City of London

The City of London is a unique area in England. People often call it the "Square Mile." This nickname comes from its very small size. It is the smallest city in the United Kingdom by area.

It sits inside the much larger area called Greater London. However, the City remains a separate local government district. It is governed by the City of London Corporation. This group is led by the Lord Mayor of London.

The City serves as the historic heart of the wider London metropolis.

The history of the City began with the Roman Empire. Around AD 43, Roman legions established a settlement named Londinium.

The Romans built a bridge over the River Thames. This bridge turned the city into a major port and a road nexus. Londinium was a busy commercial centre for Roman Britain. It was also a very diverse place. People lived there from North Africa, the Middle East, and continental Europe. At its height, the Roman city had 45,000 to 60,000 inhabitants. To protect the settlement, the Romans built the London Wall between AD 190 and AD 225.

You can still see fragments of this wall today.

After the Romans left Britain in AD 410, the City faced a long decline. The Roman Empire became unstable. The City suffered from raids by Picts, Scots, and Saxons. It also faced problems with plague and fire. Eventually, many Roman public buildings fell into decay. The area became almost entirely uninhabited for a time. The main centre of trade moved west to a settlement called Lundenwic. This area is near the modern-day Covent Garden. The old Roman walled area sat mostly empty during this period.

Anglo-Saxon leaders eventually helped restore the City. King Alfred the Great began reoccupying the old Roman walled area in 886.

He appointed Earl Æthelred of Mercia to oversee it. Alfred rebuilt the old city and made it habitable again. He built quays along the Thames and created a new street plan. This was a major turning point for England. It helped establish the City of London permanently. By the 10th century, the City was very wealthy. The ruler Athelstan permitted eight mints to be established there. This showed how much money flowed through the City.

The Middle Ages brought more changes and more power to the citizens. After the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror reached London. He did not defeat the Londoners, so he eventually crossed the Thames at Wallingford. In 1075, William granted the citizens a special charter. This allowed the City to keep some of its own authority. The City also gained the right to appoint its own sheriffs. By 1215, citizens could directly elect a mayor. The City was organized into 25 ancient wards. Each ward was led by an official called an alderman.

Many of these medieval traditions still exist today.

The City has survived several major fires. The most famous was the Great Fire of London in 1666. There was also a major fire in 1123. After the 1666 fire, people wanted to remodel the streets. They wanted wide boulevards and planned squares. However, most of the old medieval street pattern returned. During this time, the City also became a centre for banking. Sir Thomas Gresham founded the Royal Exchange in 1565.

This provided a place for merchants to do business. Later, the Bank of England moved to its current site in 1734.

The insurance industry also grew here, starting at Lloyd's Coffee House.

Today, the City of London is a global financial powerhouse. It forms a primary central business district alongside Canary Wharf and the West End. It contains famous landmarks like St Paul's Cathedral.

The cathedral was completed in 1708 by Christopher Wren. The area is very crowded with workers. In 2019, over 500,000 people were employed in the City. However, the resident population is much smaller. The 2021 census recorded only 8,583 residents.

This shows how the City functions as a place for work and global trade. It remains a vital link between ancient history and modern finance.