Visit City of London Places

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The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in City of London

  

City of London Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about City of London

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City of London history

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Origins

Roman legions established a settlement known as “Londinium” on the current site of the City of London around AD 43 . At its height, the Roman city had a population of approximately 45,000–60,000 inhabitants . The Romans built a bridge across the river, as early as AD 50, near to today’s London Bridge .

Decline

By the time the London Wall was constructed, the city’s fortunes were in decline . The Roman Empire entered a long period of instability and decline, including the Carausian Revolt in Britain . The centre of trade and population moved away from the walled Londinium to Lundenwic, a settlement to the west .

Anglo-Saxon restoration

During the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, the London area came in turn under the Kingdoms of Essex, Mercia, and later Wessex . Bede records that in AD 604 St Augustine consecrated Mellitus as the first bishop of the East Saxon kingdom . It is assumed, although unproven, that this first cathedral stood on the same site as the later medieval and the present cathedrals . Alfred the Great, King of Wessex occupied and began the resettlement of the old Roman walled area in 886 .

Medieval era

The City of London was not covered by the Domesday Book . From medieval times, the City has been composed of 25 ancient wards, each headed by an alderman . By 1141 the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community . The citizens gained the right to appoint, with the king’s consent, a mayor in 1189 and to directly elect the mayor from 1215 .

Early modern period

The Royal Exchange was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham as a centre of commerce for London’s merchants . The Bank of England moved to its present site opposite the Royal Exchange on Threadneedle Street in 1734 . Immediately to the south of Cornhill, Lombard Street was the location from 1691 of Lloyd’s Coffee House .

Growth of London

The 18th century was a period of rapid growth for London, reflecting an increasing national population, the early stirrings of the Industrial Revolution, and London’s role at the centre of the evolving British Empire . The urban area expanded beyond the borders of the City of London, most notably towards the West End and Westminster .

19th and 20th centuries

The City was a special parliamentary borough that elected four members to the unreformed House of Commons . The City’s population fell rapidly in the 19th century and through most of the 20th century . The main residential section of the City today is the Barbican Estate, constructed between 1965 and 1976 . The 1970s saw the construction of tall office buildings including the 600-foot (183 m), 47-storey NatWest Tower .

City of London economy & business

Headquarters

Many major global companies have their headquarters in the City . Aviva, BT Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Quilter, Prudential, Schroders, Standard Chartered, and Unilever . A number of the world’s largest law firms are headquartered in the city .

Other sectors

The City has many pubs, bars and restaurants, and the “night-time” economy does feature in the Bishopsgate area, towards Shoreditch . The meat market at Smithfield, wholly within the City, continues to be one of London’s main markets . The legal profession has a strong presence, especially in the west and north .

Retail and residential

Trend for purely office development is beginning to reverse as the Corporation encourages residential use . The City has a target of 90 additional dwellings per year . Some of the extra accommodation is in small pre-World War II listed buildings .

City of London landmarks

Historic buildings

Fire bombing and post-World War II redevelopment have meant that the City, despite its history, has fewer intact historic structures than one might expect . Nonetheless, there remain many (mostly Victorian and Edwardian) fine buildings, typically in historicist and neoclassical style . They include the Monument to the Great Fire of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Dr. Johnson’s House, Mansion House and many churches .

Skyscrapers and tall buildings

A growing number of tall buildings and skyscrapers are principally used by the financial sector . Almost all are situated in the eastern side around Bishopsgate, Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street .

City of London geography / climate

The City of London is the smallest ceremonial county of England by area and population. It is also the smallest English city by population and the smallest in the UK by area. The elevation of the City ranges from sea level at the Thames to 21.6 metres (71 ft) at the junction of High Holborn and Chancery Lane.

Boundary

In some places, the financial district extends slightly beyond the boundaries, notably to the north and east, into the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Islington, and informally these locations are seen as part of the “Square Mile” The boundaries are marked by black bollards bearing the City’s emblem, and by dragon boundary marks at major entrances .

Gardens and public art

The City has no sizeable parks within its boundary, but does have a network of gardens and small open spaces . These range from formal gardens such as the one in Finsbury Circus, to churchyards such as St Olave Hart Street . The Thames and its riverside walks are increasingly being valued as open space .

Climate

The City has an oceanic climate (Köppen “Cfb”) modified by the Urban Heat Island in the centre of London . The nearest weather station has historically been the London Weather Centre at Kingsway/ Holborn, although observations ceased in 2010 . St. James Park provides the nearest official readings .

You can visit City of London places with Walkfo City of London to hear history at City of London’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo City of London has 3074 places to visit in our interactive City of London map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout City of London, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at City of London places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to City of London & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 3074 audio facts unique to City of London places in an interactive City of London map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit City of London Places Map
3074 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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City of London historic spots	City of London tourist destinations	City of London plaques	City of London geographic features
Walkfo City of London tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in City of London

  

Best City of London places to visit

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City of London has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied City of London’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo City of London’s information audio spots:

Chesterfield Street Chesterfield Street is a “virtually intact” Georgian street in London’s Mayfair district . Several of the buildings are Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England .

Curzon Mayfair Cinema The Curzon Mayfair Cinema is a Grade II listed building at 37–38 Curzon Street, London W1 . It was built in 1963–66 by H. G. Hammond for Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners, architects .

Macdonald House, London Macdonald House was a seven-storey Neo-Georgian style building on Grosvenor Square . It was part of the High Commission of Canada from 1961 to 2014 . From 1938 to 1960, the building was the Embassy of the United States .

Junior Athenaeum The Junior Athenaeum Club was a gentlemen’s club in Piccadilly, London, from 1864 to the 1930s . It was a similar club with similar aims to the Athensaeum Club .

Geo. F. Trumper Geo. F. Trumper is a British men’s barber and perfumer . It was established in 1875 by George Francis William Trumper as a Gentlemen’s Barber Shop .

St James’s Club The St James’s Club was a London gentlemen’s club which operated between 1857 and 1978 . It was first established in Charles Street and moved to 106 Piccadilly by 1868 .

Imitate Modern Imitate Modern is a London-based contemporary photography and art gallery that exhibits work by emerging artists . It is the first of its kind in the UK and is based in London . The gallery is dedicated to contemporary photography, art and art photography .

Cambridge House Cambridge House is a Grade I listed former townhouse in central London . It sits on the northern side of Piccadilly at number 94, in the fashionable district of Mayfair . As of 2021, the property is being converted into a luxury hotel and seven residences .

Mandela Way T-34 Tank The Mandela Way T-34 Tank, nicknamed Stompie, is a decommissioned Soviet-built tank . It is now permanently located on the corner of Mandela Way and Page’s Walk in Bermondsey, London .

Miloco Studios Miloco Studios are a group of recording studios based in London, England . Miloco studios are based in the city of London and London .

Visit City of London plaques