City of London looking towards Blackfriars Bridge and St Pauls Cathedral
City of London Overview
The City of London is also known as the "Financial District" and the " Square Mile" because it covers 677 acres or one square mile. It has been settled on since pre Roman times. In general terms it is east of the West End of London and west of Docklands with most important locations being in either London postcode EC1, EC2,EC3 or EC4. It is centered on the "square mile" around Liverpool Street Station. Notable landmarks include Fleet Street, Bishopsgate, St Pauls Cathedral, Barbican, the Old Bailey, Tower of London and Tower 42.When William the Conqueror arrived in 1066, he wanted to view the inhabitants and so he built the Tower of London. London Bridge joined the two banks of the River Thames and was originally constructed in 1209. The City of London burned in the Great Fire of London in 1666, the other great catastrophe was the Great Plague of 1665 introduced by rats.
Hotels in the City of London tend to be business type, catering for the moguls of the financial district and therefore quite expensive during the working week but great deals can be had at the weekends when the workers desert the City and as there are less than 10,000 actual residents it can be very quiet.
How to get to the City
The Circle, District and Central Undergrounds all give access to one part of the City or another enabling quick and easy travel. The Docklands Light Railway runs to Tower and Bank stations.
London City Stations
Blackfriars station: Zone 1; Circle and District
Cannon Street station : Zone 1; Circle and District
City Thameslink railway station :
Fenchurch Street railway station :railway station with no direct link to Underground.
Liverpool Street station : Zone 1; Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines
Moorgate station : Zone 1; Northern Line,Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan
Tower Gateway DLR station
City of London Attractions
Tower of London: HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB
Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066 and enlarged by successive sovereigns, the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.
Barbican Arts Centre: BARBICAN LONDON EC2Y 8DS
Selected by Forbes.com as one of the 'World's ugliest buildings' it was pened by Queen Elizabeth in 1982, the Barbican is a multi-arts and conference venue. The Barbican is home to the London Symphony Orchestra, the UK's leading orchestra. It also hosts many film and art festivals. Since the Barbican opened, almost 27 million patrons have visited the centre. The Barbican Site covers seven acres, with a 2000 seat hall for concerts and conferences, 2 theatres; the 1,166-seat Barbican Theatre, two art galleries including the Barbican Art Gallery and a roof-top tropical conservatory
St Pauls Cathedral: St Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD
St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century, and is thought to be the fourth version designed by Wren. The cathedral is open to the public.
Other attractions and landmarks in the City of London
The City has many notable landmarks and attractions, these include: Victoria Embankment, Middle Temple, Strand, Fleet Street, Chancery Lane, Holborn, Charterhouse Lane, Farringdon Road, Islington, Aldgate, Ropemakers Lane, Moorgate, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Bishopsgate, Square Mile, City, Southwark, London Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, KPMG, Barbican Estate, St Paul's Cathedral, City of London School for Boys, City of London School for Girls, Guildhall, Inns of Court, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Lloyds Building, London Stone, London Wall, Monument, Museum of London, Newgate Prison, Old Bailey, Pool of London, Royal Exchange, Smithfield, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Swiss Tower, Gherkin, Temple Bar, Temple of Mithras and Tower 42.
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