BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Glasgow and West | 'Squinty' bridge open to vehicles 'Squinty' bridge open to vehicles Enlarge Image The first new road bridge to be built over the River Clyde for more than 30 years has been opened. The ï¿½20m Clyde Arc, west of the Kingston motorway link in Glasgow city centre, was declared open by Willie Haughey OBE at an official ceremony. Glaswegians have dubbed it the "Squinty Bridge" because it crosses the river diagonally to link the north and south. Planners said the four-lane bridge would help in the regeneration of the riverside area of the city. It links Finnieston near the SECC on the north bank to the Pacific Quay site on the south side. The bridge was opened by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow Chairman Willie Haughey OBE. He said: "Work to turn Pacific Quay into the city's media and creative industry quarter is pushing ahead and this crossing will open up the site and the surrounding area to new development and investment opportunities." 'Iconic structure' Both BBC Scotland and the Scottish Media Group are in the process of opening new corporate headquarters on the former Garden Festival site.

The bridge will be an iconic image of Glasgow, it is spectacular Alistair Campbell View time lapse footage of the construction of the Clyde Arc Glasgow City Council Leader Steven Purcell said: "This is an iconic structure and a symbol of the ongoing regeneration of the Clyde. "The Clyde Arc connects once derelict banks of the river to new and thriving neighbourhoods which have become the catalyst for a city-wide renaissance." Alan Somerville, director of Pacific Quay Developments, said: "The opening is a significant milestone in the regeneration of the entire Pacific Quay area. "It will improve access to what will be seen as one of the most important city centre regeneration sites in the UK." The Arc spans 140 metres and was designed by engineering consultancy Halcrow. Iain Salisbury, project director, said: "The setting of the bridge makes its visual appeal vitally important. "The final blueprint is a simple, classic design which reflects Glasgow's reputation as a city with style." 'Dramatic visual impact' The bridge has the capability to cope with the addition of a tram system in the future. It was built by Kilsyth-based civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd.

James Scobie, divisional director for Scotland, said: "We are delighted that the new crossing has delivered the dramatic visual impact that we envisaged as we developed the design." The construction of the bridge was photographed every five minutes over a year by digital design firm, Design is Central, for a time lapse film. Director Alistair McCallum said: "It was a challenging project. "The bridge will be an iconic image of Glasgow like the view from Edinburgh's Calton Hill or across the Mersey in Liverpool. "It is spectaular and quite a change." A cavalcade of historic vehicles were the first to cross the new bridge. Artist explains plastic war tributes strapped on ‘Squinty’ bridge Artist explains plastic war tributes strapped on ‘Squinty’ bridge STV Local Share via Whatsapp Over 400 plastic crosses with names of fallen soldiers have been attached to the railings. If you have walked, cycled or driven across the ‘Squinty’ bridge in Glasgow this week you may have noticed something a little different. Since Sunday, 419 small plastic crosses with names and foreign locations on them have been strapped to the railings.

Names like Sean Binnie and Liam Tasker are amongst them. The tributes are for every British soldier who has died in the war in Afghanistan. The artist responsible for this act returned to the Clyde Arc on Thursday to add another three, following the deaths this week in Helmand province of soldiers Craig Roderick, Apete Tuisovurua and Leonard Thomas. Brian Carey is a 51-year-old self taught artist who lives in Auchinleck, Ayrshire. Contrary to newspaper reports earlier this year after a similar art statement in Kelvingrove Park, he is not related to Lance Corporal Stephen Monkhouse, the Greenock soldier who died in Afghanistan in 2010. “I have put this out for the people to show a bit of respect,” he said. “I don’t think people quite understand what is happening to the troops. It is if they think the boys are just out there in Afghanistan on a training exercise. A real war is taking place. “I’m trying to remind them, and hope they will give more support to families and relatives of the victims.

Their lives will never be the same again.” Brian was motivated to mark the sacrifice of the troops following the deaths in March last year of Lance Corporal Tasker, from Fife, and his record-breaking sniffer dog Theo. A few months later, while walking his own dog, the animal lover was inspired to create the crosses and has worked on the project for the past twelve months. The tributes, called 422 man/woman down which changes with the death count, are made of biodegradable plastic and are several different colours. Purple crosses are in memory of the ten most recent dead - representing the ten years of the war - while blue crosses are for those who died in incidents of friendly fire. Pink crosses represent female members of the armed forces who were killed, while white plastic is for the dogs. The rest are khaki green. Each of the tributes has a red, white and blue ribbon and has the solder’s name, location of death and how they were killed written on it. It is difficult to work out Brian’s own thinking behind Afghanistan. He describes himself on his blog as “a failed contemporary artist that hasn't thrown in the towel just yet”. There is no doubt he supports the troops and is proud of the British forces.

Nothing demonstrated this more than the large Union flag he attached to the bridge before our interview started, and which two police officers asked him to take down during our conversation. He said: “War affects more people than just the troops and civilians in the country. In affects everybody or it should. Another artist said all I am trying to do is bring attention to myself. I didn’t like that. “I’m trying to draw attention to the troops. The work is about the death count. I don’t want the credit. It is not why I am doing it. “I don’t know if I am for the war, against the war. Our troops are fighting for freedom, for a better world. It is more about remembrance. “It is more a feeling of caring for the people who have been left behind, and also the civilians who have been killed around the world, not just Afghanistan. It could be anti-war. I would be happy enough for people to interpret the work that way.” Brian’s Clyde Arc tribute is not the first time he has targeted high profile locations.

In the past year, he has set up his plastic crosses in Kelvingrove Park up to the Glasgow School of Art, the city’s war memorial, the Gallery of Modern Art, the steps at the Royal Concert Hall, the Royal Academy in Edinburgh, the Howford bridge in Mauchline and on the grounds of the Dumfries estate. The artist said the crosses are no longer at any of the locations apart from the A76 Mauchline site, and he would take the ‘Squinty’ tribute down if he was asked to do so. Some of the crosses on the Glasgow bridge, like other locations, have been vandalised. The artist accepts this will happen, as it is an “unpopular war”. He added: “I’m trying to connect with people’s feelings. I have had great feedback from some serving soldiers. Some have been speechless after seeing names they recognise. “I spoke to a young soldier in Kelvingrove Park. He was out with his family and was due to return to Afghanistan. He was deeply moved, wanted his picture with the crosses, and wanted my autograph. I told him to watch what he was doing over there as I didn’t want him to end up as a name in my artwork.

“An elderly couple in the park though hurled abuse from the word go. They asked if I had permission, I said no. They asked if I had any relatives serving in the forces, I told them I had a nephew who had done a tour of Afghanistan. “They flew into a rage, cursed, swore, saying they were not heroes, what they were doing out there was atrocious. They said all I was doing was spreading war propaganda.” Picture Gallery - Squinty bridge war tribute Asking for permission from local authorities or from the buildings he uses is something Brian does not do on every occasion. For the Clyde Arc, he insists he asked the council if he could put them up in time for Armed Forces Day last weekend but had no response. Brian said he hasn’t spoken much to his nephew, who is in the RAF, about his work or anything else for the past two years so has no idea what his relative thinks of it. He is, though, supported in his war tributes by other members of his family. His teenage daughter Carmine, her friend Lisa and boyfriend Craig have all helped Brian attach the tributes to the bridge this week along with his wife Sheena. The family’s black labrador Kobi has also been on hand.

It took Brian six days to create the crosses from scratch and it took the five of them three hours to attach the tributes. Brian has calendars of some of his favourites pictures of his art, and has sent samples of the work to a range of people and organisations including TV personality Lorraine Kelly, the charity Help for Heroes, the Tate art gallery and the Mayor of Royal Wootton Basset, the village famous for repatriations of fallen soldiers in recent years. Many have thanked him or acknowledged the gesture, others have simply ignored him. So what next for an artist who has delighted some, and insulted others? Will there be more tributes in the future? “I just keep getting different ideas of where I would like the work to go, where I think it would be impressive. It is an ongoing thing until the war ends and the troops come home. After that, who knows.” Share this article By continuing you agree to our Terms of Use , including our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy . Any issues contact us . Upload Profile Picture Close Please make sure your image is under 2mb in size and a valid JPG, PNG or GIF. Select file Are you sure? Close Unfortunately, you'll be unable to access our premium content.

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Glasgow Time Lapse - Squinty Bridge - YouTube Glasgow Time Lapse - Squinty Bridge Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 16, 2015 A short time lapse shot at one of Glasgow's iconic bridges. Category The Squinty Bridge in Glasgow City of Glasgow - Squinty Bridge is the affectionate local name for this striking new bridge, officially named the Clyde Arc The Clyde Arc Glasgow We say Squinty Bridge is the affectionate local name for this striking new bridge, officially named the Clyde Arc, which opened across the river in 2006, and enjoyed some notorious initial teething problems that were supposedly due to its unusual angle – hence the name, which has stuck. The authorities will never rename it but calling the bridge by its proper name is the surest way to mark yourself out as a foreigner. Head along for a squint at it yourself and see what you think. Are you the owner?

If you're the owner of this place you can sign up for a 'Featured Owner' account so that you can add your own text, images and more... Squinty Bridge tribute artist in 'garbage' fight back - BBC News BBC News Squinty Bridge tribute artist in 'garbage' fight back By Huw Williams BBC Scotland reporter 27 February 2015 Close share panel Image caption Brian Carey has returned to the bridge with a new message An artist whose unofficial tribute to soldiers killed in action was removed from a Glasgow bridge by the council has hit back with a new message. The city council said it removed hundreds of crosses commemorating dead soldiers from the Clyde Arc after complaints from local residents. Artist Brian Carey claimed they had acted "insensitively" . He has placed a new message on the bridge which accuses the council of treating his tribute like "garbage". Mr Carey's small plastic crosses had been a permanent fixture on the Clyde Arc, also known as the Squinty Bridge, since January 2013.

They were initially put in place to commemorate every member of the British army killed in Afghanistan, but the East Ayrshire artist took the decision to expand the work to include fatalities from all Commonwealth countries, during the Commonwealth Games last summer. The work divided opinion from the start. Some have accused him of glorifying soldiers, while others think the work promotes an anti-war agenda. Mr Carey earlier told BBC Scotland: "The work was supposed to provoke - that was the intention. "It's funny how nothing has been done until we did stuff about Syria. And now they've taken it all down." Mr Carey said that while he respected that Glasgow City Council had the right to take down the artwork, which latterly also included political messages, it was the manner of the removal that had annoyed him.

He has now returned to place a new installation across the length of the bridge in large letters which reads: "Afghanistan and Syrian war tribute thrown away as garbage by city council" Image caption Mr Carney said the council had been insensitive Image copyright JOE SHALDON Image caption When first contacted the council said they didn't know who had removed Brian Carey's crosses Image copyright JOE SHALDON Image caption After pictures emerged showing council workers removing them, a council spokesman confirmed they had been taken down following complaints He told the BBC Scotland news website: "Every name on that bridge was important to somebody - be it a Syrian family or parents in Glasgow. "They could have taken the lettering and left the crosses. They've been a bit insensitive. "I wish they'd given me the chance to take the work down myself. It wouldn't have been hard for them to contact me." Mr Carey said that he had also had difficulty getting the council to admit that it had taken the crosses down. It was only after photographs emerged of council workers unfastening the crosses and loading them into the back of a Glasgow City Council marked van, that a council spokesman confirmed to the BBC that they had been removed under council orders.

Mr Carey said that despite the possible loss of his work - which he has been told may have already gone to landfill - he was undeterred. In a statement, Glasgow City Council said: "The crosses, along with political stickers that had been placed on the bridge, were removed at the request of a councillor who had received complaints from local residents." A council spokesman told the BBC they did not know the crosses were part of an art work, when they were taken away. But he said they would remove any new installation, because they were acting in response to complaints. BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West | Second fault on 'Squinty Bridge' Second fault on 'Squinty Bridge' The new bridge across the Clyde cost more than ï¿½20m to build A crack has been found on Glasgow's Clyde Arc bridge just over a week after a support cable snapped. The ï¿½20m crossing, known locally as the Squinty Bridge, was closed while repairs were ongoing and the crack was found during an inspection. It is expected that it will be closed for six months, rather than a couple of weeks as had been initially anticipated by engineers.

The River Clyde has now also been shut to all traffic travelling below it. Glasgow City Council said that the crack was found in a similar component to the one which failed and was removed last week. Impact unclear Though the bridge was designed to allow for the removal of one of these supports, the impact of the failure of the second is still unclear. The cable, one of 14 which supports the newest bridge over the River Clyde, came crashing down on 14 January. Designers Halcrow and civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd, who built the bridge, are investigating the cause of the problems. The bridge between Finnieston and Pacific Quay opened in 2006 and is still under contractor guarantee. The cables are an integral part of the bridge structure The structure, which spans 140m, is a tied arch design, carrying four traffic lanes. One lane in each direction is reserved for public transport and there are pedestrian and cycle paths. Running at an angle across the water, it was the first new road bridge over the river to be built since 1969 when it was built at a cost of ï¿½20.3m.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said public safety was its number one priority and apologised for the inconvenience. "The bridge was closed last week following the failure of a steel component that connected one of the hangers to the arch," he added. "The casting that failed has been taken away for inspection and testing and the council, constructors and designers are still awaiting the results of this. "In the course of an inspection today, a crack was found in another similar connector on a different hanger. "The council has, as a precautionary measure, requested that all river traffic below the bridge be suspended until further notice." Finnieston Bridge, Glasgow - Squinty Bridge - Glasgow Architecture Finnieston Bridge from the west: building: photos © Isabelle Lomholt, Sep 2006 Glasgow City Council – Bridge information Oct 2005 Finnieston Bridge site at Pacific Quay: new BRIDGE built for glasgow Work to build a new 169-metre long road bridge across the River Clyde – the first in over 35 years – is well underway. [Ed.

New bridges over the river were built in Cambuslang (at Clydeford Road) and at Garrion Bridge (near Lanark) within that time. Indeed the Garrion Bridge structure is fairly new.] The £20.3m Finnieston Bridge will be a dramatic new landmark for Glasgow, featuring a central arch span which crosses the river at an angle between the roundabout at Broomielaw/Finnieston Street and the south side of the river. When complete, the bridge will accommodate four lanes; two dedicated to public transport and two for private and commercial traffic, with additional pedestrian and cyclist paths. It will also allow for the provision of a possible future Light Rapid Transit scheme. The bridge is being built by Kilsyth based Edmund Nuttall Ltd and is scheduled to be complete by July 2006. Construction started in May this year and piling works for the bridge foundations are currently taking place in the river using a large floating barge.

Other works currently in progress include the fabrication of the new bridge superstructure off-site, pre-casting of bridge deck concrete slab units at the on site pre-casting yard and foundation works for the bridge substructure river piers which features the use of large items of floating construction plant in the river. The bridge, jointly funded by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, will offer an instantly recognisable gateway to the city and improve public and private transport links to the city’s new developments. It will comprise a main span of 96 metres with two end spans of 36.5 metres. Supports for the main span are located within the river with the abutments located behind the existing quay walls. Central navigation headroom at mean high water tide is 5.4 metres. Finnieston Bridge from the north, nearing completion: building: photos © Adrian Welch, Sep 2006 Clyde Arc – News Archive: Finnieston Road Bridge The so-called ‘squinty bridge’ by Gillespies carrying pedestrians and four lanes of traffic across the River Clyde at an oblique angle finally for the go-ahead from the City Council.

8 Nov 2002 Select quotes from the RIAS Conference on the Clyde: Sebastian Tombs re Clyde ‘You need to have an authority, created under Scottish legislation, with powers to grasp the whole thing for the long-term’. Tom McInally re Finniestoun Bridge ‘The bridge could put much of that regeneration at risk’. Show of hands re ‘was bridge good enough for Glasgow’ almost total opposition Rob Joiner, conference chairman ‘It’s unanimous – we are going to get a crap bridge, probably one in the wrong place’. 04.12.02 Finnieston Bridge – Gillespies with Halcrow & Nuttall Crown Street – residential development – CZWG Architects Beeb Bridge Bother Campaigners today launched a fight to stop an £8m road bridge being built across the River Clyde. Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Glasgow City Council are building the four-lane slanting bridge as a gateway to the multi-million-pound Pacific Quay development. The BBC demanded the building of the bridge as part of its move to new headquarters. But objectors have warned the arched bridge – with a 17ft clearance above the water’s highest point – is far too low.

26.09.02 City of London travel guide - Wikitravel Tower Bridge behind the Girl and Dolphin sculpture A dragon marking the boundary The City of London , also known as The City, or The Square Mile (after its approximate size), is the area of London that originally lay within the ancient city walls. This part of Central London is not as big a tourist destination as the West End, Westminster or South Bank , but is a must for anyone wishing to explore and understand London. Understand[ edit ] Although London grew from this area, the official City did not change in size and the borders of the City of London have barely changed in centuries (they still follow the line of the old city walls to a great degree). The walls around the city, originally built by the Romans, have now largely disappeared (several vestiges still remain, one of the largest of which can be seen outside the Museum of London, another just near the Tower of London) but various place names and streets hint at their prior existence. Locations such as Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Ludgate and Moorgate mark where the main gates were in the city walls.

The City of London is not a London borough and has an ancient and unusual local governance, with rights and privileges greater than those of anywhere else in United Kingdom . The local authority is the City of London Corporation and the chief position is the Lord Mayor. Whilst the rest of London has the Metropolitan Police, the City of London has its own police force. The City of London does not include Tower Bridge or the Tower of London; they are in the London borough of Tower Hamlets . A number of bridges over the River Thames do connect the City with Southwark and the two oldest of them, London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, are unusual in that the City of London's boundaries include the whole span of the bridge (the border otherwise runs along the middle of the Thames). Small statues of Dragons (sometimes described to be Griffins) mark the boundary of the City on most roads. The Tower of London The City is the world's leading centre of international finance. In British parlance, The City often refers to the financial sector, just as Americans might refer to Wall Street. This area contains 255 foreign banks, which is more than any other financial centre.

It also is home to the Bank of England and houses other institutions such as Lloyds and the London Stock Exchange. Every weekday approximately three hundred thousand workers come into the City to work in small and large business and financial institutions. The City has a very small resident population which, despite a recent increase, is little more than 8,000 people. At weekends, in the 70's and 80's, the area resembled a ghost town, with empty streets, closed shops and cafes. Today the area has increasingly become alive and on weekends there are vistors everywhere viewing the London Museum, The Barbican Centre, St Paul's Cathedral, viewing the many great buildings and institutions, shopping in New Change, Clubbing in Smithfield and eating and drinking at an increasing number of great restaurants and bars. Despite all of this, the City is still not a place to hang out at night, however. The link across the Thames, via the Millenium Bridge to the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe, Butlers Wharf, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and then back along the river's edge to the South Bank all go to make it a great place to visit.

Tourist Information Centre[ edit ] Get in[ edit ] From the airport[ edit ] Underground services are connected to all major London airports, as well as Express train services that take you directly to some of the main stations in the centre of London. [2] By tube[ edit ] Bank (Central, Northern, Waterloo & City lines and the DLR) and Monument (Circle and District lines) stations - linked by an underground walkway. Bank, near the Bank of England, is perhaps the most central to access the City of London. Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines), Moorgate (Circle, Hammersmith and City, Northern and Metropolitan lines) and Liverpool Street (Central, Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines) - for the north and north east of The City.

Old Street (Northern line) - for the north west of The City St Paul's (Central line) - for the west of The City Blackfriars, Mansion House, Cannon Street (closed Su), Tower Hill (for Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Fenchurch Street National Rail station) (all Circle and District lines) and Aldgate (Circle, District and Metropolitan lines) - for the south of The City. On foot[ edit ] Once in the City, its small and compact nature means travelling on foot between attractions is possible and advised. You can quite easily get lost and miss out interesting features if new to the City. The street pattern is particularly chaotic in some parts (being medieval and unplanned) and there are many fun shortcuts and routes that take you away from main roads. Buy and bring a detailed map! By train[ edit ] Barbican, Blackfriars (to/from Gatwick and Luton airports), Cannon Street (closed Sa, Su and public holidays), City Thameslink (to/from Gatwick and Luton airports, no tube), Fenchurch Street (tube: Tower Hill), Liverpool Street (to/from Stansted Airport) and Moorgate.

All also tube stations except City Thameslink and Fenchurch Street. By boat[ edit ] An increasingly popular way of travelling through London, by both tourists and residents, is by boat on the Thames itself. The City can has two piers from which regular services operate to and from: Blackfriars Millennium Pier (in the west) or Tower Millennium Pier (in the east). Get around[ edit ] Bank of England As the City of London is also known as 'The Square Mile' due to it's relative size, everything is within 10-15 minutes walking distance. However if you're feeling lazy or in a rush, you are never more than a few minutes from a tube station. Do check maps before hopping on the tube however - some stations are very close to each other, despite looking a distance on the tube map. You can see Bank tube station from outside Mansion House station, yet the tube journey and walk from Monument to Bank will take far longer! See[ edit ][ add listing ] The City sustained a great deal of damage from German bombing during the 'Blitz' of World War II, so there are far fewer older buildings than one might expect from so ancient a settlement.

The Great Fire of London in 1666 also fairly comprehensively destroyed the City's medieval building stock. Nonetheless, many interesting older buildings remain, including the domed St. Paul's Cathedral (heroically saved by firefighters when it was bombed during the Second World War), nineteenth-century buildings at Leadenhall, Smithfield, and Spitalfields, the Gothic-style Guildhall, many monuments (including one built to remember the Great Fire of London), and the Temple Inns of Court. Remarkably, the City also retains its medieval street pattern, which you do not find so clearly preserved in other large British city centres. You will find many narrow streets, passages, courtyards, etc between the main thoroughfares. Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral West portico of St Paul's Cathedral Bank of England (The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street), (tube: Bank), [3] . See also: Bank of England Museum . edit Mansion House, (tube: Mansion House), [4] . By appointment only for visits by organised groups (minimum 15 maximum 40). Official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, completed in 1753.

edit Monument, (tube: Monument), ☎ +44 20 7626 2717 ( enquiries@towerbridge.org.uk ), [5] . 9:30AM-5:30PM daily (last admission 5PM). Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, this tall column (which can be ascended to get a great view) marks the alleged site where the Great Fire of London broke out in September 1666. £3/£1. edit Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court), (between Holborn Circus and St Paul's Cathedral, tube: St Paul's then follow signs), ☎ +44 20 7248 3277, [6] . M-F 10AM-1PM, 2PM-5PM. No bags, cameras, drink, food or mobile phones - no facilities for safekeeping. This is the probably the most famous criminal court in the world, and has been London's principal criminal court for centuries. It hears cases remitted to it from all over England and Wales as well as the Greater London area.

The present building dates largely from 1907 (a new block was added from 1970 for more modern facilities) and stands on the site of the infamous medieval Newgate Gaol. The Central Criminal Court is of course best known today for its association with John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey character, novels and television series. Daily case listings are available at [7] . Children under 14 not admitted. edit Tower of London and Tower Bridge St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill (tube: St Pauls), ☎ +44 20 7246 8357 ( visits@stpaulscathedral.org.uk ), [8] . M-Sa 8:30AM-4PM. The great domed cathedral of St Paul's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the Gothic medieval cathedral destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, was built between 1675 - 1710. It's a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars.

The cathedral is also famous for its Whispering Gallery, as well as its stunning view over the city. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Christopher Wren. For budget travelers it is possible to get a glimpse of the cathedral for free by attending a service, to which all are welcome. The cathedral is open to the general public for several services a day, including a 5pm Evensong service, although sightseeing is not permitted during services. £16, £14 concession, £7 child (7-16), £39 family. edit Tower Bridge (technically not in the City), (tube: Tower Hill), ☎ +44 20 7403 3761 ( enquiries@towerbridge.org.uk ), [9] . Exhibition 10AM-5PM. Magnificent 19th century bridge, decorated with high towers and featuring a drawbridge. The bridge opens several times each day to permit ships to pass through - timings are dependent on demand, and are not regularly scheduled.

When Tower Bridge was built, the area to the west of it was a bustling port - necessitating a bridge that could permit tall boats to pass. Now the South Bank area sits to its west, and the regenerated Butler's Wharf area of shops, reasonably priced riverside restaurants and the London Design Museum lie to its east. For a small charge you can get the lift to the top level of the bridge and admire the view: this includes a visit to a small museum dedicated to the bridge's history and engineering. Bridge free, exhibition £6. edit Tower of London (technically not in the City), (tube: Tower Hill), ☎ +44 8444 827777 ( visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk ), [10] . Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su M 10AM-5PM Mar-Oct; Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su-M 10AM-4PM Nov-Feb. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, and enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, the Tower is today 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. In the winter you can skate on the dry moat. The Tower contains enough buildings and exhibits to keep a family busy for a full day, with plenty of both warlike and domestic contents. Beefeaters, who are all retired sergeant majors from the British Army, provide guided tours for free as well as ceremonial security. See history come alive - go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. This ceremony, the locking up of the Tower, has been performed every night at 10PM for 800 years. Tickets are free but MUST be prearranged. £14.50, aged 5-16 £9.50, concession £11, family (2A+3C) £42. edit Churches, graveyards and open spaces[ edit ] The City of London, considering its small size, has a huge number of churches in its area. Some, but by no means all, are listed below.

St Bride's Church St Lawrence Jewry Church of St Mary-le-Bow All Hallows by the Tower, Byward St EC3R 5BJ (tube: Tower Hill), ☎ +44 20 7481 2928, [11] . The oldest church in The City founded by Saxon Abbotts in 675 AD. edit Bunhill Fields, Bunhill Rd (nearest tube: Old Street; bus: 55, 205, 243 (among others)), [12] . Dawn-dusk. This small graveyard is a rarity in central London, and seems oddly tranquil in comparison to the nearby bustling streets of the City. Some 120,000 bodies are believed to be buried here - mostly dissenters - notable among them are the graves of William Blake, Daniel Defoe and John Bunyan. The watchful eye will notice that the paved way across the field is actually made up of tombstones. Free. edit Christ Church, Fournier St (tube: Liverpool St), ☎ +44 20 7859 3035, [13] .

The restoration of the nave was completed in September 2004, and this church is still a striking building designed by Sir Nicholas Hawksmoor with a particularly tall, pointed spire. Hawksmoor's design was significantly altered in the 19th century, and present continuing restoration is intended to restore it to Hawksmoor's original vision. Christ Church was built as part of the 50 Churches for London project edit Postman's Park, Little Britain, City of London (tube: St. Pauls), [14] . One of the largest parks in the City of London, Postman's Park contains the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice; a memorial to ordinary people who died saving the lives of others and might otherwise have been forgotten. Free. (51.5168,-0.097643) edit St Bride's, Fleet Street EC4Y 8AU (tube: Blackfriars), ☎ +44 20 7427 0133, [15] . This church, one of the oldest in London, is traditionally associated with the press and publishing industries. Its spire is said to have inspired the traditional British wedding cake.

edit St James Garlickhythe, Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AF (tube: Mansion House), ☎ +44 20 7236 1719, [16] . edit St Lawrence Jewry, Guildhall Yard, EC2V 5AA (tube: Bank), ☎ +44 20 7600 9478, [17] . The Corporation of London's church. edit St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames St EC3R 6DN (tube: Monument), ☎ +44 20 7626 4481, [18] . edit St Margaret Pattens, Rood Ln and Eastcheap EC3 (tube: Monument), ☎ +44 20 7623 6630, [19] . edit St Mary Aldermary, Watling St EC4M 9BW (tube: Mansion House), ☎ +44 20 7248 9902, [20] .

edit St Mary-at-Hill, St Mary at Hill EC3R 8EE (tube: Monument), ☎ +44 20 7626 4184, [21] . edit St Mary le Bow, 1 Bow Ln EC4M 9EE (tube: Mansion House), ☎ +44 20 7248 5139, [22] . The church from the sound of whose bells all true "Cockneys" are born. edit St Michael Cornhill, Cornhill EC3V 9DS (tube: Bank), ☎ +44 20 7248 3826, [23] . edit St Olave Hart Street, 8 Hart St EC3R 7NB (tube: Tower Hill), ☎ +44 20 7488 4318, [24] . edit St Stephen Walbrook, 39 Walbrook EC4N 8BN (tube: Bank), ☎ +44 20 7283 4444, [25] .

edit Temple, Inner Temple Ln, [26] . A small realm of serenity in the midst of the typical turmoil. It used to be the court of the Knights Templar. You can still visit the beautiful Romanesque church, which is one of the oldest ones in London. edit Museums and Galleries[ edit ] Bank of England Museum, Threadneedle St (tube: Bank), ☎ +44 20 7601 5545 ( museum@bankofengland.co.uk ), [27] . M-F 10AM-5PM. Free. edit Barbican Centre, Silk St (tube: Barbican), ☎ +44 20 7638 4141 ( info@barbican.org.uk ), [28] . The largest arts centre in Europe. edit Clockmaker's Museum, Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury EC2P 2EJ (tube St Paul's), ☎ +44 20 7332 1868 ( printedbooks.guildhall@corpoflondon.gov.uk ), [29] . M-Sa 9.30AM-5PM.

Charts the history of clockmaking and houses a priceless collection of old timepieces. Free. edit Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard (off Gresham St) (tube: Bank or St Paul's), ☎ +44 20 7332 3700 ( guildhall.artgallery@cityoflondon.gov.uk ), [30] . M-Sa 10AM-5PM Su noon-4PM. £2.50 (F and after 3:30PM: free), child 0-16 free. edit Museum of London, London Wall (NB this is a street!) (tube: Barbican (walk S) or St Pauls (walk N)), ☎ +44 870 444 3852, [31] . M-Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su noon-5:30PM. Established in 1975, the Museum of London explores the various threads of London's archaeology, history and culture throughout its more than 2,000 year old existence. Free and, like the city, endlessly fascinating!

(The Museum now also has an offshoot in East End . Cafe, gift shop and disabled access. Permanent and temporary exhibitions: free. Special exhibitions: £5, concession £3, child 0-15 free. edit Lloyd's of London and The Gherkin Detail of Lloyd's The City's business is not cathedrals or museums, but banking. The upside? The City offers some of the most fascinating modern architecture in London, and this alone makes a tour of London's financial institutions and markets worthwhile, even if you're not an investment banker. The bad news is that very few of the buildings are open to the public, although some do have "open weekends" at certain times of the year. The annual Open House Weekend - usually held on the third weekend in September, is when many London's most famous buildings (including many of those in the City) are open for public tours. Baltic Exchange, St. Mary Axe (next to the Swiss Re Tower), [32] . The world's main marketplace for ship broking. edit International Petroleum Exchange, St. Katherines Dock (tube: Tower Hill), [33] . One of the world's largest energy futures and options exchanges.

The Brent Crude marker which represents an important benchmark for global oil prices is traded here. It also houses the European Climate Exchange, where emissions trading takes place. edit Lloyds of London, 1 Lime St, [34] . The headquarters of world's most famous insurance market, housed in a revolutionary (at the time) bizarre, Matrix-like glass-and-steel building designed by Richard Rogers, with all support services (lifts, ventilation, etc) suspended outside. Recognised as a masterpiece of exoskeleton architecture. edit London Stock Exchange, Paternoster Sq, [35] . After leaving its brutalist skyscraper on Old Broad St, the London Stock Exchange now resides on Paternoster Sq. Dating back to 1698, it is one of the world's oldest and largest stock markets.It is an incredible place to go and see. edit London Bullion Market Association, 13-14 Basinghall St, [36] . This is where the world gold price is 'fixed' twice a day. edit London Metal Exchange, 56 Leadenhall St, [37] . The LME is the leading centre for non-ferrous metals trading.

It is also the last financial market in London which still retains open outcry trading. edit London Stone, Cannon St (tube: Cannon St). A little known and arguably little cared for yet intriguing item. edit St Bride Printing Library, Bride Ln, EC4Y 8EE, ☎ +44 20 7353 4660, [38] . Tu noon-5:30PM, W noon-9PM, Th noon-5:30PM. This specialist small library houses an impressive range of books on graphic design, typography, bookbinding and papermaking. The books cannot be borrowed but can be photocopied or photographed (with permission). An essential visit for any graphic design student. edit Swiss Re (the Gherkin), 30 St. Mary Axe, [39] . Designed by one of Britain's leading architects, Sir Norman Foster, and recipient in 2004 of the Stirling Architectural Prize for Best Building. edit Willis Building, 51 Lime St. The most recent addition to the City's skyline, and right opposite Lloyds of London.

edit Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral or The Monument to get excellent views over the financial heart of London. Gresham College, Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn (tube: Chancery Lane. Between Fetter Ln and Furnival St), ☎ +44 20 7831 0575, [40] . Founded in 1597 as London's alternative higher education institution to Oxford and Cambridge, Gresham College continues to provide free public lectures every week during term time. Most lectures require no booking, with wonderful speakers delivering lectures on wide range of interesting topics. edit John Stuttard, Lord Mayor 2006-07, at the Lord Mayor's show Lord Mayor's Show, [41] . Annual, normally November. The ceremony celebrates the appointment of the new Lord Mayor of the City of London. It is one of the great annual processions held in all London. edit London Walks, [42] . Consider going along on one of the many excellent walks of the City, often with an evocative theme for example ghosts or Jack the Ripper.

edit London Film Locations Bus Tour, [43] . The City of London is hugely popular with film makers so consider going on a bus tour of famous film locations. edit Tower of London Ice Rink, (tube: Tower Hill), [44] . edit Brit Movie Tours, [45] . Brit Movie Tours offer more than just sightseeing tours. With a diverse range of walking and bus tours which educate, entertain and appeal to visitors of all ages, nationalities and interests bringing favorite movies and TV shows to life. edit Barbican High Walks, Barbican Centre (A few minutes walk from Barbican station). 24/7. If you're looking to get away from the busy streets, or want to eat lunch somewhere peaceful, the Barbican High Walks offer a great respite from the City, especially during the mad weekday rush during business hours. Free. edit Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Although not noted for the best shopping opportunities in London (these are securely held by the West End), the City nonetheless retains an above average shopping offer, having a large, relatively affluent and captive crowd of City workers right on their doorstep.

Avoid shopping during lunchtime hours, if you can, as this is the time when workers are looking to do the same, in their thousands. Again, at weekends many outlets will be closed. A number of retail venues stand out: One New Change, (off Cheapside, tube: St Paul's), [46] . 7 days a week. The City's only modern shopping centre, which opened in October 2010. Includes around 60 shops and restaurants. It is controversially situated right by St Paul's Cathedral and is in a small area of retailing, including Bow Lane. edit Leadenhall Market, (off Gracechurch St, tube: Monument), [47] . Worth visiting for its architecture and old-fashioned cobbled streets. It was used as a location in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. edit Royal Exchange, (tube: Bank). Situated opposite the Bank of England, the Exchange houses a number of upmarket outlets. Part of the exterior was recently featured in the film Bridget Jones' Diary (at the end, when Bridget runs after Mark along a snowy street).

edit Spitalfields Market (technically not in the City), (off Bishopsgate, tube: Liverpool Street), [48] . Once a large thriving market, it has slowly been shrunk to a third of its size by development in the area. But, it still features a good variety of clothing, crafts and food stalls/shops. Rather promisingly sellers have set up another market in a new space off Hanbury St nearby. edit Work[ edit ] Despite the recession and the ongoing banking crisis, the City has no shortage of opportunities for financial professionals, of course - but the high salaries on offer attract some of the best candidates in the world, so you need to be the cream of the crop to succeed! For junior level professionals and "office temps" the situation is even tougher, as the high costs of both living, and commuting from the outer suburbs and surrounding towns has literally priced many out of the City's job market completely. As a consequence, many of the big name financial firms have now located their lower level operations to secondary offices in cities such as Edinburgh , Glasgow and Manchester .

As with the rest of London, there are opportunites for menial work in bars and restaurants for instance, but scraping a living can be tough within the context of London's outrageously high living costs - a fact reflected in the huge dependence on immigrant labour in the area. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] There are a great many number of bars, coffee houses, cafes, restaurants and pub, mainly catering for the City workers during the week (and therefore most likely to be closed at the weekend). Sit down restaurants in this district tend to be expensive and aimed towards business lunches. The vast number of take away places though are reasonably priced. During the week (and during good weather) you can find some outdoor eating areas in places, such as on Walbrook. Boisdale of Bishopsgate, Swedeland Court, 202 Bishopsgate EC2M 4NR (tube: Liverpool Street), ☎ +44 20 7283 1763 ( info@boisdale-city.co.uk ). closed Sa and Su. A rather grand Scottish restaurant which has jazz evenings and offers a cigar bar.

edit Club Gascon, 57 West Smithfield, EC1A 9DS (tube Barbican, St Pauls, Faringdon, Chancery Lane), ☎ +44 20 7600 6144, [49] . Fine French dining from Pascal Aussignac at this highly innovative, acclaimed restaurant. Holder of one Michelin star since 2002. edit Hub Deli, 93 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3XD (in Bishopsgate area), [50] . A small but nice sandwich shop which is ideal for quick business lunches. Always busy! edit Gow's, 81 Old Broad Street EC2M 1PR, ☎ +44 20 7920 9645 ( gows@ballsbrothers.co.uk ), [51] . closed Sa and Su. An upmarket seafood restaurant and oyster bar. edit Polo Bar, 176 Bishopsgate EC2M 4NQ (tube: Liverpool Street), ☎ +44 20 7283 4889. 24H.

An unpretentious cafe serving fried breakfasts and similar basic food 24h a day. Ideal for a late snack after you leave the Eat & Drink! Liverpool St is a safe area anyway but you cannot get safer than this for a late night meal, as at night you'll often see police from the nearby City of London police station. There are no toilets however, you need to use those at nearby Liverpool St Station. edit Simpson's Tavern, 38 Cornhill EC3V 9DR (tube: Bank), ☎ +44 20 7626 9985 ( manager@simpsonstavern.co.uk ), [52] . closed Sa and Su. A traditional old style English eatery which has been in business here since 1757. Most of the food is cooked on an open grill in the corner. A very City of London experience! edit The Wall, 45 Old Broad St EC2N 1HU (tube: Liverpool Street), ☎ +44 20 7588 4845 ( reservations@thewallbar.co.uk ). Restaurant and bar popular at lunchtime and in the early evenings. Closed Sa and Su.

edit Whitecross Street Food Market, Whitecross Street, EC1Y 8JJ (3 minutes from Barbican tube, 5 minutes walk from Old Street and Moorgate tube). Monday - Friday, 10am - 3pm. 20-30 food stalls line Whitecross street every weekday, offering food from all corners of the globe for roughly £5 a meal. Includes Indian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, French, Brazilian, English, Turkish, vegetarian, vegan, and plenty of others. If you want to sit down with your food, there is a park on Fortune Street and the Barbican Centre courtyard which have seating. NB: if the offices of the city are likely to be closed (public holidays and between Christmas and New Year for instance), the food market won't be open. ~£5. edit Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] If you just want to see the sights, come to the City whenever it suits you (although check the opening hours for anything you particularly want to see). If you are spending more than a few days in London, visiting the area at night, especially around 10PM-11PM, can provide a decidedly un-touristy atmosphere.

You will be seeing part of London life that few people who do not live or work in the City experience, and if you have the confidence to introduce yourself you may even get into conversation with local workers out for a late drink, the area is enough off the tourist route that you will be something of a novelty. Thursday and Friday are naturally busier but at the same time a bit less friendly, earlier in the week it may be dead but you have more chance of meeting locals just out for a drink. Dirty Dick's, 202 Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool St), ☎ +44 20 7283 5888, [53] . M-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-10:30PM. One of the better known pubs (although definitely no tourist trap) near Liverpool St, supposedly named after a Georgian dandy who let himself go on the death of his fiancée. £3.20 pint. edit Eat & Drink, 11 Artillery Passage (tube: Liverpool St), ☎ +44 20 7377 8964.

M-F 'til 2AM. A small and fairly ordinary Chinese restaurant by day, this turns into a heaving karaoke bar in the evenings. One of the most reliable places near Liverpool St to get a drink after midnight! £3.40 small can lager. edit Lamb Tavern, 10-12 Leadenhall Market (tube: Bank/Liverpool St), ☎ +44 20 7626 2454, [54] . M-F 10AM-11PM. One of several pubs in Leadenhall Market where you can listen to insurance brokers from nearby Lloyds talk business. £3.60 pint. edit White Hart, 121 Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool St). An unpretentious City pub, slightly cheaper than most. Unusually for the area, has a few tables outside where you can watch the world go by in summer or cower under a heat lamp while smoking in winter. £2.80 pint. edit Williamson's Tavern, 1 Groveland Court (tube: Mansion House).

An old pub in a courtyard off Bow Lane which is said to mark the City's exact centre, as described on an old stone inside. edit Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BU (tube: Blackfriars, Temple or Chancery Lane). An old City pub establishment, rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666. All the monarchs who have reigned in England during the pub's time are written by the main door. edit Ye Olde Watling, 29 Watling Street, EC4 (tube: Mansion House). A pub dating back to 1688, where plans for the current St. Paul's Cathedral were drawn up. One of the best places to get a drink. edit Budget[ edit ] The Hoxton Urban Lodge, 81 Great Eastern St (nearest tube station: tube: Old St), ☎ +44 20 7550 1000 ( info@hoxtonhotels.com ), [55] . From £30 web purchase.

edit St Paul's Youth Hostel, 36 Carter Ln (tube: St Paul's), ☎ +44 08707 705764 ( stpauls@yha.org.uk ), [56] . Small hostel converted from one of the City's oldest buildings. Cheap for Central London accommodation, range of room sizes, basic facilities. Dorm from £18.95 including breakfast. 6 rooms for 2 people and 3 singles.. edit Mid-range[ edit ] Andaz Liverpool Street London Hotel, 40 Liverpool St, ( info.londonliv@andaz.com , fax: +44 20 7961 1235), [57] . A concept casual luxury hotel. No two bedrooms the same. Features iPod rentals and 5 restaurants From £120. edit SACO Apartments - Aldgate, 99 Leman St, ☎ +44 20 7269 9930 ( london@sacoapartments.com ), [58] . A grade II listed Victorian building in perfect walking distance to the main city centre. A great alternative to hotels for those traveling on business.

From £120. edit Travelodge London Liverpool St, 1 Harrow Pl (tube: Liverpool Street), ☎ 08719 846190, [59] . £80. edit Cheval Calico House, 42 Bow Lane (tube: St Paul's, Bank, Mansion House), ☎ +44 20 7489 2500 ( cch@chevalresidences.com ). From £1127 a week. edit Located on pedestrian way, Cheval Calico House Apartments are a 5 minutes' walk from St. Paul's cathedral, 10 minutes from Tower Bridge. A smart hotel alternative. Palm Hotel, 64-76 Hendon Way. North West London NW2 2NL (tube: Golders green), ☎ +44 (0) 208 455 5220 ( info@palmhoteluk.com ), [60] . From £150. edit Best Western Palm Hotel is among the premier hotels in North West London for its state of the art rooms and luxurious amenities within the surroundings of.

Splurge[ edit ] Citadines Prestige Holborn-Covent Garden London, 94-99 High Holborn, ☎ +44 20 7395-8800 ( holborn@citadines.com , fax: +44 20 7395 8799), [61] . Located just a short walk from Covent Garden. The residence is surrounded by traditional pubs, international restaurants, art galleries and churches. Each air-conditioned apartment houses a bathroom with a separate toilet, a separate kitchen area and Internet access. From £209. edit Crowne Plaza St. James Hotel, 51 Buckingham Gate (tube: Westminster), [62] . 340 individually decorated rooms, including 21 suites, many of which overlook the courtyard garden. From £179. edit Malmaison London, Charterhouse Sq (tube: Barbican, Farringdon), ☎ +44 20 7012-3700 ( london@malmaison.com ), [63] . Great location with attentive staff.

edit Chiswick Rooms, 407 Goldhawk Rd, W6 0SA (tube: Stamford Brook Tube Station), ☎ +44 20 3307-0400 ( stay@chiswickrooms.co.uk ). 4* boutique hotel close to many attractions. edit Get out[ edit ] Go south, crossing the River Thames via the Millennium Bridge, to access the central part of South Bank , home to the Tate Modern gallery and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Or head west down Fleet Street then Strand towards Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square or to Westminster , home of the British government and royal family. This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star !

Question: In which British City is the Squinty Bridge?
Answer: GLASGOW