City Walk - London for Free London for Free You are here: Home / Free London Walks / City Walk City Walk This walk will take you around the area within the old London wall. It is a fairly long walk but can easily be done in two parts: from Monument to St Pauls (stopping at St Pauls tube) and from St Pauls to Tower Hill. You will pass through some of the oldest established parts of London and see both the start and end points of the Great Fire. Other features of this walk include the Bank of England, St Bart’s hospital (the oldest in London) and the Tower of London. You will also see where London’s most famous mayor, Dick Whittington, lived and was buried. This walk was written and first published in 1997, updated in December, 2004 and again in March, 2014. The City walk is now available to buy as an e-book view map in full screen The walk starts from Monument station and ends at Tower Hill station (or at St Pauls station) on arrival at Monument station, take the exit marked Fish Street Hill and The Monument and at street level, turn right.

Stop in front of the large “monument” ahead of you. Monument and the Great Fire of London The Monument stands as a memorial to the Great Fire of London. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1677. It is the tallest single stone column in the world and contains a spiral staircase leading to a viewing platform from which you can see some remarkable views of the city. Sadly, until 1842 (when the viewing platform was railed in) the monument was a favourite place for suicides. The Great Fire of London started at 2 am on September 2nd 1666 in a bakery in Pudding Lane, the distance in height eastward from the Monument (202 feet.) The fire burned for three days and spread over almost 500 acres, northeast as far as St Bart’s hospital. The final toll was 9 lives lost (officially) and 87 churches and 13,200 houses destroyed. Did You Know? As the fire started in Pudding Lane and ended at Pie Corner, some Londoners considered the fire to be divine retribution for their gluttony.

The plinth used to have an inscription in Latin blaming the fire on the Roman Catholics but this was removed in 1830. continue along Monument Street, passing the Monument on your right, until you reach the junction with Pudding Lane. Turn right and walk down Pudding Lane, then right again at the end into Lower Thames Street. Cross the road at the lights in front of St Magnus the Martyr church and walk left along Lower Thames Street until you reach a pathway (signposted Riverside Walk East) just after a building marked St Magnus House / No 3 Lower Thames Street. Follow this path to the riverfront and turn left. Stop in front of the glass fronted building with gold-coloured fish ornaments on its roof (Old Billingsgate Fish Market). Old Billingsgate Fish Market, Custom House and St Magnus the Martyr Church In front of you is the site of the old Billingsgate Fish Market, which existed here in the Middle Ages. The market moved to a new site on the Isle of Dogs in 1982. To the right of it is Custom House.

In 979, King Ethelred levied the first known customs duty in England, but it wasn’t until 1275 that the first custom house was built, just east of the present site. Since then, Custom House has been responsible for collecting taxes on all goods imported into London. The church you passed is St Magnus the Martyr church. This church was founded around 1067 and stood at the foot of the old London Bridge. (In the churchyard lie some of the old stones from the bridge. ) As such, it was an important meeting place in medieval times. The original church burnt down during the Great Fire and was re-built by Wren in 1676. In the grounds there is a piece of a Roman pier, which was part of a nearby wharf. Did You Know? In the early 14th century, the population of London was around 80,000. Many people moved to the city from the countryside and other parts of Europe, particularly northern France. These newcomers were identified by their surnames, such as William of Lincoln.

However, the Black Death, the devastating plague that arrived in London in 1348, wiped out half the population and by 1377 it was only around 35,000 people. Just after the old Fish Market building, turn left along Old Billingsgate Walk then left again at the end, along Lower Thames Street. Walk back to the pedestrian crossing in front of the church and cross the road, then turn left and walk up Fish Street Hill, passing Monument on your right. At the top of Fish Street Hill, turn left along Eastcheap, cross King William Street and walk along Cannon Street until you reach Laurence Pountney Lane on your left. Turn down it and then turn right along Laurence Poutney Hill, then before the end of the road turn right to see houses at number 1 and 2. These are two of the best surviving merchants’ houses in the City of London, and were built in 1703 . Continue ahead to Cannon Street, turn left and cross at the pedestrian crossing. In front of you is the London Stone. Continue ahead, in the direction towards Laurence Pountney Hill and turn left along St Swithins Lane.

At the end (junction with King William Street), turn left. Turn left again down Mansion House Place, and then walk along St Stephens Row. Stop at the end of the lane, where it joins a street called Walbrook, in front of the church. Mansion House and St Stephen Walbrook Church As you walked along Mansion House Place, you passed along the side of Mansion House, which is a combination of palace, town hall and law court complete with its own lock-up. Its prime role is as the official residence of the City’s Lord Mayor, who holds office for a one year term. The building was designed in the 1700’s. It has its own court of law and holding cells, and the famous suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, was once held there. The church you see is St Stephen Walbrook, another church founded in the eleventh century, which was burnt down in the Great Fire and re-built by Wren. This church was also the birthplace of the Samaritans, in 1953. Did You Know? The City is the oldest part of London and was already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.

It is uniquely independent from both Westminster and the Crown, has its own local government, the Corporation of London, and today is mainly a financial centre. It also has its own police force which is independent of the Metropolitan police, whose jurisdiction nevertheless surrounds the City. turn left down Walbrook Street. Follow it across Cannon Street (where it leads into Dowgate Hill) and take the second turning on your right, along College Street. Shortly after, turn right again and walk up College Hill, passing the sites where Dick Whittington was buried (now a church) and where he lived (now buildings at numbers 19-20.) Just after the junction with Cloak Lane, turn left along Cannon Street, cross the road, continue ahead and turn right along Bow Lane, which is a small laneway just after a large junction. Follow Bow Lane (crossing Watling Street) and turn left at the junction with Cheapside. Soon after, you will see St Mary-le-Bow Church on your left. Dick Whittington, Cockneys and Roman Roads Dick Whittington, born in 1358, is one of the most famous Londoners who ever lived.

Many people think of him as having walked to London with his cat, and though there is evidence that he did walk to London from the countryside, is it uncertain whether he actually had a cat or not. He was Lord Mayor four times between 1397 and 1419 and during his terms of office he built public drinking fountains and conveniences, acts which made him popular. On his death, he left his fortune to various charities, to rebuild Newgate Prison and to construct a wing at St Thomas’ Hospital across the river for unmarried mothers. He lived in a house at 19-20 College Hill and was buried (in 1423) in the predecessor of St Michael Paternoster church. Both the original church and Whittington’s grave were destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Watling Street is one of the oldest roads in London. It marks the path of the original Roman road from Dover to Kent and the border with Wales. Bread Street was where (in Norman times) one of the few brothels in the city existed. There was also a prison here. Famous people born in this area incude John Milton and Governor Arthur Philip, the first governor of Australia.

St Mary-Le-Bow Church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It used to house the Great Bell of Bow, of the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons”, and it is claimed that when Whittington ran away from London he heard the bells ringing out and returned to the city. Traditionally, anyone born within the sounds of the Bow bells is said to be a true cockney or Londoner. These days, few people live in the City. Did You Know? Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, published in 1898, includes an epitaph to Whittington that it claims was also destroyed in the Great Fire. The epitaph contains many facts that were wrong. For example, that he served as mayor only 3 times and that he was knighted. It also claims that he had a cat, but in fact there is no record of this until it was mentioned in a ballad in 1605, almost 200 years after his death. However, in 1949 the mummified remains of a 14th century cat were discovered near where Whittington lived, so the legend lives on.

What is more likely is that Whittington did have a cat but it was not of the feline variety. Instead, it was the name of his boat that he used for bringing coal from Newcastle to London. continue along Cheapside and you will see St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of you. Walk down the path to the right of it (Paternoster Row). St Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s was founded in 604. However, the present building, the fifth on the site, dates from 1675. It is the second largest cathedral in the world, after St Peter’s in Rome. Construction did not start until 10 years after the Great Fire, which destroyed the previous structure. This earlier building, begun in 1087, took 200 years to build and was even bigger than the present building, which took 35 years to complete. The cathedral is the most famous work from London’s greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren (who is buried in it.) However, the building is not exactly to the Royal-approved design. Wren submitted 3 different designs for it before his 4th version was eventually agreed.

He then assembled large screens around the construction site to hide development, and proceeded to build the cathedral to a design different again from that which had been approved. In 1981, the wedding of Charles and Diana took place here. Other famous people who are buried in St Paul’s include Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, whose monument took 56 years to complete. In front of the cathedral there are some wooden posts representing the last City toll gate, built in the thirteenth century. They mark the old route to Cheapside. The “gate” is now opened only during ceremonial occasions. Did You Know? Until 1911, St Paul’s Churchyard was the centre of the London book trade, and had been so since before printing arrived in England in 1476. All new books had to be registered at the nearby Stationer’s Hall, the livery hall of the Stationer’s and Newspaper Maker’s Company, which controlled the printing and publishing trades. St Pauls marks the halfway point on this walk and you can end it here at nearby St Pauls station. To do so, simply follow the signs to the Underground.

To continue the walk, go along Paternoster Row, then turn right under the stone archway into Paternoster Square. Walk through the square to Newgate Street, then turn right at the junction with Giltspur Street. (On your left at this junction is Old Bailey and the site of Newgate prison, on the corner.) Walk along Giltspur Street and stop at the junction with Cock Lane, on the left. Newgate Prison, Old Bailey, the Fat Boy and St Bart’s Hospital Newgate Prison had stood on the corner of Old Bailey and Newgate Street since the 12th century. It was destroyed during the Great Fire of London and re-built only to be finally demolished in 1902. It was not a pleasant place to be imprisoned within: there was no ventilation and little water and it was ruled by highly corrupt prison guards (who made fortunes charging prisoners for “privileges” such as being freed from shackles.) One of the gates from Newgate prison is on display at the Museum of London. Old Bailey is the name by which most people know the Central Criminal Court, which is just down from the corner with Newgate Street.

The first court house on this site was built in 1539 and the current buildings, which include at their base, stones from Newgate prison, date from 1907. The buildings were badly damaged during the Blitz in 1942 and bombed by the IRA in 1973. The court is reserved for trying the most serious crimes such as murder, and famous trials that have been held here include those of Oscar Wilde (1895), Dr Crippen (1910) and the Yorkshire Ripper (1981). You can view details of all criminal trials held at the Old Bailey between 1674 and 1834 on their web site. The church you passed on the corner with Giltspur Street is St Sepulchure’s. Prisoners from Newgate Prison used to pray here around their open coffins on the morning of their execution. Anatomy teachers used to buy bodies stolen from here to use in training their students. Embedded in the side of the building on the corner of Cock Lane is the famous statue of the Golden Boy of Pye Corner, commonly known as “the fat boy”.

This statue marks the spot where the Great Fire of London ended. In 1241, Cock Lane (owned by St Paul’s Cathedral) became the place where City prostitutes were exiled. Next door to this building is the headquarters of City and Guilds, an educational institute established through funding from a group of livery companies, which initially started as guilds. Across the road you will see St Bart’s Hospital. Bart’s (as it is commonly known) was founded in 1123 by an Augustinian monk and was repaired in 1421 by Whittington. It is the oldest hospital in London and the oldest charitable organisation in London still on its original site. For those familiar with the Doctor in the House films and novels, the hospital was used as the model for St Swithin’s. Did You Know? The City is home to 94 different livery companies, some with names of trades hardly heard of these days, such as Girdlers, Scriveners, Cutlers, Coopers, Salters, Apothecaries, Cordwainers, Bowyers, Carmen, Fishmongers and Skinners.

These companies were established as trade guilds in the 12th century and grew rapidly during medieval times to help manage the business of the city. Originally, each guild fulfilled a range of needs for its members such as ensuring “fair value” through controlling who could work in its trade, setting the prices and wages to be paid to members and ensuring decent working conditions, welfare rights and burials. Today, guilds are still being established to support newer trades and professions, such as marketing. However these days they mainly serve as private educational and charitable organisations, often giving awards and grants to help train people in the industries from which they originally emerged. The more wealthier guilds have even funded the creation of university departments and entire colleges. Guild members eventually became known as liverymen because they wore a distinctive livery or uniform. All liverymen still receive the Freedom of the City. continue along Giltspur Street, then around a roundabout, until you reach Smithfield Street, to your left. Across the road you will see Smithfield Central Market. Continue past it and walk down a road called Little Britain. Follow it to the junction with Montague Street and at the junction, turn right.

Cross another road called Little Britain and walk along King Edward Street a short distance until you reach a set of gates on your left, leading into a small park. Enter the park. Smithfield Market and Postmans Park Smithfield market is London’s largest meat market, employing over 3,000 people. It has its own police force and early opening pub. During the Middle Ages, it traded in live horses, pigs and cattle. As a convenient open space near the city walls, the area was also used in medieval times for tournaments, fairs and, for over 400 years, executions. Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381, was executed nearby, along with many witches and heretics, who were burned, roasted or boiled alive. William Wallace, also known as Braveheart, was hung, drawn and quartered at this site (his head was then displayed on a spike on London Bridge.) Postmans Park is famous for its heroes wall. The wall contains plaques to those Londoners, mostly ordinary citizens and sometimes children, who died while performing acts of bravery in the 1800’s.

The park sits beside the church of St Botolph -without-Aldersgate, where John Wesley converted to Methodism. Did You Know? For centuries, the main way of trading in London was at markets. In the Middle Ages, when there were few permanent shops, the rights to hold markets were so valuable that the king, Edward III, granted the City an exclusive charter to do so within a seven-mile radius. London’s original market was in Cheapside and its oldest surviving market is Borough market, on the southern side of London Bridge. Other early London markets include Smithfield and Leadenhall. continue through the park, exiting beside the church. Turn left and cross the road, then turn left again. Soon you will see signs pointing to the Museum of London, and some escalators on your right. Go up the escalators and follow the signs to the Museum of London, along the walkway. Pass the entrance to the museum and continue right, along Bastion Highwalk, until you see part of the old City wall and the Barbican area on your left. Stop, overlooking part of the London Wall.

London Wall, Barbican Centre and St Giles Church The Barbican Centre was built in the 1960’s and 70’s by the City after the area was devastated during the Blitz in the second world war. It is both residential and commercial and includes exhibition halls, libraries and the Museum of London. It is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company. The area was settled by the Romans and the name “Barbican” means fortified watch tower. There was one nearby at Cripplegate, one of the gates in the Roman wall. St Giles without Cripplegate church was founded in the eleventh century. It was rebuilt in 1545 and was visited by Shakespeare. Oliver Cromwell was married in St Giles church in 1620 and in 1674 John Milton was buried in it. Whittington built a water fountain in the shape of a bear’s head in the churchyard wall. The church suffered almost total devastation during an air raid in the second world war. Of the present building built in the 16th century, only the tower and walls remain. Did You Know?

Ancient London was transformed by the Romans into a typical Roman city (known as Londinium) in the first century AD. Though perhaps hard to imagine today, the city stretched from the Tower of London to Aldgate and west beyond St Paul’s. It contained many buildings such as a basilica and forum, as well as an ampitheatre (which stood on the current site of Guildhall). To protect themselves, the Romans built a wall around their city in 200 AD. You can still see parts of this wall throughout the present city. The wall stretched for 2 miles and stood 18 ft high, enclosing occupants and allowing access only through six gates, including Bishopsgate, Aldgate and Newgate. When the Romans left London in 410 AD, the Anglo-Saxons continued to live within the boundaries of the city and built new structures on top of the wall. You can see the different levels of construction in remaining parts of it. The Roman-built sections often have layers of red tiles within them, which were used to strengthen the wall. continue along the walkway, passing shops, until you reach 125 London Wall. Turn right, then go down the escalators, following the signs to Wood Street.

Cross at the pedestrian lights and turn left across London Wall. Turn right at the bottom and then left along Love Lane. After a short distance, turn right along Aldermanbury and follow it to the end. At the end of the road, on the left hand corner, there is a building with vehicle barriers leading into a courtyard. Next to the barriers is a pedestrian passageway. Follow the passageway between the building and the back of a church (on your right) into the courtyard. Guildhall and St Lawrence Jewry Church Guildhall is home to the Corporation of London, the body responsible for governing the City. It has been the “centre” of local government for the City for over 800 years. Every year the Lord Mayor hosts an annual dinner here, attended by politicians and leaders of industry, at which the Prime Minister normally makes a state-of-the-nation speech. In Roman times, there was an ampitheatre on this site. It is indicated by a black circle set into the courtyard floor. The fifteenth century Great Hall was one of the few buildings in the City not to have been totally destroyed during either the Great Fire or the Blitz, though it did suffer substantial damage and has been twice restored.

The stained glass windows of the Great Hall show all the mayors of London, including Whittington (several times.) You can visit Guildhall and see the Great Hall. It is partly concealed from the road by other Corporation of London offices which collectively are known as the Guildhall offices. Love Lane was a medieval red light area. St Lawrence Jewry Church, which backs onto the Guildhall courtyard, is so named because during medieval times it stood in the Jewish quarter of the City. It is now the official church of the Corporation of London. Did You Know? Lots of City place names provide clues about the types of “business” conducted in the city in days of old. These include Garlick Hill (where garlic was once sold), Bread Street (where bread was baked) , Milk Street (where milk was sold), Love Lane and Cock Lane (where the city’s brothels were) and Poultry (where those who sold chickens used to live). walk through the courtyard beside the church and turn right, then left along Gresham Street. Cross the main junction with Moorgate and continue ahead along Lothbury, passing Tokenhouse Yard on your left. Turn right at Bartholomew Lane and stop at the junction with Threadneedle Street.

Bank of England The building on the corner of Threadneedle Street is the Bank of England. The bank was established in 1694 to raise money for war and moved to its present location in 1734. It is commonly known as ̶#8220;the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street”. The underground vaults still hold Britain’s gold reserves. Having had a number of different roles throughout history, it now acts as the Government’s and banker’s bank and as the issuer of British currency. In the 1990’s, it was assigned responsibility for setting interest rates for Britain: a role previously reserved for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1836 a man found a route from the sewer into the Bullion room of the Bank. Instead of using this to his advantage, he alerted authorities and was later rewarded for his honesty. From the late 17th to the 19th century the Bank issued lottery tickets as a way of raising money to meet state expenditure. Now, the Government runs a National Lottery to help fund the Arts and community projects.

Tokenhouse Yard, which you passed, is where in the 1600’s, tokens were minted and issued whenever coins were in short supply. Did You Know? Until a few decades ago, the City’s pre-eminence as a world financial centre derived almost entirely from its position as the capital of a great trading nation whose empire spanned the world. Sterling, backed by gold, was the main trading currency in the nineteenth century and accounted for a quarter of world trade as recently as 1939. After the two world wars, the strength of the empire started to fade. However, despite this, the City continues to be home to various financial markets including euromarkets, and more than 500 foreign banks have offices here. It is also one of the world’s leading insurance centres and the leader of the international gold market: “the London gold fixing” is still a pricing benchmark used throughout the world. Turn left along Threadneedle Street and follow it to the end. Turn right along Bishopsgate and immediately cross the road. Continue right and cross the junction with Leadenhall Street, then soon after, turn left into Leadenhall Market.

Walk straight ahead through the market, exiting to another public road, and after a short distance, turn left along Lime Street. Stop just as the road turns right. Leadenhall Market, Lloyd’s of London and “the Gherkin” Leadenhall market was the most important medieval market in London. It began by selling poultry and grain. The current market buildings date from 1881 though there has been a food market on this site since 1300. The location was originally the site of the Roman forum. Lloyd’s business was originally started in Edward Lloyd’s coffee house in Tower Street in the 1680’s, where shipowners would meet wealthy merchants to negotiate insurance cover for their ships. Because no individual merchant would be willing to cover all the risk of a ship on their own, brokers established themselves as intermediaries, organising groups of underwriters to spread the risk. In the 1770’s, Lloyd’s expanded to take on other risks in addition to shipping. The company is now a world famous insurance market. The current Lloyds of London building was built between 1978 and 1986 and is one of the most significant buildings of postwar Britain.

The most striking feature is that all its services (plumbing, heating, lift shafts) are exposed on the outside of the building, which is particularly impressive to see at night. One traditional feature of the building is the Lutine Bell, rescued from a ship that sank in 1800 with a cargo of gold. The bell is sounded to indicate significant events, such as when the Titanic sank. Diagonally opposite the Lloyd’s Building and behind a church you will see a new building, that because of its design, is known by Londoners as “the gherkin”. It was designed by Norman Foster and sits on the site of the old Baltic Exchange, which was destroyed by the IRA in the 1990’s. Did You Know? Risks are covered by underwriters on behalf of syndicates made up of thousands of “names”. These are rich men and women, such as royalty and celebrities, who are willing to risk their wealth to cover insurance, usually in return for a large income. In the 1990’s, many names suffered significant calls on their wealth as a result of several natural disasters and large accidents.

continue along Lime street, passing Lloyd’s, then turn right along Leadenhall Street, which becomes Aldgate. Continue along Aldgate, which in turn becomes Aldgate High Street, until you reach the Hoop and Grapes pub, on your right (near the corner with Mansell Street). Hoop and Grapes Pub The oldest surviving pub in the city of London is the Hoop and Grapes pub in Aldgate High Street, whose foundations date from the 13th century. The present building was built in the 1600s and it was one of the few to survive the Great Fire. The cellar supposedly has a tunnel, now sealed off, leading to the Tower of London. Did You Know? Before 1830, London’s pubs looked like ordinary houses, usually identified only by signs hanging in front of them. Most had a series of small rooms with fireplaces and wooden benches and customers were served at tables. However, after beer duty was abolished in 1830 (to encourage people to reduce their gin intake), many new pubs opened and they became more like the taverns around today, with bars and elaborate furnishings.

re-trace your steps back along Aldgate High Street, which becomes Aldgate, and continue ahead along Fenchurch Street. Follow Fenchurch Street and turn left down Fenchurch Place. Just after passing Fenchurch Street station on your left, go down some steps marked New London Street. Stop at the end of this short road, facing a church. St Olave’s The church in front of you is St Olave’s. It dates from the fifteenth century, and survived the Great Fire mainly due to the efforts of the writer Samuel Pepys, who lived and worked nearby. He had the surrounding wooden buildings destroyed before the fire could reach them. Pepys is buried in the nave of the church beside his wife. Other burials include Mother Goose, who was interred in 1586, and Mary Ramsey, the woman who it is claimed brought the plague to London in 1665. The church was named St Ghastly Grim by Dickens in his story, The Uncommercial Traveller, because of the spikes and stone skulls overlooking its churchyard. The churchyard also has a watch house from which bodysnatchers were chased away. Did You Know?

A number of more recent writers have lived or worked in the City. They include: TS Eliot, who worked as a bank clerk at Lloyd’s Bank from 1917 – 1925 Kenneth Grahame, who worked at the Bank of England from 1890 – 1908 Ian Fleming, who worked for a firm of stockbrokers in the 1930’s Turn left along Hart Street then right, down Seething Lane and shortly left along Pepys Street. Turn right along Savage Gardens and follow it to the end, emerging opposite a small park (Trinity Square Gardens). Walk through the gardens to the raised area in front of the exit to Tower Hill tube station and stop, facing the Tower of London. Tower of London and Tower Bridge Pepys lived in Seething Lane, where he wrote most of his famous diary. It provides the best record known of life in 17th century London. The Tower of London is the most popular tourist attraction in London and one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture anywhere in the world. It was begun by William I around 1066 and built deliberately just outside the City boundary to warn potential troublemakers.

It was then extended by a number of monarchs until Edward I, and has been a palace, prison, menagerie, place of execution and stronghold for the crown jewels. Famous occupants have included Sir Francis Drake, Anne Boleyn (executed by sword), Sir Walter Raleigh and Rudolph Hess during the second world war. The tower is protected by forty Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) and eight flightless ravens, whose departure, legend claims, would indicate the downfall of England. The Beefeaters live on site and their dogs and cats are buried in a pet cemetery within the moat of the Tower. The small “exits” at the bottom of the tower are medieval drainage outlets. There is an admission charge and often a long queue to visit the Tower. But you can see parts of it for free at night by getting tickets in advance to the ancient Ceremony of the Keys. Tower Bridge was built in 1894 and needs to be raised to enable tall ships to pass under it. Until 1976, this was performed by steam-driven Victorian hydraulic machines. It is often mistakenly thought to be London Bridge by tourists. You can travel to the top of Tower Bridge and also see the Victorian engine room.

(Admission charge). you have now completed this walk …… I hope you enjoyed it follow the signs to Tower Hill tube station General Route ( more detailed directions are included in walk details ) Start at Monument station - Monument - Old Billingsgate Fish Market - Mansion House - St Paul's Cathedral - Newgate Prison - St Bart's Hospital - Smithfield Market - Barbican Centre - Guildhall - Bank of England - Leadenhall Market - Lloyd's of London - Hoop and Grapes pub - St Olaves - Tower of London - end at Tower Hill station Time to allow 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: Which London street runs from St Paul's churchyard almost to the Bank of England?
Answer: Cheapside