The financial heart of London, the City carries great importance for such a relatively small area. Whilst the regeneration of Canary Wharf has rendered the City less important than it once was, it is still the centre of London's financial activity, and guests in City hotels will note the constant rush of suited workers striding along the streets.
The Square Mile
Known as the 'Square Mile', the City of London is home to the oldest local authority in the country. The controversial City of London Corporation operates alongside the 32 London boroughs in the second tier of London government, beneath the Greater London Authority overseen by the Mayor. It contains one of London's most distinctive buildings, the skyscraper at 30 St Mary Axe, more commonly known as The Gherkin. Further skyscrapers with amusing nicknames remain midway through their construction, such as the Helter Skelter, Cheesegrater and Walkie Talkie.
The Bank of England
Known as the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, the Bank of England is very much the heart of the City, and has been since 1694. Of course, its role has changed considerably over time, and it is now most famous for setting the national interest rate and issuing the bank notes that the UK spends every day. The
Bank of England Museum provides a full history and is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm. It is free to visit.
St Paul's Cathedral
While Westminster Abbey is arguably the most popular religious site in London following 2011's Royal Wedding,
St Paul's has had its fair share of the limelight over the years, most notably the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 and the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
Getting to City
Bank is one of the busier tube stations on the London Underground, and its significance is underlined by the special Waterloo & City Line, which runs only between Bank and Waterloo. Bank also serves the Central and Northern Lines, while you can also get off at stops such as Monument and Mansion House on the Circle and District Lines to access the City.
Bank is also the most central stop on the Docklands Light Railway, which runs east to Canary Wharf, London City Airport and Greenwich. Liverpool Street rail station is found in the north of the City, and serves South-Eastern destinations including Stansted Airport.
The current building was completed by Christopher Wren in 1710, after the previous one was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. One of the best features of this new structure is the magnificent Golden Gallery, which offers some of the best views in London.
Hotels in the City
Unsurprisingly, the rich City is full of quality luxury hotels, including
Threadneedles near the Bank of England,
Grange St Pauls and the wonderful
Andaz London, located on top of Liverpool Street station. Visitors also have the option of staying in a pleasant apartment hotel in the City, with choices including
196 Bishopsgate and
The Kings Wardrobe.
City Pubs and Bars
It probably won't surprise you to learn that City bars can be expensive, even by London standards. That said, there are a handful that are worth a visit as you explore the area. City Tavern in particular is nicely located between St Paul's and Bank. Close to Liverpool Street, the intriguingly named Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town offers something completely different, with chic design and bags of character accompanied by delightful food and drink, including a DIY Bloody Mary station. Alternatively, head down to the banks of the Thames and take in popular basement bar
The Witness Box.
City Restaurants
There are many impressive restaurants to choose from in the area, and once again it is possible to find a meal that won't cost the Earth. One of the most noteworthy places is
Barbecoa, a lovely barbecue-themed British eatery part-run by Jamie Oliver that offers magical views of St Paul's Cathedral. Further into the City, Harry's Bar offers an eclectic blend of British and European cuisine in a cosy venue, while The India presents affordable Asian cooking just a short walk from the Bank of England.
City Parking
Be warned - parking in the City will definitely be expensive, so much so that, if your City hotel does not offer parking, it may be best to leave your vehicle in a secure car park elsewhere in London and take public transport to your hotel. If you are set on parking in the area, there are two convenient
NCP options, Aldersgate Street (EC1A 4HY) and Thames Exchange (EC4R 3TB), but these can set you back as much as £30 if you stay longer than three hours.