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.
![The pin image for our post - 'City of London, have I missed you?'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/City-of-London-have-I-missed-you-Pin6.jpg)
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.
![A view along ironmonger lane on a quiet saturday morning in the city of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Deserted-streets-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
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 Mile![Janis's office for 24 years, One Friday Street with its glass frontage, between two brick columns, in the City of London,.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Friday-Street-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-places-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Hidden gems in London
Tiny Lanes![A narrow cobbled passageway in the city of london leading to williamson's tavern](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Quiet-lanes-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
![The view through the medieval saint bartholomew-the-great gatehouse, leading to the saint bartholomew-the-great church in the historic smithfield region of the city of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/To-the-church-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
![The view through the medieval saint bartholomew-the-great gatehouse, leading towards smithfield in the city of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Historic-Lanes-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
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 sign for Austin Friars Passage, on the tiled alleyway, in the city of London.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Austin-Friars-Passage-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![The street sign for Pudding Lane, attached to dark stonework, in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pudding-Lane-streets-of-london-discover-the-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-things-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
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 Cathedral![A red telephone box with saint paul's cathedral in the background in the city of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/St-Pauls-and-the-telephone-booth-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
![St Paul’s Cathedral from the roof of One New Change, St Paul's station, London, England, UK](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/St-Pauls-Cathedral-from-the-roof-of-One-New-Change-free-in-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Did you know?
Exploring London
River Thames![The view from the millennium bridge as we look east to southwark bridge with the shard skyscraper dominating the skyline](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-river-thames-at-dusk-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
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
Skyline![The city of london skyline, with a selection of modern skyscrapers, as seen from tower bridge, including a little of the tower of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/City-Skyline-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
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 step![A column, topped with a Knight Templar, in front of the Templar Church in London's legal district](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Temple-Church-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
![A blue enamel plaque recognising the spot there the ancient Stocks Market stood](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-plaque-to-the-old-Stocks-Market-places-near-bank-tube-station-places-to-see-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![A glazed blue plaque to barnard's castle in the city of london that stood from 1428 until it burnt down in the great fire of london in 1666](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Barnards-Castle-Plaque-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
![A glazed blue plaque to saint bartholomew by the exchange in the city of london demolished 1841](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/A-city-blue-plaque-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
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
Churchyards![The war torn shell of a histroic church in London, with a Christopher Wren designed spire now houses a tranquil garden for all to enjoy.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/St-Dunstans-in-the-East-City-of-London-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![The remains of the outer wall of St Dunstans in the East church which is now a public park in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/St-Dunstans-in-the-East-Reasons-to-love-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
![A selection of historic headstones in the postman's park, next to the memorial to heroic self-sacrifice in the heart of the city of london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Headstones-in-postmans-park-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
Shopping in London
Its Markets - No not its trading markets![The view of St Paul's cathedral reflected in the shops of One New Change](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/St-Pauls-from-One-New-Change-places-near-st-pauls-station-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![A bustling Leadenhall Market, close to Bank Station, at a weekday lunchtime.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Leadenhall-Market-Bank-Station-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Explore London on foot
Remembering London
Oh, those blurred memories![A sign to the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese public house stating it was rebuilt in 1667 (After the Great fire of London)](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ye-Olde-Cheshire-Cheese-city-of-london-places-near-temple-tube-station-places-to-see-london-what-to-visit-in-london-V5.jpg)
![The Ye Olde Watling pub on Watling Street, a traditional tavern, on the historic London to Dover way.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Ye-Olde-Watling-pub-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
My London
Fond Farewell![A selective toned image of a red London Routemaster bus passing 2 red telephone boxes against a Black and White street background.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Traditional-London-Bus-city-of-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-explore-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
Have You?
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