The City of London is the oldest part of  London and the beating heart of the United Kingdom's financial and business world. The City of London is distinct from the rest of London due to it's unique history, it has it's own Lord Mayor and it's own police force. 

The modern City developed from a Roman settlement and has been occupied since by Saxons, Normans, Vikings, Lombards, Jews and traders and merchants from all over the world. Look closely and beneath the gleaming high-rise towers  you can find traces of them.  There are very few places in the world with such a dense and rich history which is why it has it's own one year course in order to train Guides in it's complicated geography and complex history.

​

Buildings, Streets and Alleys

​

In the City of London sit some of the most famous buildings in the world: St Paul's Cathedral, The Bank of England and Guildhall. From it's riverbanks you can see the iconic Tower Bridge and you can walk across the famous London Bridge. But it is also home to ancient pubs, mysterious alley ways, Roman temples, medieval churches, the halls of ancient Livery companies and much more. The ghosts of the past are never far away here if you know where to look.

​

People

​

The City of London's history is populated by the famous; Shakespeare lived and worked here, Purcell and Chopin performed in it's buildings, Wren's churches pepper the City and Dickens wrote and drank here. The history of those who worked and built the City are recorded in it's street names: Ironmonger Lane, Mason's Avenue and Bread Street to name a few.

​

Drama

The City of London is a great survivor. It has homed invaders, been burned to the ground by a vengeful queen, suffered a terrible fire, endured plagues, riot, war and aerial and terrorist bombing but it is a phoenix City - always rising from the ashes. It is the home of festivals and ceremonies, sporting events and the world famous Lord Mayor's Show every November.

​

The best way to experience any City is to walk through it. You share it with residents and workers, and you experience the sights and sounds. A guided walk is simply an enjoyable way to do this. At the weekend The City is surprisingly calm compared to other parts of London. At night it is picturesque. There are a surprising number of gardens and hidden corners to be found on an amble through it's streets. And you can never be quite sure what you will encounter there!

​