London is the capital of the United Kingdom, a place adorned with history, but did you know that London there are effectively two Londons, Greater London encompassing the whole of the capital and the 2000-year-old City of London? Which is a square Mile originally settled by the Romans.
Entrance to the Tower of London
The City of London is only a small part of Greater London and worth a bit of your time. This area is filled with history dating back as far as Roman Days and quiet spaces and is continually being reinvented with skyscrapers and new places to experience. Walking the streets of London, your day will be full of discovery, and in this post, we will look at the things you can find to make your trip amazing.
What you will find in this post
A Brief History of the City of London
Walk the History of the City of London
A Brief History of the City of London
Tower Bridge
Settled by the Romans in 43AD and developed into a port and commercial hub that they held until the 5th century. In about 200AD, they built the wall around the area refer today as the Square Mile.
The 1600s proved a turbulent time in the City of London. One-third of the population died in 18 months from the great plague in 1665-1666. That puts numbers around 100,000 people.
On Sunday, the 2nd of September 1666, a fire broke out in a bakery in Pudding Lane. Within hours, it spread and continued to burn through the City until Wednesday, the 5th of September, 1666. When the fire was over, almost 85% of London’s population was left homeless, with over 13,000 tightly packed wooden houses and 87 churches, including St Paul’s Cathedral, destroyed.
Rising from the Ashes
The rebuilding of London began almost instantly, and by 1670, 6000 houses were complete; with the drawing up of The Act for the Rebuilding of the City of London and the Rebuilding Commission, a group of six men, three appointed by the Crown, including Christopher Wren, and three chosen by the City, including Robert Hooke the rebuild of the City was in good hands. It took about 30 years to rebuild the City.
Of the 87 churches lost in the fire, Wren played a role in the designs of 53, including the majestic St Pauls’s Cathedral. You can see Sir Christopher Wren’s creations all over Greater London, not just in the City of London.
Much of rebuilt London was brick and stone but still followed much of the original street plan, creating the narrow alleyways we get to explore today.
The 19th century saw The City become a Global FIniacal Powerhouse, but with Brexit, that has changed. Fleet Street has been synonymous with printing since the 1500s, but the 18th century saw the commencement of Newspaper production in the area. Fleet Street was home to much of the British press until the mid-eighties when Murdoch led the exodus to other places.
The City of London Today
Today the square mile is home to about 8,000 residents, with over 500,000 people commuting to work and welcoming the City welcomes around 10 million visitors a year.
As you walk the streets of the City of London, you see street names dating back to Roman times, narrow Alley ways helping capture the closeness of medieval times and a modern city full of skyscrapers standing tall, calling in a new era.
Need to know
Currency: £ Pound sterling (GBP)
A week-long trip for a couple will cost around: £2,088
Correct at the time of publishing and meant as an approximate guide
Weather: Daily highs range from 48°F (9°C) in the winter to 73°F (23°C) in the summer, and weather conditions can fluctuate quite a bit over the course of a day. Light showers and cloudy skies are prevalent throughout the year.
The Longest Daylight months in summer (the days are long in summer (June to September) and short in winter (December to March). With up to about 16:40 hours and short in winter (December to March). With up to about 16:40 hours of daylight in June.
The wettest months can be November and August, with around 64mm and 59mm, respectively, and is lowest months can be March and April, with 37mm each.
Best time to visit: March through May when the temperatures are mild, and the city’s parks are green, Spring and summer are lovely as well, but it is peak season and with that comes higher prices.
The Internets Top 5 Things to Do
In these next few sections, we will look at places that you could include on a visit to the City of London and some tips that could take your exploring to the next level. We will start with the top five places to visit in the City of London as per various pages. I look at copious pages, but this list comes from an average of 7 pages, including trip advisor, city of London pages, blogs and hotel suggestions.
1. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
 Whether you take Photos of the bridge or walk across or over this impressive Bridge, it is always a pleasant object to gaze at. The Tower of London is full of history, construction of the white tower was by William the Conquer in 1066, and a Yoemans tour is a highlight not missed when visiting the Tower Complex. Housed within the Jewel House are the impressive Crown Jewels.
2. St Paul Cathedral
Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire, St Paul’s is an Anglican cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of London. You can tour the Cathedral and climb the dome for impressive views of the Cathedral and the city.
St. Pauls Cathedral London
3. Sky Garden
Experience the City from a unique vantage point; housed in the skyscraper known as the Walkie-Talkie, this a vibrant social space with 360-degree views. Entry is free but ticketed, and you have to book online. At the time of writing, tickets are released three weeks before a date but go quickly.
4. The Roman Amphitheatre
Located in the Basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery. In 1988 the discovery of the only Roman Amphitheatre changed the face of Roman London, and today you can visit for free (they do have an online booking if you want to secure your visit).
5. The Monument to the Great Fire
The Monument of the Great Fire
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, the Monument was built between 1671 and 1677 near where the Fire started in 1666. Today as well as admiring the Monument, for a fee of  £6.00, you climb the 311 stairs to the top for a close-up of the ornate flamed top.
The City of London’s Hidden Gems
If you are anything like me, you find a lot of must-see locations and forget to make time for some just as interesting hidden Gems. Here are 5 Hidden Gems to consider on your next trip to the City of London.
1. Inner Temple, Middle Temple Court and the Temple Church
The Temple Church
The city of London is a maze of beautiful alleys and walkways, and one of my favourite areas to explore is the area around the Temple Church. The Inns of Court is a world of lawyers, Inner Temple and Middle Temple are two of the inns and within the walls of the buildings are legal offices and residents for those wanting to study law.
We first wandered into this area to visit the Temple church. Dating back to 1185 and was built by the Templar knights as their London Base. One of the things to see is the burial sites of the knights.
The Church is usually open Mon–Fri, 10.00 am–4.00 pm. Check the website for openings during your visit.
£5.00 | £3.00 | Free to children, the Inns’ members, Inns and Chambers staff, and their guests.
2. Leadenhall Markets
The entrance to Leadenhall Market
With a history dating back to the 14th century, Leadenhall Market is a beautiful place to visit if you like interesting architecture built during the Victorian Era. Under the cobblestone are ruins of the roman forum and Basilica. Back in the 1400s, it was one of the best places in London to buy eggs, meat, game, grain, poultry and fish. Today this undercover market hall is bursting with a number of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and an award-winning pub.
Public areas of the market are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For shop and restaurant opening hours, check with the specific retailer.
Free to wander around
Monument Underground Station 4min walk
London Fenchurch Street Railway Station 8 min walk
To learn more, check their website.
We visited on a Sunday midmorning; nothing was open, but walking the alleys was so interesting. It was lovely to take our time checking out the beautiful architecture.
3. Postmans Park
The Memorial to Self-Sacrifice in Postman’s Park
This is a beautiful garden in the heart of the City of London. Â This park is made up of three City of London burial grounds – Christchurch Greyfriars, St Leonard Foster Lane, and St. Botolph Aldersgate.
Today it is a lovely place for a break from the city and home to the Memorial of heroic self-sacrifice. The memorial was built by philanthropist GF Watts in 1900 to commemorate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Postman Park gets its name because it was a place the post workers used to have a break. It is still a favourite spot for those who work in the city.
Open 8 am – to 7 pm or dusk (whichever is earliest)
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Free to enter
The closest station is St Pauls Underground
Our visit to this park was lovely, with lots of seats to rest on, and the wall of self-sacrifice was moving and the gardens tranquil. We would recommend making the time to visit this beautiful hidden gem.
4. St Dunstan in the East
St Dunstan in the East
This Wren church ruin has been turned into another beautiful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city of London. Rebuilt after the great fire of 1666 by Christopher Wren and then destroyed during the blitz in WW2, this site was turned into a garden in 1967.
Today you can sit and reflect within the open-air chapel area; the walls are still intact with no roof. It is a beautiful calm garden.
Open 8 am – to 7 pm or dusk (whichever is earliest)
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Free to enter
The closest stations are Monument or Tower Hill
We visited on Easter Sunday morning, and it was beautiful, sitting within the stone walls watching squirrels run around and others enjoying the space.
Vantage points of the City of London
I love walking the streets as much as most of you, but taking the to find other vantage spots gives you a whole other perspective. Here are five options to help get you started.
1. St Pauls Dome
St Paul’s Cathedral in the Afternoon light
Climb the dome of St Pauls, and you get three different experiences. It is 528 steps to get you to the highest point, the Golden Gallery. This gives you a 360-degree view of London and is worth the climb. The stone gallery is another external view and only requires 376 steps. The third option is to go to the internal whispering Gallery, where you get a unique perspective of the interior of St Pauls, which only requires 257 steps.
The Cathedral is usually open for sightseeing visits from Monday to Saturday. The last admission is usually at 4.00 pm.
Costs £20.50 for adults and £9 for kids. This covers the cathedral, crypt and climbing the dome.
I climbed to the top back in 2013 and loved the views from the Golden Gallery.
2. The Monument of the Great Fire
Built as a lasting memorial of the Great Fire of 1666. The 202ft column, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, stands on the piazza between Fish Street Hill and Monument Street.
Climb the iconic 311 steps to the top of The Monument.
09:30-13:00 and 14:00-18:00 (with the last entry at 12:30 and 17:30).
According to the website, Tuesday can be busy with school groups, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Adult (aged 16+): £6.00
Child (aged 5 to 15): £3.00
check the website for current info
3. The Millenium Bridge London Bridge
Even though this vantage point is not technically in the city, it gives you some amazing views from the Thames. Linking St Pauls and Southbank, the Millenium Bridge is a great place for a view back to St Pauls and then looking down the Thames to Tower Bridge.
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Free
St. Pauls Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge
4. Sky Garden
On the Website, Sky Garden claims to have the best views in London and will book out quickly when tickets are released.
Sky Garden is free of charge on weekdays 10 am-6 pm, and weekends 11 am-9 pm.
Entry is free but Ticketed.
Tickets are currently available to book up to three weeks in advance, valid for date time only.
Sky Garden website for more info
5. One New Change’s Roof Terrace
View from One New Change Platform
Due to Maitence, we had trouble getting here on our first day but managed to visit on our last day.
One New Change is a viewing platform that gives you views over the city, but the crown in the jewel is the view of the majestic dome of St Pauls. There is Madison’s bar and restaurant and a sitting area on the same floor, but I think riding the glass elevator revealing St Pauls is a pretty special feature.
Open 6 am until midnight daily.
Free
For more Info, their Website
Walk the History of the City of London
1. The Tower of London
Home to the crown Jewels, the famous ravens and Yoemen. The Tower of London is full of history and relevance for today. Once a place of torture and pain, today it is home to the Crown Jewels and a museum in the White Tower. The Yoemans tour is an experience not to be missed; they really do a fabulous job bringing the history of the Tower and its inhabitants alive.
Mondays and Sundays: 10:00-17:30
Tuesday to Saturday: 09:00-17:30. Last admission: 15:30. Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 15:30.
Adult: £29.90
Child age 5-15: £14.90
2. Roman London, including fragments of the wall, the Baths and the Amphitheatre
Roman Wall Tower Hill
The Romans established a settlement first in what we call the city of London, and there are still places where we can get a glimpse into Romans. Some are free and easy to access, and others are within other buildings.
One of the easiest to see is at Tower Hill above the Tower of London, but the link below will take you on a walk to see more fragments of Roman London.
Check out this website to learn more.
3. Visit some of the churches in the city
St Dunstan in the East Steeple
At the time of the Great Fire, there were over 100 churches in the city of London, Christopher Wren played a hand in getting around 52 built in the rebuild of the area. Today there are 26 Wren churches around the city, not all intact or used for worship, but still worth Visiting.
With such a concentration of churches in a small area, it is easy to find one to check out.
Some of our favourites are St Brides Church, St Dunstans in the East, St Boltophs Aldergate (Connected to Postman’s Park) and the Temple church.
4. Blue Plagues
All around London, you will find plagues Showcasing events, buildings that once existed or famous people who had spent time in the place.
Blue Plague
5. The Temple Bar Monument
At the entrance to the city, you will find the Temple Bar Monument, what a majestic marker declaring you are entering the city.
Did you know that the Monarch has to get ceremonial permission from the Lord Mayor before entering the city, and that is why Queen Victoria is here holding the Orb and sceptre? Well, that is the myth anyway, Queen Elizabeth 1 is believed to have gifted the Lord Mayor a Perl sword. As a monarch passes the Temple bar monument, a ceremony involving the Lord Mayor proclaims the Sovereign’s arrival by offering up the sword’s hilt and that his authority comes under the monarch.
Temple Bar Monument
Museums
We have already mentioned some of the bigger or more well-known museums. Here are three more to consider including on a visit.
3. Dr Johnson House
Dr Johnston is known for compiling his great Dictionary of the English Language. The House is a charming 300-year-old townhouse situated in the heart of mazes of courts and alleys.
Open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 – 5 pm (last entry 4.30 pm).
Adult £9.00
4. Guildhall Art Gallery
The first Guildhall Art Gallery was built in 1885 to display the City of London Corporation’s art collection. The Victorian gallery was almost completely destroyed by fire during an air raid during the Second World War. During the late 1980s
, during the rebuilding of the destroyed area, they discovered the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre. So a visit here gets you great art and a Roman ruin.
Mon to Sun
10:30 am to 4 pm
(Last admission 3:45 pm)
Free to enter
London Red Phone Boxes
5. Bank of England Museum
The Bank of England Museum collection includes archaeology, banknotes, coins, artworks, sculpture, decorative art and social history, spanning over 1,500 years.
Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4.30 pm), and until 8 pm (last entry 7.30 pm) every third Thursday of the month.
Free to visit, with no booking required
Markets
Leadenhall Market
1. Spitalfields Market
Spitalfields Market is one of London’s oldest markets, which comprises independent stallholders offering hand-crafted and hard-to-find pieces.
Mon-Fri 8 am – 11 pm & Sat-Sun 9 am – 11 pm
2. Bricklane Markets
Established in 1888, a bustling flea-markets, offering authentic ethnic street food and household goods along with jewellery stalls and retro fashion boutiques.
Brick Lane, E1
Sundays 10 am to 3 pm
If you are looking for something else, check out this website for more markets.
Our Recommendations
New Change day 3
The city is only a square mile but packed with sites, so set aside at least a day to explore. Below is a map of a walk from the Temple Bar through to the tower of London, taking in some of our favourite stops.
An easy walk to get your exploring started.
Toilets can be hard to find, so if you see one and it has been a while, it could be worth dropping in. We got caught out a couple of times, and having someone busting to go and not being able to find a loo can really stress everyone out.
Check out a London Pass if you have not visited before or if you intend to pay for a few attractions. It is not always worth it, but a little research could save you money and time.
London can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down the pain, not just in the City but in Greater London, there are plenty of free attractions, and being London, they are more often than not amazing and worth your time, many of the above can be viewed for free.
Take the time to learn to navigate the Tube; it is a really good way to get around.
We love London and are never disappointed, and we can always find new things to do if we have a chance to visit on any trip. Over the years, we have had a couple of stopovers on our way home from other destinations, which is a bit like dropping in on a good friend and always looking forward to stopping, even for a quick visit. On these trips, we usually only visit one main destination.
More From Us
We have visited London a total of 5 times in the last ten years. On our last trip over the Easter weekend, we Stayed at the Club Quater St Pauls Hotel and based all our exploring on this central location. Because this was the 5th visit, we could focus on some experiences we had let slide on other visits, and of course, we dropped by some popular places to say hello.
Curious about our time in London? Here is a short post outlining our last visits 3 day Itinerary
Let the adventure begin
Here is part one of our latest visit to the city of London on Youtube
Exploring the City of London and Borough Market
