City of London

The City of London, often called the City or the Square Mile, is a special area in England. It was first set up by the Romans around 47 AD as Londinium. Even though it is very small—it covers just 1.12 square miles—it is very important. It is the historic heart of the much bigger city of London.

Even with only 8,583 people living there, over 500,000 people work in the City. It is one of the world's main places for money and business. Big buildings like the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange are located here. Many important jobs, like insurance and law, also have their offices here, especially near the Inns of Court.

The City of London has many famous old spots, such as St Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Exchange, and Smithfield Market. It remained the main part of London from Roman times through the Middle Ages, and parts of the old London Wall can still be seen.

History

Main article: History of London

Origins

Main article: Londinium

The Romans built a place called "Londinium" around the year 43 AD where the City of London is now. They built a bridge over the River Thames, which helped the city grow as a place for roads and trade. It was a busy center in what was called Roman Britain until it was left behind in the 5th century.

At its peak, thousands of people lived there. Londinium had people from many parts of the Roman Empire, including Britannia, continental Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Romans built a wall around the city between 190 and 225 AD. The city looked much like today’s City of London, though the river was wider back then.

Decline

As time passed, the city faced problems like sickness and fires. The Roman Empire grew weaker, and attacks from groups like the Picts, Scots, and Saxons made things harder. By AD 410, the Romans left Britain, and many buildings were left broken. The city became almost empty, and trade and people moved to a place called Lundenwic to the west.

Anglo-Saxon restoration

Main article: Anglo-Saxon London

Later, leaders like Alfred the Great helped bring people back to the old Roman walls. They rebuilt the city and made it safe again. This became known as London Fort. Alfred’s work helped unite parts of England and protect it from Viking attacks. By the 10th century, London became a wealthy place with many ways to make money, like mints.

Medieval era

See also: Norman and Medieval London

After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror wanted to control London but faced strong resistance. He built castles around the city to keep control. Over time, London’s leaders gained more power, and by the 12th century, they could choose their own leaders. The city was made up of 25 areas, each with its own leader.

In 1381, a group of people called the Peasants’ Revolt tried to take over London but were stopped. Fires also caused a lot of damage, especially a big one in 1666. Plans to redesign the city after the fire were not used, so the old streets stayed mostly the same.

Early modern period

In the 1600s, London became very important for banking and trade. A place called the Royal Exchange was built for merchants to meet. St Paul’s Cathedral, built by Christopher Wren, was finished in 1708 after the big fire.

Growth of London

The 1700s and 1800s saw London grow very fast. People and jobs moved outside the old City of London to places like the West End. New ways to travel, like trains and the Tube, helped the city spread even more.

19th and 20th centuries

In the 1800s, many people left the City of London for the suburbs. During World War II, many buildings were damaged by bombing, but St Paul’s Cathedral survived. After the war, new buildings were built, but some older parts of the city stayed the same.

Tall office buildings began appearing in the 1970s, like the NatWest Tower. Today, the main place where people live in the City is the Barbican Estate.

Governance

The City of London has a special way of running itself. It is led by the City of London Corporation, which is guided by the Lord Mayor of London. This group is different from the Mayor of London, who started in 2000. The Corporation has two main parts: the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council.

The City is split into 25 areas called wards. These help organize local government. Each ward has an Alderman and some Common Council members. These leaders help make choices for the City. The City also has groups called livery companies that look after trades and crafts.

The City has its own police and owns places like markets and parks. It also looks after important bridges and the Port of London. The City's flag shows its coat of arms, which has a cross and a sword, with the motto "Lord, direct us."

Geography

The City of London is the smallest ceremonial county in England. It is also the smallest city in the UK.

The land rises from sea level at the River Thames to about 21.6 metres at the meeting point of High Holborn and Chancery Lane. There are two small hills in the historic center, Ludgate Hill to the west and Cornhill to the east. Between these hills ran an old river called the Walbrook.

The boundary of the City of London starts at the Victoria Embankment by the Thames. It marks the borders with places like Westminster, Camden, Islington, and Hackney, and includes places such as the Barbican Estate and Broadgate. The boundary also runs along the Thames, with Blackfriars Bridge fully inside the City.

Though the financial area sometimes stretches beyond these borders into nearby parts of London, many big offices are now being built in the eastern parts near Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

The City does not have large parks, but it has many small gardens and open spaces cared for by the local government. These include gardens like Finsbury Circus and churchyards such as St Olave Hart Street. There are also private gardens in some big buildings.

The nearby weather station at St. James Park shows that the City has an oceanic climate, which means its temperatures are a bit warmer at night because of the urban heat island effect.

Public services

Police and security

Further information: Crime in London

The city has its own police force called the City of London Police. This is different from the Metropolitan Police Service that covers most of Greater London. The City of London Police has special uniforms with black and gold badges and red and white stripes.

Because the city is an important place for money and business, it has safety measures to protect against possible dangers.

Fire brigade

Main article: London Fire Brigade

The city has many old and tall buildings. There is one fire station in the city at Dowgate, and help comes quickly from nearby stations.

Power

There is a power station in Charterhouse Street that also helps heat nearby buildings.

Demography

The Office for National Statistics counted 7,375 people living in the City of London in 2011. This was a bit more than in 2001, and by mid-2016, the number grew to about 9,401. In 2001, most people were White at 84.6%, with smaller groups including South Asian at 6.8%, Black at 2.6%, Mixed at 2.3%, Chinese at 2.0%, and 1.7% from other groups.

People who work in the city earn more each week than those in other parts of London and Great Britain. The city has many single-person households, highly educated people, and crowded living spaces. It also has fewer cars and smaller families compared to other areas.

Demographic Breakdown of the City of London (1981–2021)

Economy

See also: Economy of London

The City of London is one of the world's most important financial centers, just like New York City's Lower Manhattan. Important places like the London Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London for insurance, and the Bank of England are all located here. Many banks have offices in the city.

London is also a big player in the foreign exchange market. The pound sterling, the UK's currency, is one of the most traded currencies in the world. Canary Wharf, a few miles east, has also become a major financial center.

While finance is very important, the City of London has other activities too. Law firms have a strong presence. Retail used to be big here but has moved more toward the West End of London. However, there are still places to visit like the Barbican Centre and the Museum of London. The city also has many pubs, bars, and restaurants, especially around Bishopsgate near Shoreditch. Smithfield Market is one of London's main meat markets, and Leadenhall Market is a fresh food market and a place for visitors.

The City of London is changing, with more homes being built instead of just offices. Some older buildings are being turned into homes, and new buildings are being developed. Since the 1990s, the city has added hotels and a department store. A shopping center called One New Change opened in 2010.

Landmarks

Historic buildings

Fire, bombing, and rebuilding after World War II have left the city with fewer old buildings than you might expect. But there are still many beautiful buildings from the Victorian and Edwardian times, often built in historic and neoclassical style. Some famous ones are the Monument to the Great Fire of London ("the Monument"), St Paul's Cathedral, the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Dr. Johnson's House, Mansion House, and many churches, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul's.

Some old buildings that survived heavy bombing, like Prince Henry's Room and 2 King's Bench Walk in the Temple area, have been carefully restored. You can also see small parts of the old Roman London Wall near places like the Tower of London. Among modern protected buildings are Bracken House and the whole of the Barbican and Golden Lane Estate.

The Tower of London is not inside the city but is a popular place for visitors. Other important buildings include the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, the Custom House, Smithfield Market, Leadenhall Market, and St Bartholomew's Hospital. There are also many modern tall buildings, like the Lloyd's building.

Skyscrapers and tall buildings

See also: List of tallest buildings and structures in London

A lot of new tall buildings and skyscrapers have been built, mostly for the financial sector. They are mainly found on the eastern side around Bishopsgate, Leadenhall Street, and Fenchurch Street. In the north, there is a smaller group including the tall residential towers of the Barbican Estate and the commercial CityPoint tower. In 2007, the 100 m (328 ft) tall Drapers' Gardens building was torn down and replaced by a shorter tower.

The city's buildings that are at least 100 m (328 ft) tall include:

Timeline

The timeline of the tallest building in the city is as follows:

Transport

See also: Transport in London

Rail and Tube

The city has good train links through the London Underground ("tube") and National Rail networks.

Seven London Underground lines go through the city. The stations include:

• Aldgate
• Bank and Monument
• Barbican
• Blackfriars
• Cannon Street
• Chancery Lane
• Liverpool Street
• Mansion House
• Moorgate
• St. Paul's

Also, Aldgate East, Farringdon, Temple and Tower Hill tube stations are very close to the city.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has two stops in the city: Bank and Tower Gateway. The DLR connects the city to the East End. You can reach places like Canary Wharf and London City Airport.

The Elizabeth line goes east–west under the city. It stops at Farringdon and Liverpool Street, which also serves the Barbican and Moorgate areas. The Elizabeth line links the city to places such as Canary Wharf, Heathrow Airport, and the M4 Corridor high-technology hub.

The city has a frequent Thameslink rail service running north–south through London. Thameslink stops at Farringdon, City Thameslink, and London Blackfriars. This connects the city to important places across London, including Elephant & Castle, London Bridge, and St Pancras International. There are also direct trains from these stations to places in East Anglia and the South East.

There are several stations in the city:

• London Blackfriars
• London Cannon Street
• London Fenchurch Street
• London Liverpool Street
• Moorgate

All stations in the city are in London fare zone 1.

Road

The national A1, A10 A3, A4, and A40 road roads start in the city. The city is inside the London congestion charge zone. Several bridges cross the River Thames: Blackfriars Bridge, Blackfriars Railway Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge and London Bridge; Tower Bridge is not in the city. The city has good bus services.

Cycling

The City of London Corporation and Transport for London (TfL) keep cycling infrastructure in good condition.

• Cycle Superhighway 1 goes from Tottenham to the city.
• Cycle Superhighway 2 goes from Stratford to the city.
• Cycleway 3 goes east–west through the city.
• Cycleway 6 goes north–south through the city.
• Cycle Superhighway 7 starts in the city where it meets Cycleway 3.
• Quietway 11 continues north from Cycleway 7.

The Sandander Cycles and Beryl bike sharing systems work in the City of London.

River

One London River Services pier is on the Thames in the city, Blackfriars Millennium Pier. Swan Lane Pier, just above London Bridge, may be replaced and improved for regular passenger services. There is a public walk along the river bank, part of the Thames Path, which was finished in the city when a stretch at Queenhithe opened in 2023.

Travel to work (by residents)

A survey from March 2011 showed that people who work in the city get to work in different ways: 48.4% walk; 19.5% take light rail; 9.2% work from home; 5.8% take the train; 5.6% take the bus; and 5.3% ride a bicycle; with 3.4% driving a car or van.

Education

The City of London has many places for learning, including the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Cass Business School, and parts of King's College London and London Metropolitan University.

There is one primary school run by the city, The Aldgate School, for children ages 4 to 11. Many families choose schools in nearby areas like Tower Hamlets and Westminster.

The city also has three independent schools, including the City of London School for Girls and the City of London Freemen's School in Ashtead, Surrey. There are public libraries such as Barbican Library and Guildhall Library for people to use.

Money laundering

The City of London has sometimes been called names like "The Laundromat" and "Londongrad" because it helps handle illegal money.

In May 2024, a senior UK official said that a lot of the world’s illegal money goes through London and nearby places.