City of London

Attractions I Shopping I Eating Out I Nightlife I Gardens I Transport

London’s famous Square Mile is the world’s leading financial centre, wielding more economic and financial influence than any other city in the world. It’s nickname comes from the fact that it is almost exactly a square mile in size, and although being home to only 10,000 residents, it is the work place for over 330,000 who mostly commute to the area every day.

‘The City’ is London’s historic core, being built by the Romans as a port town in 47 AD. The City gradually expanded over a millennium with several setbacks, assuring that it did not become the permanent capital of England until 1100AD.

Recently The City has become more known for its architecture, as several new skyscrapers have been raised amongst the more traditional buildings, such as The Royal Exchange and St Paul’s Cathedral. Completed structures include the distinctive ‘Gherkin’, Heron Tower and Tower 42, with The Pinnacle and The Leadenhall Building soon to come.

Despite its largely professional function there are many significant landmarks and attractions within The City, some of the most notable include:

Attractions

Tower of London

This fortress built by William the Conqueror has served many purposes, but is probably best known for its use as a prison. It also houses the Crown Jewels amongst a myriad of other purposes it has been assigned in history.

 

Museum of London

This museum contains a variety of exhibitions mostly depicting different periods of London’s history, including Roman, medieval, Victorian and Tudor. Best of all, it’s free to enter!

 

St Paul’s Cathedral

The second largest church building in the UK is known for its magnificent dome and vast crypt, which contains a cornucopia of famous Britons, including The Duke of Wellington, Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill.

 

The Monument

The monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666 and can be ascended for fantastic views of the city for the reasonable sum of £3.00. Its purpose was doubled up for use as a zenith telescope as well, and its foundation contains a lab for various other science experiments.

 

The Barbican Centre

As Europe’s largest performing arts centre The Barbican regularly hosts film, theatre, art, and music events. Under its roof is a substantial amount of facilities, including a library and 3 restaurants. Check its website to see what is on during your stay!

Visit this link for a list of Free London Attractions

 

Shopping

The City plays host to many of London’s most well known markets, as well as a variety of other shops. For the best places to sate your shopping addiction, why not check out some of our recommendations below:

One New Change

Close to St Paul’s Cathedral, this contemporary shopping centre opened in 2010 and contains a wide range of high street brands and services, making it ideal for those looking for a familiar shopping experience.

 

Old Spitalfield Market

The site has played host to a market since 1638 and in 2011 the NABMA awarded it the title of ‘Best Private Market’. Open 7 days a week, Old Spitalfields Market is particularly well known fashion, vintage and food shopping, but is equally considered a strong ‘all-round’ market.

 

Leadenhall Market

Popular with people working in The City, Leadenhall Market primarily sells fresh food but also has a few commercial outlets. Whether or not you are interested in buying something to eat, it is worth a visit for its fantastic aesthetic.

 

Borough Market 

One for the foodies! Borough Market is one of the finest places in London for fresh food and quality produce. Want to really take advantage of that kitchen in your apartments? Then head over to Borough Market for a fantastic selection of ingredients.

 

Eating Out

Whether you want fine dining or a quick lunch, there are many places within The City worth considering. You can find a few of our selections below:

Rhodes Twenty Four- Located on the 24^th floor of Tower 42, Gary Rhodes’ Michelin Star restaurant offers incredible food with fantastic views of the city. If you want to experience fine dining in the heart of London make sure to book in advance of your stay.

1901- Great food and a fantastic dining experience within a period hotel restaurant with a modern twist. Enjoy a fantastic dinner topped off with freshly made cocktails, but make sure to book in advance.

ASTA- Looking for a fast bite on your lunch break? ASTA is located close to Liverpool St. Station and provides freshly made Japanese food for very reasonable prices. I favourite with the local workforce, if you are tired with sandwiches give it a try.

 

Nightlife

The Bathhouse- With a long list of cocktails and a variety of themed evenings which include live music, The Bathhouse has something for everyone. Set within a building with a decadent past, it has recently been refurbished to its former glory and offers a great night out for those staying nearby.

The Gramaphone- This bar and live music venue hosts an array of music acts, from rock music to electro. It operates over two floors so if you don’t like the music downstairs, you can just go and relax in the bar upstairs. It also has an award winning Thai restaurant Monday to Friday!

Vertigo 42- This champagne bar, situated within Tower 42, is a luxurious venue for enjoying a flute of champagne or a delightful cocktail with incredible views of the entire city. Despite not being a restaurant, the exclusivity of this bar means that you must reserve a table beforehand.

 

Gardens

Despite being the heart of one of Europe’s only Mega Cities, The City has several great public gardens should you wish to escape the bustle of London for a while. Check out this website for a list of all of the public gardens in The City, complete with pictures.