The City of London 

The City of London, otherwise known as the City or the Square Mile, is London’s historic financial district, an ancient core of London from which the rest of the cosmopolitan capital developed over 2,000 years.

The City covers an area of 1.12 square miles (3 kilometres) from the Tower of London in the east to Temple in the west, and from the Thames in the south to Liverpool Street Station in the north.

The City is home to the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England and is governed by the City Corporation based in Guildhall. The City has its own Lord Mayor and the Court of Common Council as the main decision-making body.

Over 8,500 residents live in the City and over 500,000 are employed in the borough. The City is an ideal location for anyone preferring a central London lifestyle in a district where most residential flats and apartments are set in contemporary, low to high-rise buildings.

History

The City of London developed from a Roman settlement established on the north side of the Thames in the year 50AD. The city’s original name was Londinium.

After getting independence from Roman rule by the year 290 the City grew as an important place of commerce. The original St Paul’s Cathedral was built in 604 ad and St Bartholomew’s, London’s oldest hospital was founded in 1123. In 1189 the City gained the right to have its own major.

From the 1600s the City of London has developed as a dominant centre for banking and insurance. The catastrophic Fire of London in 1666 destroyed the medieval City of London. The Act of Parliament and its strict regulations enabled the growth of a transformed urban setting embracing planning, sanitation, and safety measures. Driven by businesses and entrepreneurs a timely reconstruction followed and a new City emerged.

Over the next 35 years, a new St Paul’s Cathedral and 50 more rebuilt churches appeared on its skyline. Having many well-established livery companies within its borders, the City was a perfect environment for a major international trading centre and a global financial hub.

Today, the City of London is the UK’s leading business and financial centre. The area is home to some of London’s most notable banking, accountancy, law, and insurance firms.

Culture

The City of London has plenty of historic and heritage landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Bank of England, Bevis Marks Synagogue, The London Mithraeum, Mansion House, Temple Bar, The Monument, and more. Prime exhibitions and events take place at the Museum of London, Barbican Centre, Guildhall, Temple, the Tower of London, Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheatre.

Within the City are some remarkable examples of modern architecture too including Lloyd’s Building, No.1 Poultry, Paternoster Square, Tower 42, St Mary Axe or the Gherkin, Heron Tower, 20 Fenchurch Street with the Sky Garden, 10 Gresham Street, Barbican Centre, Broadgate Tower, City Point, Fen Court, or the award-winning Bloomberg’s European Headquarters’ building on Queen Victoria Street.

The high concentration of tourist landmarks attracts a considerable number of visitors to the City and generates additional wealth and employment. The City has acres of terrific green spaces from pocket parks to modern rooftop gardens.

The fine dining scene incorporates restaurants set in splendid heritage buildings or in new commercial establishments often with spectacular panoramic views of London. There are slick bars, modern food halls, casual café houses and street markets with innovative cuisine.

Leisure and fitness facilities in the City are often provided within residential developments and include the latest trends in fitness, large gyms and swimming pools.

Amazing shopping opportunities are available at the historic Leadenhall Arcade and the Old Spitalfields Market, The Royal Exchange Hall, Broadgate Circus, which is adjacent to the Liverpool Street Station, and at the most recent One New Change next to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Transport

The City is one of the best-connected Zone 1 districts with several big London transport network stations offering access to the Underground, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, C2C, and intercity rail services.

Rail Stations at Liverpool Street Station, Moorgate, Fenchurch, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and Cannon Street connect the City with Cambridgeshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and areas south and southeast of London.

The City is serviced by Central, Northern, Waterloo and City, Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City Lines.

The DLR at Bank Station and Tower Gateway connects the City with Canary Wharf, Lewisham, Woolwich Arsenal and the City Airport.

Buses: Aldgate and Liverpool Street terminus provide access to many different inner London bus journeys, as well as to routes to major airports and UK cities.

Developments

Barbican

Barts Square

Britton Apartments

Charterhouse The Square

Heron Tower

The Haydon

One Bishopsgate Plaza

The Denizen

Recent developments located in the vicinity of the City of London

Landmark Place

One Crown Place

Principal Tower

The Stage

CLICK HERE to view properties for sale in The City of London

CLICK HERE to view properties to rent in The City of London

CLICK HERE to get your City of London property valued.