Top Serviced Apartments City of London

A historic financial district, the City of London is where the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange call home. These mighty giants of commerce and economic health are the centre points of the district while the likes of Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London highlight its long history. Meanwhile, modern corporate skyscrapers tower above the medieval alleyways below and affluent workers frequent the array of restaurants and bars dotted throughout. Modern attractions in the area like the Museum of London and the Barbican Arts Centre bring in the tourists every day.

As above, the district is not just the pulse of stocks, dividends and interest rates. It is also an area of astonishing historical landmarks and unmatched culture. Being what most would call “London” from its very foundation in Roman times, it is the main hub of where business and culture come from. Referred to often as “the City” or “the Square Mile”, it has played its role throughout London’s history and funnily enough is a separate county in itself. It is not governed by the Mayor of London and instead is governed by The Lord Mayor of the City of London within the City of London Corporation - the municipal governing body.

As a whole, it blends the best of both worlds of business and leisure as its plethora of sights and amenities are exactly what both parties are looking for; corporate headquarters, historical landmarks, top restaurants and superior Thames views.

History of the City of London

City of London encompasses all the most important sites that have graced the metropolis for millennia. Because of its central point in the history books, it has seen the foundation by the Romans to the plight of the English Civil War, destruction in the Great Fire of London and WWII, and weathered the financial crisis of 2008 and beyond.

London’s history veins four years after Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain. Londinium as it was then called, was founded as a civilian town on the narrow point of the river. This ensured a strategic location for battles and easy access to trade with the rest of Europe.

With the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and its withdrawal from Britain, the city itself followed likewise. But with the arrival of the Saxons, it rose back to its position of dominance - before being sacked by Vikings and weathering more upheavals with royal lineage and more.

When the Normans invaded Britain in 1066, they would radically change London with the additions of the Tower of London as well as the first incarnation of London Bridge. Succeeding centuries would bring the Black Death and the Peasants Revolt, War of the Roses, the Tudors, the English Civil Wars and the execution of Charles I. 

Theatre and literature became part of the city’s appeal thanks to the likes of Samuel Pepys and William Shakespeare, with Charles Dickens following in their footsteps many years later by lending the city a new image that was as grotesque as it was spirited. At the height of the British Empire, this very point of London is where ¼ of the globe was ruled and was the place where many would measure the temperature of the global economy.

More recently, the City of London has been shaped by WWII as well as the move from manufacturing to a service-based economy that has enabled it to thrive in finance and business transactions even more. Today, it is still recognised as one of the key centres of the global economy, alongside its American cousin the Financial District in New York.

Business Life in City of London

As expected from the centre of business and finance, the City of London has business travellers in mind. With estimates of over 1 million workers in this district alone, it is not surprising to see that business and finance are always part of the daily chatter. In fact, about ¾ of the jobs in the City of London are in the financial, professional, and associated business services sectors. So, therefore it has to cater accordingly to eager corporate travellers and workers.

Robust London Underground connections via Bank, Liverpool Street and Aldgate ensure speedy commutes and ease of access to corporate hangouts in the Sky Garden, The Gherkin and others. Most business workers can be seen heading to and fro readily throughout the day as they head to meetings or report back to their headquarters on business developments abroad. At the end of the day, they can all be seen drinking at the local pubs and bars, talking about their big deals or just talking about the big game last night.

As a financial hub, it has major global companies based here that have set up headquarters. These include Aviva, BT Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Old Mutual, Prudential, Schroders, Standard Chartered, and Unilever.

Then there are our corporate apartments that add their own bit to the business life. Each one is furnished with all the amenities that the modern business traveller needs to relax and even work remotely from their spacious serviced apartment if needs be.

 

Facts about the City of London

• The City of London is the oldest region of London but it still does not look old. The reason is that the area was destroyed and rebuilt in 1666 during the Great Fire and after being bombed during WWII. Some of the structures did survive these two devastating events and finding them is quite fascinating.
• It is the centre spot of international foreign exchange dealing. 
• There are more than 350 banks that are home to the UK but most of them are foreign in origin. 
• The City of London is filled with new building constructions everywhere. The leading architects of the world have built most of them.

Facts About the City of London 

The City of London is the top area for business travellers, and as such, the top facts are all business-related. Given that this is the home of the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, this is hardly surprising.

Below are 10 facts that guests should know before they arrive:

• The City of London can trade with the Eastern Hemisphere in the morning and the Western Hemisphere in the afternoon, allowing it to trade in all major markets in one day
• Though it is the oldest part of London, the City doesn’t look very old because it has been destroyed and rebuilt twice 
• About a quarter of the buildings are replaced every 25 years or so
• Before 1980, any bank operating in the City of London had to have an office within 10 minutes walk of the Bank of England
• The Bank of England was devised by a Scot, William Patterson, and its first Governor was a Frenchman, John Houblon
• Some of the City’s most famous institutions started out in coffee houses at the end of the 17th century
• Over one hundred Livery Companies have once existed even when the trades they represented vanished from the City
• There used to be more international telephone calls made from the City of London than anywhere else in the world
• Over 40% of all the world’s foreign exchange transactions used to be made in the City (2019).

Things to Do in the City of London 

When guests have settled into their serviced apartment, they can then think about what to do next. The City of London might look more business-oriented than other parts of the city, but there are more attractions here than what most would think possible. The Q&A below can point new travellers in the right direction:

Q.1 What are the most popular things to do in the City of London?

Some of the most popular things to do in the City of London are:

• Go to St Paul’s Cathedral
• Visit the Barbican Centre
• Walk around the Museum of London
• Take a glance at the Bank of England
• Get a selfie with the Gherkin
• Go to Trinity House
• Find out about Samuel Johnson at Dr Johnson’s House
• Take a selfie at the Monument
• Head to the Leadenhall Market
• Go to the Temple Church
• Walk across Millennium Bridge

Q.2 What is the best way to spend a day in the City of London?

Here’s how you should spend a day in the City of London:

• Go to St Paul’s Cathedral before the crowds pile up
• Take in the hustle and bustle outside the Bank of England
• Get a quick snack somewhere
• Head to the Museum of London and take in a bit of history
• Take that important selfie with The Gherkin
• Head to Leadenhall Market and see what’s on offer
• Get a snap of The Monument
• Have a spot of dinner before it gets dark
• Go to a show at the Barbican Centre in the evening
• Take a moonlit stroll across Millennium Bridge

Places to Visit in the City of London 

With the City of London being an essential neighbourhood of business, there are naturally going to be the likes of the Bank of England and The Gherkin. However, guests can also find cultural attractions here as well that can help them to pass the time and really understand the diverse and essential character of London. 

Here are a few:

• St Paul’s Cathedral - One of the most recognisable attractions in London, this is one of the pivotal sights in the whole city
• Barbican Centre - Music, theatre and film can be enjoyed here, with various events taking place throughout the week
• Museum of London - See the evolution of London throughout the centuries from ancient times right through to modern
• The Gherkin - 180m high, this is one of the key buildings in the city and one of the city’s top examples of modern architecture 
• Leadenhall Market - A covered market, many goods and trinkets can be found here to brighten up any visit to the city
• Bank of England - Established in 1694, the Bank of England controls the monetary and fiscal policy of the UK
• Temple Church - Built by the Knights Templar as their headquarters, this is a great trip through the history
• Millennium Bridge - One of the many bridges in London, this is a nice walk at any kind of day   
• Dr Johnson’s House - Samuel Johnson’s home grants a fascinating insight into the lexicon’s life
• The Monument - Built to honour the dead and the devastation of the great fire of London in 1666, it is now a key selfie to have on any London visit

Places to Eat in the City of London 

There are many restaurants to eat in here. With business leaders and top players settling deals over dinner every day, there is naturally going to be a diverse and varied selection that are highly-priced but also fair (depending on the needs of the restaurant). The below can help guests out if they are a little confused about where to go for a bite.

Q.1 What are the best restaurants in the City of London?

The 10 best restaurants in the City of London are:

• Angler
• Beany Green
• Blacklock City
• Bleecker
• Cabotte
• City Caphe
• City Social
• Coppa Club

Q.2 What is the City of London’s cheaper dining options?

Those looking for cheaper places to eat in the City of London should go to:

• Abu Zaad
• Ariana II
• Bao
• Gourmet Goat
• Baoziinn Romilly Street
• Bánh Bánh
• Berber & Q Shawarma Bar
• Bibimbap
• Bleecker St

Shopping in the City of London 

A business centre it may be but there are still places to shop in the area. From independent boutique stores to a few scattered shopping centres, there’s something for everyone here. Some of the shopping highlights include:

• One New Change 
• The Royal Exchange
• City of London Jewellers
• Oliver Sweeny
• Hays Galleria
• J.W Hooke
• Taylor & Hart

Transportation in the City of London 

Getting around London is easy. With the likes of the London Underground, London Overground, DLR and TfL Rail services, exploring the city and its surrounding couldn’t be more convenient. 

With the City of London, there are substantial connections that will get travellers all across the city, with some stations having access to multiple lines and networks, like:

• Moorgate
• Barbican
• Liverpool Street
• Aldgate
• Bank
• Monument
• Cannon Street
• Blackfriars
• St Paul’s

Travelling around London though isn’t free. An oyster card is the best bet; all visitors need to do is touch in and out at the start and end of their journey. But to get the most out of London, it’s best to at least get a Zone 1-2 card even though the City of London is in Zone 1:

• Single journey ticket (zone 1-2) around - £6.30
• Oyster/Contactless payment card (zone 1-2) - £3.20

Plus, with TheSqua.re’s The city of London serviced apartments, guests are assured and delivered to a central location that gives them easy access to the London Underground.

Weather in the City of London 

The most perfect time to visit the City of London is between June to August. It is a time of mixed weather, where it rains and then becomes pleasantly sunny throughout the summer. This type of weather is ideal for sightseeing, enjoying music festivals, outdoor attractions like rooftop bars, gardens, and parks, and doing other fun activities. The area gets frequent rain and summers are warm with July and August being the sunniest months of the year.