by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:14th October 2017
Where did that year go…?
You wouldn’t be surprised to know that after leaving my job in the City of London in 2016, following 24 years of working for a Japanese bank, it certainly isn’t the commuting I miss.
Sharing banter with my colleagues was always good fun, and I enjoyed the lunchtime strolls along the Thames, dodging oncoming power joggers, who were taking no hostages in their wake.
However, something about the City of London will always remain with me.
Why not Pin it for later?
Where is City of London?
How to get to City of London
- By Tube
The City of London is crisscrossed by several tube lines and numerous tube stations, but the most central, and the one we would choose, would be Bank on the following lines;
Central
Northern
Waterloo & City
Dockland Light Railway (DLR)
<pDon’t forget if you have a contactless bank card, or a card assigned to your phone you tap and pay with that. (For more check out the TFL site(Transport for London))
Discovering London
Two faces of the citySome may see it just as an anonymous corporate treadmill, and from the outside, it often looks like that.
From early Monday morning until late Friday evening, the city is alive. But come back at the weekend, and you have walked into a completely different world.
Deserted streets of the City of London
Not a suit & tie to be seen, just eerily silent lanes, the odd black cab & shift workers passing through.
This is a great time of the week to discover those otherwise unnoticed little snippets of history and a fantastic time for photography.
Historic London
Square MileBut there are so many things about this square mile that make it so fascinating and will continually bring back lasting memories for me.
Fond Memories
Of course, there are always embarrassing tales that people love to remind you of, but it is also the history that can be found within such a tiny area of London.
Hidden gems in London
Tiny LanesThe intriguing network of lanes that weave their way through the city.
The Quiet Lanes
After working there so long, I was still surprised by this: so many shortcuts through courtyards, alleys, churchyards & passageways.
To the church
Historic lanes
Tube Station Walks
We love to explore London on foot; a great way to break it into bite-sized pieces is to pick an underground station.
Why not browse our posts on tube station walks to find out what we uncovered in different districts?
The quirky side of London
Where are the roads?A fascinating fact about this ‘square mile’, is that you will not come across a single ‘Road’, everything is named, Lane, Street, Hill, Court, Yard, Alley, Passage (I could go on) and more unusual titles like ‘Poultry and Princes’ or ‘Puddle Dock’.
Austin Friars Passage
For more on the unique names and their history then why not check out our post on the 'Names behind some of the Streets of London'
Pudding Lane
We have a little book on our shelves that we sometimes delve into when we're about to hit an area of London.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different regions of London, it's a great resource to help you see what's hidden in plain sight.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves London.
The Heart of the City of London
St Paul’s CathedralI’m actually quite ashamed here, as I passed this magnificent site most days and, more often than not, just took it for granted. Many times, I have stood on the famous steps watching parades or remembrances, but I have not once ventured inside. (Now I have long since lost count of how many cathedrals and churches I have visited around the world).
St Paul's and the telephone booth
A few years ago, the lengthy project to clean the Cathedral was completed, and it now looks stunning.
St Paul’s Cathedral from the roof of One New Change
Did you know?
You can catch a lift free of charge to the top of No.1 New Change and have a stunning unobscured view across St Paul’s Cathedral.
Exploring London
River ThamesAs I touched on above, I love the River Thames. My Dad used to work on the tugs & barges along the river when I was a kid, so it holds deep-rooted feelings & memories for me.
The River at dusk
Obviously, it’s not quite the bustling workhorse it used to be, but there is always something going on to entertain you.
What better way to spend your lunch break than taking a stroll along the riverside in the sunshine, crisscrossing the bridges?
The modern side of London
SkylineThe mixture of old and new makes the City of London quite an iconic skyline. Although the likes of the Gherkin, Heron Tower, Walkie Talkie, Lloyds building & Tower 42 are quite dominant, the historical buildings & monuments are my favourite and the ones I will always be drawn to.
City skyline
Also, there is the Shard of course, but not strictly in the city.
If you've yet to discover London and its ancient history, then let's start planning. I find these DK Eyewitness Travel Guides invaluable. They're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more of those fascinating sites.
You can now grab a recently revised copy of this guidebook, so you won't miss a thing.
A touch of London's history
Every stepThe extraordinary amount of history that can be found in the ‘square mile’ is unbelievable.
Temple Church
Buildings such as the Royal Exchange, Bank of England, Guildhall and even Knights Templar presence can be located nearby the law courts.
The old Stocks Market
In 1666, The Great Fire of London started here in Pudding Lane; unfortunately, this devastated quite a bit of the city.
Barnard's Castle Plaque
However, when you stroll around, keep your eyes open for all the blue plaques commemorating this history.
A City of London Blue Plaque
Where to stay in London
If you want to stay in the heart of the financial district then why not choose the Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s (formerly Grange St. Paul’s), as we did? A short hop from Bank.
There are plenty of choices, why not check out Booking.com for something that suits your requirements?
Something free in London
ChurchyardsA fascination of mine are churchyards, a bit weird I know but interesting nonetheless, and the city has some lovely tranquil hideaways.
St Dunstan’s in the East
Never forgotton, St Dunstan’s in the East
It is amazing that in such a bustling city, there are still places to escape to; my favourites are Postman’s Park in St Martin’s Le-Grand and St Dunstan’s in the East.
Headstones in Postmans Park
Shopping in London
Its Markets - No not its trading marketsAlthough the City of London is not renowned for its fashion shopping, in recent years No.1 New Change has sprung up with its stylish stores. However, it’s the old traditional markets that I love.
St Pauls from One New Change
Leadenhall Market historically sold meat, game & poultry, but now this elegant parade has been revamped and has since been frequented by Harry Potter.
Leadenhall Market
Additionally, there’s Old Billingsgate Fish Market, down by the River Thames. A newer one has since been relocated to Canary Wharf, but Smithfield’s Meat Market is still in full swing during the early hours of the morning in the heart of the city, this market comes alive.
Explore London on foot
If you enjoy finding out a little more about London's districts, take a look at the articles we created for the different regions we've explored, all easily discovered on foot.
Remembering London
Oh, those blurred memoriesNow the City of London wouldn’t be the same without its ‘spit and sawdust’ bars; I know they are few and far between now (those pesky ‘Yuppies’), but I’ve had some interesting evenings over the years.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
I have many memories from evenings (oh, and some lunches) in city pubs, but a girl's to have some secrets, doesn't she?
Old Haunts
My London
Fond FarewellI certainly don’t regret making the career change that I did; it’s just sometimes there are those little things in life you miss and I wish I hadn’t taken it too much for granted.
Tranidtional London
Have You?
Visited any of London’s fascinating districts with so much history, we’d love to hear about them?
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