The City of London and Southwark: the back story

About The City of London and Southwark: the back story

By the ULTIMATE London Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The City of London, the Square Mile, is where London began, and it is now a financial district of towers around Wren’s St Paul’s. Across the river, Southwark has been a place of theatres, inns and markets since Shakespeare’s day.

The Square Mile

The City of London covers roughly the area of the Roman and medieval city. It has its own Lord Mayor and its own police force, and is one of the world’s great financial centres. On weekends it is surprisingly quiet, which makes it a good time to explore.

Churches and towers

After the Great Fire, Wren rebuilt St Paul’s and dozens of churches, many of which survive among the modern towers. The Sky Garden and the terrace of One New Change give sweeping views over the old and new city.

The City has its own Lord Mayor, its own police and two thousand years of history.

Southwark

Across the river, Southwark lay outside the City’s rules, and its Bankside became the home of playhouses such as the Globe. Today Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market and The Shard draw visitors along the riverside walk.

Our advice: cross the Millennium Bridge from St Paul’s to Tate Modern, walk east along Bankside to Borough Market for lunch, and finish with a drink at The George Inn.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The City of London and Southwark: the back story before you go.