Area Guide, City of London

The City of London in a nutshell - a quick corporate guide

The City of London - often referred to as the Square Mile - is a global financial powerhouse, ranked only alongside New York and Tokyo. The City is home to the London Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London and the Bank of England, as well as more than 500 national and international banks with established leads in areas such as Eurobonds, foreign exchange markets, energy futures and global insurance. It attracts more than 300,000 workers to it every day - that's more than 30 times the number of its resident population.

History

The City has had its roots in trade since Roman times, an identity which was consolidated in Medieval times, when the nearby town of Westminster became the royal capital and centre of government, and the city's interests polarised towards commerce and trade. It has had a fascinating and turbulent history, surviving some 16 outbreaks of plague between 1348 and 1665, the Great Fire of London in 1666, and heavy bombings during World War II. The City has boomed since the deregulation of the UK financial markets in 1986 (also known as Big Bang).

Transport

The City is easily accessible by:

Air - London City Airport is just six miles away, providing quick access to European cities, while London's three main airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - are all within easy reach.

Boat - The City can be accessed from the River Thames, with piers located at Blackfriars in the west and Tower Hill in the east.

Train - Mainline train stations in the City are Liverpool Street and London Bridge, with other overland stations at Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street, Farringdon, Blackfriars, Moorgate and Old Street.

Tube - There are no less than 14 underground stations within the Square Mile, with the Waterloo & City Line, Central, Metropolitan, Circle, District and Northern Lines all running through it.

Bus - Countless bus routes run through the City, at all times of the day and night.

Pubs and clubs

Back in the early 14th century, there were more than 350 taverns in the City, although many of these were lost in the Great Fire of 1666.  Today, some of the oldest surviving pubs include Ye Olde Watling (29 Watling Street, EC4) and the Old Bell (95 Fleet Street, EC4) - both of which claim to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren.  The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, by the River Thames, dates back to 1543, while The Olde Cheshire Cheese (145 Fleet Street, EC4), although only built in 1667, is known to be on the site of The Horn, which dates back to 1538, and before that, cellars dating back to a 13th century monastery.  Or for an “out of hours” beer, Smithfield Market is worth a visit, with pubs like the Fox & Anchor in Charterhouse Street, which open for the early morning market traders, from 6am.

While the West End tends to predominate for nightlife, a few clubs have sprung up in the City in recent years, including Fabric in Charterhouse Square.

Where to eat

With hundreds of pubs, restaurants, sandwich shops and bars in the City, all tastes and budgets are catered for in the Square Mile.

At the City's eastern boundary runs Brick Lane, a vibrant market area which is home to a mass of Bangladeshi curry houses, many of which allow customers to bring their own beer.  At the haute cuisine end of the market, the City has three Michelin-starred restaurants; Rhodes 24, at Tower 42, EC2, 1 Lombard Street, EC3 and Club Gascon, 57 Smithfield, EC1.

Where to sleep

A number of hotels have grown up in the City recently, aimed largely at the business user.  These include: the Andaz Liverpool Street, the former Great Eastern Hotel by Liverpool Street station, and now a luxury, five-star hotel owned by the Hyatt Group; Threadneedles, the city boutique hotel, another five-star hotel renowned for its modern chic interiors, and the 4-star Malmaison hotel in Smithfield.   Two hotels to the east of the City offer different styles of accommodation; namely the Premier Inn at Tower Hill and the Tower Hotel in St Katharine's Way, E1, with its magnificent views over the River Thames and St Katherine's Dock.

What to do

From mainstream sightseeing attractions including the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral, to mysterious backstreet tours of Jack the Ripper's London, or learning about London's history at the Museum of London, there is more to the Square Mile than just its business persona.

Shoppers have historically headed to London's West End, although retail is increasing in the City. Leadenhall Market, a restored Victorian covered market, sells some of the best poultry, game, fish and meat in London, while the Royal Exchange houses a number of luxury retailers including Mont Blanc and Tiffany's.  Day-to-day shopping needs are catered for principally along Cheapside and around Liverpool Street and Broadgate, with a House of Fraser department store located in King William Street, London EC4.

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