The City of London is the oldest and most historic part of town. Founded by the Roman 2,000 years ago there plenty to discover, but it’s not all old. The City is a dynamic district where London makes a big wad of its cash, so there’s plenty of new, exciting things to find too!

City of London

  • Brabant Court | Look Up London

    History of Brabant Court

    If you’ve ever visited the Sky Garden, you probably queued alongside Philpot Lane. Just off this street is a tempting little dead end called Brabant Court and if you walk through you’ll find a surprising 18th Century building! History of Brabant Court Brabant Court can......

  • The Old St Paul's Chapter House | Look Up London

    Lost London: The Old St Paul’s Chapter House

    As a tour guide, you tend to try and focus on what you can actually see around London. So this week’s blog is a little odd in that it’s all about something that no longer exists. Happily though, there are clues which aid our imagination.......

  • Idol Lane City Bollard | Look Up London

    A Peculiar City Bollard on Idol Lane

    I might have reached peak geek with this blog post but I’m very happy about it. Along Idol Lane – right by the gorgeous St Dunstan-in-the-East Garden – you can find an extravagant bollard. Not only is it decorated with the City of London crest......

  • Lincoln's Inn Chapel | Look Up London

    Visit Lincoln’s Inn Chapel

    To enter Lincoln’s Inn is to walk into another world. It’s hard to believe this quiet little enclave is right in the middle of London and best of all, during the week anyone is welcome to walk through. The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn is......

  • Christ’s Hospital | A City Institution for 350 Years

    Close to St Paul’s tube station you can find the wonderful garden of Christchurch Greyfriars, set within the former church that was gutted during The Blitz. The church has its own fascinating history, but on the left hand side there’s a curious blue sculpture which......

  • History of Orange Street, Westminster | Look Up London

    Hidden History on Orange Street, Westminster

    Orange Street doesn’t look very historic at first glance. The narrow Westminster street lies between the National Gallery and Leicester Square but there’s a lot more to see than you might guess. Firstly, it was only known as Orange Street from 1905, a reference to......

  • City Churches | St Margaret Lothbury | Look Up London

    City Churches | St Margaret Lothbury

    Nestled behind the Bank of England you can find St Margaret Lothbury. It’s easy to miss, hemmed in by other buildings, but if open it’s well worth popping in to admire its treasures and history. (I’ve previously written about the beautiful Italianate building next door,......

  • Trinity House | Look Up London

    Trinity House | Inside the Corporation with a 500-year History

    Have you admired this dolls house-esque building on Tower Hill? This is Trinity House, an institution whose history stretches back to 1514, based here since 1794. What is Trinity House? Today Trinity House is a charity and its primary concern is the safety of shipping......

  • The Medieval Priory in an Aldgate Office Block | Look Up London

    The Medieval Priory in an Aldgate Office Block

    Transport a 12th century monk to Aldgate today and there’s very little that they’d recognise. However inside this office block you can find a tiny part of an epic Medieval Priory where they’d feel right at home! If you’re passing 77 Leadenhall Street, peer through......

  • History of Bunhill Fields | Look Up London

    The History of Bunhill Fields

    Today Bunhill Fields is a wonderful slice of calm alongside the busy Old Street roundabout. But its history is macabre, curious and full of surprises. History of Bunhill Fields Its name is a derivation of bone hill, literally where cartloads of bones from St Paul’s......

  • The History of Temple Bar

    Standing in the shadow of St Paul’s, this stone arch often gets overlooked. However Temple Bar is not only older than the current Cathedral, but it was designed by the same architect! Its history is a strange (and sometimes gruesome) tale… First things first. This......

  • See a Chunk of the Roman Wall under Vine Street

    If there’s one certainty in the City of London, it’s change. Historic fires and bombs coupled with modern development means the Square Mile is in a constant state of flux. But often this means that older history is revealed anew, like this chunk of Roman......

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