London is so big that there are multiple areas which make up the entire city. Confusingly, one of those neighbourhoods is referred to as ‘The City’, but is actually only one small area of London. It’s the bit right at the heart, which was where the Romans started Londinium all those years ago.
The City of London is arguably London’s most historic neighbourhood and home to some of it’s absolute must see sites, including The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. You could easily spend 2 days exploring just this small neighbourhood of a few square miles, and it’s worth at least a day on your London Itinerary.
Contents
- Contents
- Where is The City of London?
- Things to do in The City of London
- Where to stay in The City of London
- More Information
Where is The City of London?
The City of London makes up the heart of the city’s foundation, dating all the way back to Roman Londinium. It encompasses the area from the Tower of London in the east to around Blackfriars in the west, and lies on the north side of the River Thames. It is home to one major rail station, Liverpool Street, and multiple overground and underground station stops including Blackfriars, City Thameslink and Fenchurch Street.
It borders Shoreditch to the east, Southwark and South Bank to the south, Bloomsbury and King’s Cross, and Clerkenwell to the north – making it a perfect spot as a base for exploring the capital!
Things to do in The City of London
The Tower of London
Full Post: HERE
Without doubt one of the most famous attractions in all of England, The Tower of London is absolutely the highlight of a visit to The City, and the capital more broadly. It needs at least half a day to see it and take in everything from the Crown Jewels to the Museum to the grounds, and you can read more about what to see and do there in the post linked above.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed bridge, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones. It’s one of the landmarks of the city, and a visit can be more than just walking across it. You can also enter inside the bridge, and from the high-level walkways, take in stunning panoramic views and experience the views to the river through the glass floors.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Full Post: HERE
One of the area’s most famous residents is the incredible St Paul’s Cathedral. The St Paul’s you see today was designed and built in the 1600-1700s, arguably Christopher Wren’s most famous masterpieces with the creation of the iconic domed roof. Since its original build, the Cathedral has seen so much history. From the burial of military heroes like Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, to Martin Luther King speaking here in the 1960s, to Charles and Diana’s wedding, Churchill’s funeral and peace services after both World Wars. The Cathedral was also bombed during WW2, but has since been restored and cleaned to how it would have been, in all its magnificent glory.
You can tour the Cathedral, and it’s really worth an hour or so of your time if you have the time.
St Dunstan in the East
One of my absolute favourite spots in The City is St Dunstan in the East, an old Church which was destroyed in World War Two. The roof is blown off and the windows long gone, but the structure of the church remains and has been converted in to a park area with benches. I often come here to eat my lunch and I really recommend walking through it if you’re in the area.
Sky Garden
The awesome London spots keep rolling in this area – just a short walk away from St Dunstan in the East is the magnificent Sky Garden, a beautiful viewing deck out across London full of plants and gardens, and housing a bar, casual restaurant and very posh restaurant. I’ve eaten in both and the food is also really good quality. Even better, you can get tickets to the top for free if you book online in advance!
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market is one of my favourite places to grab some lunch in the City – it’s a beautiful covered market dating back to the 1300s, and it stands at the spot of what was the centre of Roman London. You can even step inside the Lamb Tavern, a pub dating back to 1780 within the market. Perfect for a pint, and where I met lovely blogging friend Tricia from Travels Through My Lens!
Monument
Monument is, well, a massive Monument paying tribute to those that died in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and is strikingly now sitting between modern buildings. You can also climb to the top of the Monument by taking a 300+ stepped winding staircase to the top for panoramic views of London. It’s quite fun, and a good way to burn off some calories.
The Garden at 120
The Garden at 120 is a new discovery for me, having read about it on a blog a few months back. I went to check it out and absolutely loved it – get there while it’s still free! Entering from ground level, you pass through a security check before heading in to a lift and up to the top. The garden itself is still relatively unknown and is a perfect place for a picnic lunch with some epic views across the city.
Bank of England Museum
The Bank of England is one of the most iconic buildings in London, and serves as the central bank of the UK, established in 1694. It’s the world’s oldest bank and one of the coolest things to see and do in the City is to step inside and learn more about its history. You can even hold a real gold bar (it’s surprisingly heavy!)
London Guildhall
Home of the City of London Corporation, Guildhall Great Hall has been the centre of City government since the Middle Ages. The building dates from 1411 and houses 27m high ceilings and a cathedral-like ambience, and sits on top of London’s largest medieval crypts. During the turmoil of the Reformation, peers, an archbishop and a queen were tried here for treason and it’s been the setting for the pomp and circumstance of state and mayoral occasions since 1502.
You can only visit the Guildhall on a guided tour, via tickets sold on the official website.
Other
There are lots of other things to see and do in The City, including:
- The Gherkin – one of the most famous buildings in London which you could visit for a fancy lunch or dinner
- Open House London – Open House London is one of my favourite hidden gems in the capital. It’s not a place, but a company based in the City which offers ‘tours behind closed doors’ – you’re able to book a number of regular tours with them, and also enter ballots for special free tours of buildings like 10 Downing Street, the BBC and more. There are hundreds of options, so be sure to click to ‘Neighbourhoods’ on the home page so you can explore – HERE.
- St Giles Cripplegate – a beautiful church restored in its original Gothic style.
- Barbican Centre – a great spot to catch a movie, talk, event, concert or art show, the Barbican is a cool cultural venue. Check to see what’s on during your stay as there is sometimes some really great stuff available.
- Swingers Crazy Golf – my favourite crazy golf course in the city, Swingers is a lot of fun with circuses, windmills and lots more themes to enjoy.
Where to stay in The City of London
The City of London is probably not the tourist capital for hotels, with relatively fewer hotel offerings that most London areas. As it’s a business district, the hotels tend to be slightly more tailored to business travellers, but it does mean some great deals on some really upmarket hotels do become available. It’s also more quiet and due to its location, any hotel with a rooftop will give you amazing views. Some great options include:
- The Pan Pacific – a lovely modern hotel with a luxurious spa
- Canopy by London Hilton – one of my favourite Hilton offerings in London, with a glorious rooftop terrace
- CitizenM Tower of London – for an amazingly priced hotel in a prime location
- Batty Langley’s – pushing the boundary of the area on to the border with Shoreditch is a new hotel, recently voted one of the 50 best new hotels in the world. It’s easy to see why, inspired by historic London Georgian design and architecture, complete with four poster beds.
More Information
If you’re interested in a longer London stay then check out my full London Itinerary Guide.
If you’re interested in more London areas then check out my full Neighbourhood Guide (post coming soon), or some individual area posts:
So what do you think of the South Bank? Hopefully this post gives you some incentive to spend a bit more time on the South Bank though! Stay safe and happy travelling.
Saasdia Travel Gid
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