they allow at the meals is so bad that very little can be drank, you pay not for your bed room and truly the other is so unreasonable a price and the lodgings so bad, 2 beds in a room, 3 beds and some 4 in one room, so that if you have not company enough of your own to fill a room they will be ready to put others into the same chamber, and sometimes they are so crowded that three must lie in a bed...

Behind the Red Lion Inn, a well-known hostelry in Holborn, were open fields known as Grays Inn Fields, comprising Red Lion Fields, Conduit Close and Lambs Conduit Fields. The fields had many beautiful walks which were popular for recreational purposes; several murders were also committed on those walks. The fields were also a popular location for duels, as well as being used for artillery practice.

The Red Lion Inn was also notorious for the body of Oliver Cromwell having been taken there on its way to be hung at Tyburn.

Holborn had yet another claim to fame: London libertines of both sexes made their way to the baths in Leather Lane to "take the cure" for venereal disease. (The cure largely consisted of alternately sweating in a tub and taking mercury over an extended period of time. A letter of Henry Savile's to Rochester, complains of "that whole stock of mercury that has gone down my throat in seven months.)