About City The City of London refers to the 'Square Mile' (actually 1.08 square miles) as it is colloquially known. It encompasses the financial heart of London; an area which houses the Stock Exchange where a staggering £12 billion worth of trading takes place every day. And yet, this unashamedly capitalist crucible hides another side. On a weekend, the ancient streets are empty and silent. Here you will find the very heart of London: the original settlement from which it has sprawled. Between the modern offices lies a diaspora of history from the great Victorian edifices of commerce such as the Royal Exchange to the Roman Temple of Minerva on Queen Victoria Street. In between is a dazzling array of churches, many built by Wren as part of his grand scheme to resurrect London after the Great Fire of 1666.