View source for City of London

{{short description|Central business district of London, England}}
{{about|the district within London|the capital city of England and the UK|London|other uses|City of London (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|The Square Mile|other uses|Square mile (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = City of London
| settlement_type    = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]], [[Counties of England|ceremonial county]], [[Districts of England|local government district]] and [[central business district]]
| motto = {{force singular}} {{native name|la|Domine Dirige Nos|parensize=90%}}<br /> "O Lord Direct us"<br /> (motto of [[City of London Corporation]])
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
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 | perrow              = 2/2/2
 | total_width         = 280
 | caption_align       = center
 | image1  = Bank_junction_-_2020-09-20_(2).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Bank Junction]]
 | image2 = 30 St Mary Axe from Leadenhall Street.jpg
 | caption2 = [[The Gherkin]]
 | image3 = Guildhall, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 139.JPG
 | caption3 = [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]]
 | image4 = Paternoster Square.jpg
 | caption4 = [[London Stock Exchange]]
 | image5 = St Paul's Cathedral Dome from One New Change - Vertical Crop.jpg
 | caption5 = [[St Paul's Cathedral]]
 | image6 = London city (21).jpg
 | caption6 = [[Leadenhall Market]]
 }}
| image_flag         = Flag of the City of London.svg
| flag_link          = Flag of the City of London
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of The City of London.svg
| shield_link        = Coat of arms of the City of London
| image_map          = City of London in Greater London.svg
| map_caption        = Location within [[Greater London]]
| nicknames          = the Square Mile, the City
| subdivision_type   = Status
| subdivision_name   = ''{{lang|la|[[Sui generis]]}}''; [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] and [[counties of England|ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Greater London|London]]
| established_title  = [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement
| established_date   = {{circa|47 AD}} (''{{lang|la|[[Londinium]]}}'')
| established_title2 = [[Kingdom of Wessex|Wessex]] resettlement
| established_date2  = 886 AD (''{{lang|ang|[[Anglo-Saxon London|Lundenburg]]}}'')
| parts_type         = [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|Wards]]
| parts_style        = coll
| parts              = {{nobold|[[Wards of the City of London|25 wards]]}}
| p1                 = [[Aldersgate]]
| p2                 = [[Aldgate]]
| p3                 = [[Bassishaw]]
| p4                 = [[Billingsgate]]
| p5                 = [[Bishopsgate]]
| p6                 = [[Bread Street]]
| p7                 = [[Bridge (City of London ward)|Bridge]]
| p8                 = [[Broad Street (ward)|Broad Street]]
| p9                 = [[Candlewick (ward)|Candlewick]]
| p10                = [[Castle Baynard]]
| p11                = [[Cheap (ward)|Cheap]]
| p12                = [[Coleman Street]]
| p13                = [[Cordwainer (ward)|Cordwainer]]
| p14                = [[Cornhill, London|Cornhill]]
| p15                = [[Cripplegate]]
| p16                = [[Dowgate]]
| p17                = [[Farringdon Within]]
| p18                = [[Farringdon Without]]
| p19                = [[Langbourn]]
| p20                = [[Lime Street (ward)|Lime Street]]
| p21                = [[Portsoken]]
| p22                = [[Queenhithe]]
| p23                = [[Tower (ward)|Tower]]
| p24                = [[Vintry]]
| p25                = [[Walbrook]]
| governing_body     = [[City of London Corporation]]
| leader_title       = [[Lord Mayor of London|Lord Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Susan Langley]]
| leader_title1      = [[Town Clerk of London|Town Clerk]]
| leader_name1       = [[Ian Thomas (town clerk)|Ian Thomas]]
| leader_title2      = Admin HQ
| leader_name2       = [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]]
| leader_title3      = [[London&nbsp;Assembly]]
| leader_name3       = [[Unmesh Desai]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]; [[City and East (London Assembly constituency)|City and East]])
| leader_title4      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|UK Parliament]]
| leader_name4       = [[Rachel Blake]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]; [[Cities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Cities of London and Westminster]])
| total_type         = City
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| population_as_of   = {{United Kingdom statistics year}}
| population_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total   = {{English district population|ONS=00BK|GSS=E09000001}}
| population_rank    = {{English district rank|ONS=00BK|GSS=E09000001}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
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| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = ±00:00
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
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| coordinates        = {{coord|51|30|56|N|00|05|35|W|region:GB-LDN_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use tags-->
| elevation_min_m    = 0
| elevation_max_m    = 21
| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcodes]]
| postal_code        = [[EC postcode area|EC]], [[WC postcode area|WC]], [[E postcode area|E]]
| area_code          = 020
| geocode            = {{ubl|{{gbmappingsmall|TQ32488134}} ([[British national grid reference system|Grid ref.]])|00AA ([[ONS coding system|ONS]])| E09000001 ([[GSS coding system|GSS]])}}
| website            = {{URL|https://cityoflondon.gov.uk}}
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories|Police]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = [[City of London Police]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Patron saint]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Paul the Apostle|St. Paul]]
| footnotes          = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
| blank_info_sec1    = GB-LND
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}}

The '''City of London''' (often known as '''the City''' or '''the Square Mile''') is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]], [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] and [[Districts of England|local government district]] in [[England]]. Established by [[Roman Britain|the Romans]] around 47 AD as ''[[Londinium]]'', it forms the [[Old town|historic centre]] of the wider [[London]] metropolis. Surrounded by the modern ceremonial county of [[Greater London]], from which it remains separate, the City is a unique local authority area governed by the [[City of London Corporation]], which is led by the [[Lord Mayor of London]]; although it forms part of the [[Regions of England|region]] governed by the [[Greater London Authority]].

Nicknamed ''the Square Mile'', the City of London has an area of {{convert|1.12|sqmi|acre km2|2|abbr=on}}, making it the [[List of smallest cities in the United Kingdom|smallest city in the United Kingdom by area]]. It had a population of 8,583 at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=How life has changed in the City of London: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E09000001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012032347/https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E09000001 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{NOMIS2021|id=E09000001|title=City of London|accessdate=30 January 2024}}</ref> however over 500,000 people were employed in the area as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics about the City – City of London |url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/economic-research-and-/Pages/economic-statistics.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828214510/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/economic-research-and-information/Pages/economic-statistics.aspx |archive-date=28 August 2019 |access-date=26 July 2019 |website=www.cityoflondon.gov.uk}}</ref><ref name="GLA">{{cite book |author=Greater London Authority |author-link=Greater London Authority |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/londons-cbd-jan08.pdf |title=London's Central Business District: Its global importance |date=January 2008 |isbn=978-1-84781-109-7 |page=6 |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121145721/https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/londons-cbd-jan08.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Together with [[Canary Wharf]] and the [[West End of London|West End]], the City of London forms the primary [[central business district]] of London, which is one of the leading [[financial centre]]s of the world. The [[Bank of England]] and the [[London Stock Exchange]] are both based in the City. The [[insurance]] industry also has a major presence in the area, and the presence of the [[Inns of Court]] on the City's western boundary has made it a centre for the [[legal profession]].

The present City of London constituted the majority of London from its [[Londinium|settlement by the Romans]] in the 1st century AD to the [[Middle Ages]], with only areas within its boundaries being considered London until expansion. It contains several historic sites, including [[St Paul's Cathedral]], the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]], [[Mansion House, London|Mansion House]], [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]], the [[Old Bailey]], [[Smithfield Market]], the [[Monument to the Great Fire of London]], and the remains of the ancient [[London Wall]].

==History==
{{Main|History of London}}

===Origins===
{{Main|Londinium}} 
[[File:Horned helmet.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Waterloo Helmet]], {{Circa|150}}–50 BC, found in the [[River Thames]]]]
[[File:London Wall fragment.jpg|thumb|left|A surviving fragment of the London Wall, built around AD 200, close to [[Tower Hill]]]]
The Roman legions established a settlement known as "Londinium" on the current site of the City of London around AD 43. Its bridge over the River Thames turned the city into a [[#Road|road nexus]] and major [[#Port|port]], serving as a major commercial centre in [[Roman Britain]] until its abandonment during [[#5th century|the 5th century]]. Archaeologist Leslie Wallace notes that, because extensive archaeological excavation has not revealed any signs of a significant [[Prehistoric Britain#Late pre-Roman Iron Age (LPRIA)|pre-Roman]] presence, "arguments for a purely Roman foundation of London are now common and uncontroversial."<ref name="Wallace">{{cite book |last1=Wallace |first1=Leslie |title=Late pre-Roman Iron Age (LPRIA) |date=2015 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-107-04757-0 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gbMkBQAAQBAJ&q=pre-roman+london&pg=PA9 |access-date=16 February 2018}}</ref>

At its height, the Roman city had a population of approximately 45,000–60,000 inhabitants. Londinium was an ethnically diverse city, with inhabitants from across the Roman Empire, including natives of Britannia, [[continental Europe]], the Middle East, and North Africa.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34809804 |title=DNA study finds London was ethnically diverse from start |first=Pallab |last=Ghosh |work=[[BBC News]] |date=23 November 2015 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023225005/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34809804 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Romans built the London Wall some time between AD 190 and 225. The boundaries of the Roman city were similar to those of the City of London today, though the City extends further west than Londinium's [[Ludgate]], and the Thames was undredged and thus wider than it is today, with Londinium's shoreline slightly north of the City's present shoreline. The Romans built a bridge across the river, as early as AD 50, near to today's London Bridge.

===Decline===
By the time the London Wall was constructed, the City's fortunes were in decline, and it faced problems of plague and fire. The Roman Empire entered a long period of [[Decline of the Roman Empire|instability and decline]], including the [[Carausian Revolt]] in Britain. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the City was under attack from [[Picts]], Scots, and [[Saxons|Saxon]] raiders. The decline continued, both for Londinium and the Empire, and in AD 410 the Romans withdrew entirely from Britain. Many of the Roman public buildings in Londinium by this time had fallen into decay and disuse, and gradually after the formal withdrawal the City became almost (if not, at times, entirely) uninhabited. The centre of trade and population moved away from the walled Londinium to [[Lundenwic]] ("London market"), a settlement to the west, roughly in the modern-day [[Strand, London|Strand]]/[[Aldwych]]/[[Covent Garden]] area.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

===Anglo-Saxon restoration===
{{Main|Anglo-Saxon London}}
During the Anglo-Saxon [[Heptarchy]], the London area came in turn under the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Essex|Essex]], [[Mercia]], and later [[Wessex]], though from the mid 8th century it was frequently under threat from raids by different groups including the [[Vikings]].

[[Bede]] records that in AD 604 [[Augustine of Canterbury|St Augustine]] consecrated [[Mellitus]] as the first bishop to the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom of the [[East Saxons]] and their king, [[Sæberht of Essex|Sæberht]]. Sæberht's uncle and overlord, [[Æthelberht of Kent|Æthelberht]], king of [[Kingdom of Kent|Kent]], built a church dedicated to St Paul in London, as the seat of the new bishop.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bede |author-link=Bede |title=Ecclesiastical History of the English People |place=Oxford |publisher=Clarendon |year=1969 |editor-last=Colgrave |editor-first=Bertram |editor2-last=Mynors |editor2-first=R. A. B. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bedesecclesiasti0000bede/page/142 142–3]|title-link=Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum }}</ref> It is assumed, although unproven, that this first Anglo-Saxon cathedral stood on the same site as the later medieval and the present cathedrals.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

[[Alfred the Great]], [[King of Wessex]] occupied and began the resettlement of the old Roman walled area, in 886, and appointed his son-in-law [[Earl Aethelred of Mercia|Earl Æthelred of Mercia]] over it as part of their reconquest of the Viking occupied parts of England. The refortified Anglo-Saxon settlement was known as ("London Fort", a [[borough]]). The historian Asser said that "Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, restored the city of London splendidly&nbsp;... and made it habitable once more."<ref>Asser's ''Life of King Alfred'', ch. 83, trans. Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge, ''Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred & Other Contemporary Sources'' (Penguin Classics) (1984), pp.&nbsp;97–8.</ref> Alfred's "restoration" entailed reoccupying and refurbishing the nearly deserted Roman walled city, building quays along the Thames, and laying a new city street plan.<ref>[[Alan Vince|Vince, Alan]], ''Saxon London: An Archaeological Investigation'', The Archaeology of London series (1990).</ref>

Alfred's taking of London and the rebuilding of the old Roman city was a turning point in history, not only as the permanent establishment of the City of London, but also as part of a unifying moment in early England, with Wessex becoming the dominant English kingdom and the repelling (to some degree) of the Viking occupation and raids. While London, and indeed England, were afterwards subjected to further periods of Viking and Danish raids and occupation, the establishment of the City of London and the [[Kingdom of England]] prevailed.<ref>''London: The Biography'', 2000, [[Peter Ackroyd]], p.&nbsp;33–35</ref>

In the 10th century, [[Athelstan]] permitted eight [[royal mint|mints]] to be established, compared with six in his capital, [[Winchester, Hampshire|Winchester]], indicating the wealth of the city. London Bridge, which had fallen into ruin following the Roman evacuation and abandonment of Londinium, was rebuilt by the Saxons, but was periodically destroyed by Viking raids and storms.

As the focus of trade and population was moved back to within the old Roman walls, the older Saxon settlement of Lundenwic was largely abandoned and gained the name of ''Ealdwic'' (the "old settlement"). The name survives today as Aldwych (the "old market-place"), a name of a street and an area of the City of Westminster between [[Westminster]] and the City of London.

===Medieval era===
{{See also|Norman and Medieval London}}
[[File:Map of London, 1300.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Map of London in about 1300]]
[[File:Civitas Londinium or The Agas Map of London.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right|The [[Woodcut map of London|"Woodcut" map of London]], dating from the 1560s]]
Following the [[Battle of Hastings]], [[William the Conqueror]] marched on London, reaching as far as [[Southwark]], but failed to get across London Bridge or defeat the Londoners. He eventually crossed the River Thames at [[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]], pillaging the land as he went. Rather than continuing the war, [[Edgar the Ætheling]], [[Edwin, Earl of Mercia|Edwin of Mercia]] and [[Morcar]] of Northumbria surrendered at [[Berkhamsted]]. William granted the citizens of London a charter in 1075; the city was one of a few examples of the English retaining some authority. The city was not covered by the [[Domesday Book]].

William built three castles around the city, to keep Londoners subdued:

* [[Tower of London]], which is still a major establishment.
* [[Baynard's Castle]], which no longer exists but gave its name to a city ward.
* [[Montfichet's Tower]] or Castle on [[Ludgate Hill]], which was dismantled and sold off in the 13th century.

Around 1132 the City was given the right to appoint [[Sheriff of the City of London|its own sheriffs]] rather than having sheriffs appointed by the monarch. London's chosen sheriffs also served as the sheriffs for the county of [[Middlesex]]. This meant that the City and Middlesex were regarded as one administratively for addressing crime and keeping the peace (not that the county was a dependency of the city). London's sheriffs continued to serve Middlesex until the county was given its own sheriffs again following the [[Local Government Act 1888]].<ref name="vch_middlesex">{{cite book |title=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2 |date=1911 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=15–60 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol2/pp15-60 |access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tatlock |first1=J. S. P. |title=The Date of Henry I's Charter to London |journal=Speculum |date=October 1936 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=461–469 |doi=10.2307/2848538 |jstor=2848538 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2848538 |access-date=17 March 2024|url-access=subscription }}</ref> By 1141 the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community. This '[[Medieval commune|commune]]' was the origin of the [[City of London Corporation]] and the citizens gained the right to appoint, with the king's consent, a mayor in 1189, and to directly elect the mayor from 1215.

From medieval times, the City has been composed of [[Wards of the City of London|25 ancient wards]], each headed by an [[alderman]], who chairs [[Wardmote]]s, which still take place at least annually. A [[Folkmoot]], for the whole of the City held at the outdoor cross of [[St Paul's Cathedral]], was formerly also held. Many of the medieval offices and traditions continue to the present day, demonstrating the unique nature of the City and its [[City of London Corporation|Corporation]].

In 1381, the [[Peasants' Revolt]] affected London. The rebels took the City and the Tower of London, but the rebellion ended after its leader, Wat Tyler, was killed during a confrontation that included Lord Mayor [[William Walworth]]. In 1450, rebel forces again occupied the City during [[Jack Cade's Rebellion]] before being ousted by London citizens following a bloody battle on London Bridge. In 1550, the area south of London Bridge in [[Southwark]] came under the control of the City with the establishment of the ward of [[Bridge Without]].
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:DeathWatTyler.jpg|A pivotal event during the [[Peasants' Revolt]], 1381: their leader [[Wat Tyler]] is stabbed by [[William Walworth]], Lord Mayor.
File:Great Fire London.jpg|The 1666 [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]] as depicted in a 17th-century painting: it shows [[Old London Bridge]] at left, churches, houses, and the [[Tower of London]] at right, as seen from a boat near Tower Wharf
File:Great Fire of London Map.png|Map showing the extent of the Great Fire of London, which destroyed nearly 80% of the City
</gallery>
The city was burnt severely on a number of occasions, the worst being in 1123 and in the [[Great Fire of London]] in 1666. Both of these fires were referred to as ''the'' Great Fire. After the fire of 1666, a number of plans were drawn up to remodel the city and its street pattern into a [[renaissance]]-style city with planned urban blocks, squares and boulevards. These plans were almost entirely not taken up, and the medieval street pattern re-emerged almost intact.

===Early modern period===
In the 1630s the Crown sought to have the Corporation of the City of London extend its jurisdiction to surrounding areas.  In what is sometimes called the "great refusal", the Corporation said no to the King, which in part accounts for its unique government structure to the present.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 September 2014 |title=The City of London's strange history |language=en-GB |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7c8f24fa-3aa5-11e4-bd08-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/7c8f24fa-3aa5-11e4-bd08-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>

By the late 16th century, London increasingly became a major centre for banking, international trade and commerce. The [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] was founded in 1565 by Sir [[Thomas Gresham]] as a centre of commerce for London's merchants, and gained Royal patronage in 1571. Although no longer used for its original purpose, its location at the corner of [[Cornhill, London|Cornhill]] and [[Threadneedle Street]] continues to be the geographical centre of the city's core of banking and financial services, with the [[Bank of England]] moving to its present site in 1734, opposite the Royal Exchange. Immediately to the south of Cornhill, [[Lombard Street, London|Lombard Street]] was the location from 1691 of [[Lloyd's Coffee House]], which became the world-leading insurance market. London's insurance sector continues to be based in the area, particularly in [[Lime Street (ward)|Lime Street]].

In 1708, [[Christopher Wren]]'s masterpiece, [[St Paul's Cathedral]], was completed on his birthday. The first service had been held on 2 December 1697, more than 10 years earlier. It replaced the original St Paul's, which had been completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and is considered to be one of the finest cathedrals in Britain and a fine example of [[Baroque architecture]].

===Growth of London===
The 18th century was a period of rapid growth for London, reflecting an increasing national population, the early stirrings of the [[Industrial Revolution]], and London's role at the centre of the evolving [[British Empire]]. The urban area expanded beyond the borders of the City of London, most notably during this period towards the [[West End of London|West End]] and Westminster.

Expansion continued and became more rapid by the beginning of the 19th century, with London growing in all directions. To the [[East End of London|East]] the [[Port of London]] grew rapidly during the century, with the construction of many docks, needed as the Thames at the City could not cope with the volume of trade. The arrival of the railways and the [[London Underground|Tube]] meant that London could expand over a much greater area. By the mid-19th century, with London still rapidly expanding in population and area, the City had already become only a small part of the wider metropolis.

===19th and 20th centuries===
An attempt was made in 1894 with the [[Royal Commission on the Amalgamation of the City and County of London]] to end the distinction between the city and the surrounding County of London, but a change of government at Westminster meant the option was not taken up. The City as a distinct [[polity]] survived despite its position within the London conurbation and [[History of local government in London|numerous local government reforms]]. Supporting this status, the city was a special [[parliamentary borough]] that elected four members to the [[unreformed House of Commons]], who were retained after the [[Reform Act 1832]]; reduced to two under the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]]; and ceased to be a separate constituency under the [[Representation of the People Act 1948]]. Since then the city is a minority (in terms of population and area) of the [[Cities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Cities of London and Westminster]].
[[File:St Pauls Cathedral in 1896.JPG|thumb|left|[[St Paul's Cathedral]] (pictured 1896) dominated the skyline of the City for centuries. Its current structure by [[Christopher Wren]] was completed in 1706 after its medieval predecessor burned with much of the City in the Great Fire of 1666.]]
The City's population fell rapidly in the 19th century and through most of the 20th century, as people moved outwards in all directions to London's vast [[Metro-land|suburbs]], and many residential buildings were demolished to make way for office blocks. Like many areas of London and other British cities, the City fell victim to large-scale and highly destructive aerial bombing during [[World War II]], especially in [[the Blitz]]. Whilst St Paul's Cathedral survived the onslaught, large swathes of the area did not and the particularly heavy raids of late December 1940 led to a [[firestorm]] called the [[Second Great Fire of London]].

There was a major rebuilding programme in the decades following the war, in some parts (such as at the Barbican) dramatically altering the urban landscape. But the destruction of the older historic fabric allowed the construction of modern and larger-scale developments, whereas in those parts not so badly affected by bomb damage the City retains its older character of smaller buildings. The street pattern, which is still largely medieval, was altered slightly in places, although there is a more recent trend of reversing some of the post-war modernist changes made, such as at [[Paternoster Square]].

The City suffered terrorist attacks including the [[1993 Bishopsgate bombing]] ([[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]]) and the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] ([[Islamic terrorism|Islamist]]). In response to the 1993 bombing, a system of road barriers, checkpoints and surveillance cameras referred to as the "[[ring of steel (London)|ring of steel]]" has been maintained to control entry points to the City.

The 1970s saw the construction of tall office buildings including the 600-foot (183&nbsp;m), 47-storey [[NatWest Tower]], the first skyscraper in the UK. By the 2010s, office space development had intensified in the City, especially in the central, northern and eastern parts, with skyscrapers including [[30 St Mary Axe|30 St. Mary Axe]] ("the Gherkin"'), [[122 Leadenhall Street|Leadenhall Building]] ("the Cheesegrater"), [[20 Fenchurch Street]] ("the Walkie-Talkie"), the [[Broadgate Tower]], the [[Heron Tower]] and [[22 Bishopsgate]].

The main residential section of the City today is the [[Barbican Estate]], constructed between 1965 and 1976. The [[Museum of London]] was based there until December 2022 (it is due to reopen in West Smithfield in 2026),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/attractions-museums-entertainment/www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/attractions-museums-entertainment/museum-of-london|title=Museum of London|website=City of London}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> whilst a number of other services provided by the corporation are still maintained on the Barbican Estate.

==Governance==
[[File:Guildhall, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 139.JPG|thumb|[[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] is the ceremonial and administrative centre of the city.]]
[[File:London MMB »2K9 Mansion House.jpg|thumb|[[Mansion House, London|Mansion House]] is the official residence of the Lord Mayor.]]
[[File:Lord Mayor of London - John Stuttard - Nov 2006.jpg|thumb|right|[[John Stuttard]], Lord Mayor of the City of London 2006–2007, during the Lord Mayor's Show of 2006]]
{{See also|City of London Corporation|History of local government in England#The City of London}}
The City has a unique political status, a legacy of its uninterrupted integrity as a [[County corporate|corporate city]] since the Anglo-Saxon period and its singular relationship with the [[British monarchy|Crown]]. Historically its system of government was not unusual, but it was not reformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] and little changed by later reforms, so that it is the only local government in the UK where elections are not run on the basis of one vote for every adult citizen.

It is administered by the [[City of London Corporation]], headed by the [[Lord Mayor of London]] (not to be confused with the separate [[Mayor of London]], an office created only in the year 2000), which is responsible for a number of functions and has interests in land beyond the city's boundaries. Unlike other English local authorities, the corporation has two council bodies: the (now largely ceremonial) [[Court of Aldermen]] and the [[Court of Common Council]]. The [[Court of Aldermen]] represents the wards, with each ward (irrespective of size) returning one alderman. The chief executive of the Corporation holds the ancient office of [[Town Clerk of London]].

The City is a ceremonial county which has a Commission of Lieutenancy headed by the Lord Mayor instead of a [[Lord-Lieutenant]] and has [[Sheriffs of the City of London|two Sheriffs]] instead of a [[High Sheriff]] (see [[list of Sheriffs of London]]), quasi-judicial offices appointed by the [[livery company|livery companies]], an ancient political system based on the representation and protection of trades ([[craft guilds]]). Senior members of the livery companies are known as [[Liveryman|liverymen]] and form the Common Hall, which chooses the lord mayor, the sheriffs and certain other officers.

===Wards===
{{Main|Wards of the City of London}}
The City is made up of [[Wards of the City of London|25 wards]]. They are survivors of the medieval government system that allowed a very local area to exist as a self-governing unit within the wider city.<ref>''The City of London: A History''. Borer, Mary Irene Cathcart: New York, D. McKay Co., 1978 {{ISBN|0-09-461880-1}} p. 112.</ref> They can be described as electoral/political divisions; ceremonial, geographic and administrative entities; sub-divisions of the city. Each ward has an [[Alderman]], who until the mid-1960s<ref>{{Cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=Local Government Bill |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1963/feb/13/schedule-1-the-london-boroughs#column_1364 |date=13 February 1963 |column_start=278 |column_end=291 |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204201537/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1963/feb/13/schedule-1-the-london-boroughs#column_1364 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=live }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014011849/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1963/feb/13/schedule-1-the-london-boroughs#column_1364 |date=14 October 2023 }} [[Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham|Michael Stewart]], ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]], [[Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Fulham]]</ref> held office for life but since put themselves up for re-election at least every six years, and are the only [[Direct elections|directly elected]] Aldermen in the [[United Kingdom]]. Wards continue to have a [[Beadle]], an ancient position which is now largely ceremonial and whose main remaining function is the running of an annual [[Wardmote]] of electors, representatives and officials.<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/annual_wardmotes.htm City of London Corporation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527210846/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/annual_wardmotes.htm |date=27 May 2010 }} Ward Motes</ref> At the Wardmote the ward's Alderman appoints at least one Deputy for the year ahead, and Wardmotes are also held during elections. Each ward also has a Ward Club, which is similar to a [[residents' association]].<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/ward_boundaries.htm City of London Corporation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612211932/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/ward_boundaries.htm |date=12 June 2011 }} Ward Boundaries, Beadles and Clubs</ref>

The wards are ancient and their number have changed three times:

*in 1394 [[Farringdon, London|Farringdon]] was divided into Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without
*in 1550 the ward of Bridge Without, [[Southwark|south of the river]], was created, the ward of Bridge becoming Bridge Within;<ref>[http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/11ii.htm Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228150205/http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/11ii.htm |date=28 December 2010 }} City of London wards</ref>
*in 1978 these Bridge wards were merged as [[Bridge (City of London ward)|Bridge]] ward.<ref>[http://www.bridgewardclub.org.uk/ward%20of%20bridge.html Bridge Ward Club] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823044832/http://www.bridgewardclub.org.uk/ward%20of%20bridge.html |date=23 August 2007 }} History of the Bridge wards</ref>
[[File:City of London Ward Map, 1870.svg|thumb|left|A map of the wards as they were in the late 19th century]]
[[File:City of London UK labelled ward map 2003.svg|thumb|A map of the wards since 2003]]
Following boundary changes in 1994, and later reform of the business vote in the City, there was a major boundary and electoral representation revision of the wards in 2003, and they were reviewed again in 2010 for change in 2013, though not to such a dramatic extent. The review was conducted by senior officers of the corporation and senior judges of the [[Old Bailey]];<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/ward_boundary_review.htm Corporation of London] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114041508/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/ward_boundary_review.htm |date=14 January 2010 }} Ward Boundary Review (2010)</ref> the wards are reviewed by this process to avoid [[malapportionment]]. The procedure of review is unique in the United Kingdom as it is not conducted by the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] or a local government boundary commission every eight to 12 years, which is the case for all other [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards in Great Britain]]. Particular churches, [[livery company]] halls and other historic buildings and structures are associated with a ward, such as St Paul's Cathedral with [[Castle Baynard]], and London Bridge with Bridge; boundary changes in 2003 removed some of these historic connections.

Each ward elects an [[alderman]] to the [[Court of Aldermen]], and [[commoners]] (the City equivalent of a [[councillor]]) to the [[Court of Common Council]] of the corporation. Only electors who are [[Freeman of the City of London|Freemen of the City of London]] are eligible to stand. The number of commoners a ward sends to the Common Council varies from two to ten, depending on the number of electors in each ward. Since the 2003 review it has been agreed that the four more residential wards: [[Portsoken]], [[Queenhithe]], [[Aldersgate]] and [[Cripplegate]] together elect 20 of the 100 commoners, whereas the business-dominated remainder elect the remaining 80 commoners. Boundary changes in 2003 and 2013 have increased the residential emphasis of the mentioned four wards.

Census data provides eight nominal rather than 25 real wards, all of varying size and population. Being subject to renaming and definition at any time, these census 'wards' are notable in that four of the eight wards accounted for 67% of the 'square mile' and held 86% of the population, and these were in fact similar to and named after four City of London wards:

{| class="wikitable" 
|+ Extract of census 'wards' where approximate to underlying legal wards<ref name=ons>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|first=Neil|last=Sillitoe|date=14 April 2008|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|archive-date=11 February 2003|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2"|Census ward
! rowspan="2"|% of the City<br />of London
! rowspan="2"|Residents
! colspan="2"|% of built-upon land
|-
!Commercial
!Residential
|-
|Cripplegate (east half of [[Barbican Estate|Barbican]] neighbourhood)||10.0%	||2,782		||79%	||21%
|-
|Aldersgate (west half of Barbican neighbourhood)||4.5%	||1,465		||81%	||19%
|-
|Farringdon Without (and much of Castle Baynard)||22.1%||1,099		||90%	||10%
|-
|Portsoken (contains [[Aldgate tube station|Aldgate Underground station]])||6.6%||985||86%||14%
|}

===Elections===
The City has a unique electoral system. Most of its voters are representatives of businesses and other bodies that occupy premises in the city. Its ancient wards have very unequal numbers of voters. In elections, both the businesses based in the city and the residents of the City vote.

The City of London Corporation was not reformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], because it had a more extensive electoral franchise than any other borough or city; in fact, it widened this further with its own equivalent legislation allowing one to become a [[Freedom of the City|freeman]] without being a [[liveryman]]. In 1851, the city had a population of 127,869, but increasing development of the city as a central business district led to this falling to 26,923 in 1901 and to 5,234 in 1951.<ref>{{Cite news|title=City of London {{!}} Financial Hub, Historic District, UK {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/City-of-London|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2025-11-28|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250930071522/https://www.britannica.com/place/City-of-London|archive-date=2025-09-30|language=en}}</ref> It has risen slightly to around 9,000 since, largely due to the development of the [[Barbican Estate]]. In 2009, the business vote was about 24,000, greatly exceeding residential voters.<ref name=tribune>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2009/02/12/labour-runs-in-city-of-london-poll-against-%E2%80%98get-rich%E2%80%99-bankers/|title=Labour runs in City of London poll against 'get-rich' bankers|date=12 February 2009|author=René Lavanchy|work=[[Tribune (magazine)|The Express Tribune]]|access-date=14 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222210319/http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2009/02/12/labour-runs-in-city-of-london-poll-against-%E2%80%98get-rich%E2%80%99-bankers/|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> As the City of London Corporation has not been affected by other municipal legislation over the period of time since then, its electoral practice has become increasingly anomalous. Uniquely for city or borough elections, its elections remain independent-dominated.

The business or "[[non-residential vote]]" was abolished in other UK local council elections by the [[Representation of the People Act 1969]], but was preserved in the City of London. The principal reason given by successive UK governments for retaining this mechanism for giving businesses representation, is that the City is "primarily a place for doing business".<ref>{{Cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=City of London (Ward Elections) Bill (By Order) – Second Reading |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990224/debtext/90224-48.htm |date=24 February 1999 |column_start=482 |column_end=485 |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204070310/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990224/debtext/90224-48.htm |archive-date=4 February 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> About 330,000 non-residents constitute the day-time population and use most of its services, far outnumbering residents, who number around 7,000 (2011). By contrast, opponents of the retention of the business vote argue that it is a cause of institutional inertia.<ref>Shaxson, N. (2011). Treasure islands: Tax havens and the men who stole the world. London: The Bodley Head.</ref>

The [[City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002]] (c. vi), a local act of Parliament,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/locact02/20020006.htm |title=HMSO ''City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002 (2002 Chapter vi)'' |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=21 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114042047/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga |archive-date=14 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> reformed the voting system and greatly increased the business franchise, allowing many more businesses to be represented. Under the new system, the number of non-resident voters has doubled from 16,000 to 32,000. Previously disenfranchised firms (and other organisations) are entitled to nominate voters, in addition to those already represented, and all such bodies are now required to choose their voters in a representative fashion. Bodies employing fewer than 10 people may appoint one voter; those employing 10 to 50 people one voter for every five employees; those employing more than 50 people 10 voters and one additional voter for each 50 employees beyond the first 50. The Act also changed other aspects of an earlier act relating to elections in the City, from 1957.

===The Temple===
{{Main|Temple, London}}
[[Inner Temple]] and [[Middle Temple]] (which neighbour each other) in the western ward of [[Farringdon Without]] are within the boundaries and liberties of the City, but can be thought of as independent [[enclave]]s. They are two of the few remaining [[Liberty (division)|liberties]], an old name for a geographic division with special rights. They are [[extra-parochial area]]s,<ref>[http://www.agi.org.uk/SITE/UPLOAD/DOCUMENT/Events/AGI2009/papers/MartinLaker.pdf Association for Geographic Information]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} What place is that then? (PDF)</ref> historically not governed by the [[City of London Corporation]]<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/localact1996/pdf/ukla_19960004_en.pdf City of London (Approved Premises for Marriage) Act 1996] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208105601/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/localact1996/pdf/ukla_19960004_en.pdf |date=8 December 2009 }} "By ancient custom the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple exercise powers within the areas of the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple respectively ("the Temples") concerning (''inter alia'') the regulation and governance of the Temples"</ref> (and are today regarded as local authorities for most purposes<ref>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/the_inn/middle-temple-as-a-local-authority.html Middle Temple] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930021928/http://www.middletemple.org.uk/the_inn/middle-temple-as-a-local-authority.html |date=30 September 2012 }} as a local authority</ref>) and equally outside the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of the [[Bishop of London]].

===Other functions===
[[File:Leadenhall Market In London - Feb 2006.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Leadenhall Market]] is a historic market nestled between [[Gracechurch Street]] and [[Lime Street, London|Lime Street]].]]
Within the City, the Corporation owns and runs both [[Smithfield Market]] and [[Leadenhall Market]]. It owns land beyond its boundaries, including [[Corporation of London open spaces|open spaces]] (parks, forests and commons) in and around Greater London, including most of [[Epping Forest]] and [[Hampstead Heath]]. The Corporation owns [[Old Spitalfields Market]] and [[Billingsgate Fish Market]], in the neighbouring [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]. It owns and helps fund the [[Old Bailey]], the Central Criminal Court for [[England and Wales]], as a gift to the nation, having begun as the City and Middlesex Sessions. [[The Honourable The Irish Society]], a body closely linked with the Corporation, also owns many public spaces in [[Northern Ireland]].

The City has its own independent police force, the [[City of London Police]], the Common Council (the main body of the corporation) is the [[police authority]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/13/contents/enacted/data.htm |title=Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116205754/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/13/contents/enacted/data.htm |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The corporation also run the [[Hampstead Heath Constabulary]], [[Epping Forest Keepers]] and the [[City of London market constabularies]] (whose members are no longer attested as constables but retain the historic title). The majority of Greater London is policed by the [[Metropolitan Police Service]], based at [[Scotland Yard|New Scotland Yard]].

The City has one hospital, [[St Bartholomew's Hospital]], also known as 'Barts'. Founded in 1123, it is located at [[Smithfield, London|Smithfield]], and is undergoing a long-awaited regeneration after doubts as to its continuing use during the 1990s.

The City is the third largest UK patron of the arts. It oversees the [[Barbican Centre]] and subsidises several important performing arts companies.

The London Port Health Authority, which is the responsibility of the Corporation, is responsible for all port health functions on the [[Tideway|tidal part of the Thames]], including the [[Port of London]] and related seaports, and [[London City Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/port-health-and-animal-health/port-health/Pages/default.aspx|title=London Port Health Authority|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416211509/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/port-health-and-animal-health/port-health/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=16 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Corporation oversees the [[Bridge House Estates]], which maintains [[Blackfriars Bridge]], [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]], [[Southwark Bridge]], London Bridge and [[Tower Bridge]]. The [[Flag of the City of London|City's flag]] flies over Tower Bridge, although neither footing is in the City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishflags.net/cityoflondon.html |title=City of London |publisher=britishflags.net |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123111156/http://britishflags.net/cityoflondon.html |archive-date=23 January 2009 }}</ref>

===<!-- [[London within the Bars]] redirects here-->The boundary of the City===
[[File:City of London Sign - geograph.org.uk - 1304788.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dragon boundary mark|City of London boundary marker]] on approach to London Bridge]]
The size of the City was constrained by a defensive perimeter wall, known as London Wall, which was built by the Romans in the late 2nd century to protect their strategic port city. However the boundaries of the City of London no longer coincide with the old city wall, as the City expanded its jurisdiction slightly over time. During the [[medieval]] era, the City's jurisdiction expanded westwards, crossing the [[River Fleet]], the historic western border of the original settlement, which was the along [[Fleet Street]] to [[Temple Bar, London|Temple Bar]]. The City also took in the other "City bars" which were situated just beyond the old walled area, such as at Holborn, Aldersgate, [[Smithfield, London#West Smithfield Bars|West Smithfield]], Bishopsgate and Aldgate. These were the important entrances to the City and their control was vital in maintaining the City's special privileges over certain trades.
[[File:Temple-bar-griffin.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Dragon statue on the [[Temple Bar, London|Temple Bar]] monument, which marks the boundary between the City of London and City of Westminster]]
Most of the wall has disappeared, but several sections remain visible. A section near what later became the [[Museum of London]] was revealed after the devastation of an air raid on 29 December 1940 at the height of the [[The Blitz|Blitz]]. Other visible sections are at [[St Alphage London Wall|St Alphage]], and there are two sections near the [[Tower of London]]. The River Fleet was [[canal]]ised after the Great Fire of 1666 and then in stages was bricked up and has been since the 18th century one of London's "[[Subterranean rivers of London|lost rivers or streams]]", today underground as a [[storm drain]].

The boundary of the City was unchanged until minor boundary changes on 1 April 1994, when it expanded slightly to the west, north and east, taking small parcels of land from the [[City of Westminster]], the [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]], the [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]], the [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]] and the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]. The main purpose of these changes was to tidy up the boundary where it had been rendered obsolete by changes in the urban landscape. In this process the City also lost small parcels of land, though there was an overall net gain (the City grew from 1.05 to 1.12 square miles). Most notably, the changes placed the (then recently developed) [[Broadgate]] estate entirely within the City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19931445_en_1.htm |title=The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=4 July 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620210431/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19931445_en_1.htm |archive-date=20 June 2010 }}</ref>

[[Southwark]], to the south of the City on the other side of the Thames, was within the City between 1550 and 1899 as the Ward of [[Bridge Without]], a situation connected with the [[Guildable Manor]]. The City's administrative responsibility there had in practice disappeared by the mid-[[Victorian era|Victorian]] period as various aspects of metropolitan government were extended into the neighbouring areas. Today it is part of the [[London Borough of Southwark]]. The [[Tower of London]] has always been outside the City and comes under the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]].

===Arms, motto and flag===
{{Main|Coat of arms of the City of London|Flag of the City of London}}
[[File:Arms of the City of London on an horse blanket 2011.jpg|thumb|City of London arms on a saddle blanket, as seen outside the [[Royal Courts of Justice]] during the [[Lord Mayor's Show]], 2011]]
The Corporation of the City of London has a full [[achievement (heraldry)|achievement]] of armorial bearings consisting of a shield on which the arms are displayed, a [[crest (heraldry)|crest]] displayed on a helm above the shield, [[supporters]] on either side and a motto displayed on a scroll beneath the arms.<ref name=briggs>{{cite book |last=Briggs |first= Geoffrey |title=Civic and Corporate Heraldry: A Dictionary of Impersonal Arms of England, Wales and Northern Ireland |year=1971 |publisher=Heraldry Today |location=London |isbn=978-0-900455-21-6 |page=240}}</ref><ref name=bening>{{cite book|last=Beningfield|first=Thomas James|title=London, 1900–1964: Armorial bearings and regalia of the London County Council, the Corporation of London and the Metropolitan Boroughs|year=1964|publisher=J Burrow & Co Ltd|location=Cheltenham and London|pages=21–23}}</ref><ref name=arms />

The [[coat of arms]] is "[[time immemorial|anciently recorded]]" at the [[College of Arms]]. The arms consist of a silver shield bearing a red cross with a red upright sword in the first quarter. They combine the emblems of the patron saints of England and London: the [[St George's Cross|Cross of St George]] with the symbol of the martyrdom of [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]].<ref name=bening /><ref name=arms /> The sword is often erroneously supposed to commemorate the killing of [[Peasants' Revolt]] leader [[Wat Tyler]] by [[Lord Mayor of London]] [[William Walworth]]. However, the arms were in use some months before Tyler's death, and the tradition that Walworth's dagger is depicted may date from the late 17th century.<ref name=bening /><ref name=sgiles>{{cite book |last=Scott-Giles |first=C. Wilfrid |author-link=Wilfrid Scott-Giles |title=Civic Heraldry of England and Wales, 2nd edition |year=1953 |publisher=J. M. Dent & Sons |location=London |pages=245–246}}</ref><ref name=foxdavies /><ref name="crosley">{{cite book|last=Crosley|first=Richard|title=London's Coats of Arms and the Stories They Tell|year=1928|publisher=Robert Scott|location=London|pages=14–21}}</ref>

The [[Latin]] motto of the city is "''Domine dirige nos''", which translates as "Lord, direct us". It is thought to have been adopted in the 17th century, as the earliest record of it is in 1633.<ref name="arms">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65DC8039-12C4-4AC4-8DAD-16F1608E99B7/0/cityarms.PDF |title=The City Arms |publisher=Corporation of London Records Office |access-date=17 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154602/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65DC8039-12C4-4AC4-8DAD-16F1608E99B7/0/cityarms.PDF |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name=foxdavies>{{cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=A. C. |author-link=Arthur Charles Fox-Davies |title=The Book of Public Arms |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924029798927 |edition=2 |year=1915 |publisher=T. C. & E. C. Jack |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924029798927/page/n481 456]–458 |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421010124/https://archive.org/details/cu31924029798927 |archive-date=21 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[banner of arms|banner of the arms]] (the design on the shield) is flown as a [[flag of the City of London|flag]].

==Geography==
The City of London is the [[List of ceremonial counties of England|smallest ceremonial county]] of England by area and population, and the fourth most densely populated. Of the [[Districts of England|326 English districts]], it is the second smallest [[List of English districts by population|by population]], after the [[Isles of Scilly]], and the smallest [[List of English districts by area|by area]]. It is also [[List of cities in the United Kingdom#England|the smallest English city]] by population (and in Britain, only two cities in Wales are smaller), and the [[List of smallest cities in the United Kingdom|smallest in the UK by area]].

The elevation of the City ranges from sea level at the Thames to {{convert|21.6|m|ft}} at the junction of High Holborn and Chancery Lane.<ref>[[Ordnance Survey]] data</ref> Two small but notable hills are within the historic core, [[Ludgate Hill]] to the west and [[Cornhill, London|Cornhill]] to the east. Between them ran the [[Walbrook]], one of the many [[Subterranean rivers of London|"lost" rivers or streams of London]] (another is the [[River Fleet|Fleet]]).

===Boundary===
[[File:City of London map 01.svg|thumb|right|Modern borders of the City of London, showing surrounding [[London borough]]s and the pre-1994 boundary (where changed) in red. The area covered by the [[Inner Temple|Inner]] and [[Middle Temple]] is marked in green.]]
Beginning in the west, where the City borders Westminster, the boundary crosses the [[Victoria Embankment]] from the Thames, passes to the west of [[Middle Temple]], then turns for a short distance along the Strand and near [[Temple Bar, London|Temple Bar]] then north up [[Chancery Lane]], where it borders Camden. It turns east along [[Holborn]] to Holborn Circus and then goes northeast to [[Charterhouse Street]]. As it crosses [[Farringdon Road]] it becomes the boundary with Islington. It continues to [[Aldersgate]], goes north, and turns east into some back streets soon after Aldersgate becomes [[Goswell Road]], since 1994 embracing all of the corporation's Golden Lane Estate. Here, at Baltic Street West, is the most northerly extent. The boundary includes all of the [[Barbican Estate]] and continues east along Ropemaker Street and its continuation on the other side of [[Moorgate]], becomes South Place. It goes north, reaching the border with Hackney, then east, north, east on back streets, with Worship Street forming a northern boundary, so as to include the [[Broadgate]] estate. The boundary then turns south at [[Norton Folgate]] and becomes the border with [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]. It continues south into [[Bishopsgate]], and takes some backstreets to Middlesex Street ([[Petticoat Lane]]) where it continues south-east then south. It then turns south-west, crossing the [[Minories]] so as to exclude the [[Tower of London]], and then reaches the Thames.

The boundary then runs up the centre of the low-tide channel of the Thames, with the exception that [[Blackfriars Bridge]] (including the river beneath and land at its south end) is entirely part of the City, making the City and [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] the only London districts to span north and south of the river. The span and southern abutment of London Bridge is part of the city for some purposes<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1967/1/enacted London Bridge Act 1967] section 35</ref> (and as such is part of [[Bridge (City of London ward)|Bridge]] ward).<ref>[https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/footer/interactive-map-layers City of London Corporation] Interactive maps (Electoral services: Ward boundaries)</ref>

The boundaries are marked by black bollards bearing the city's emblem, and by [[dragon boundary mark]]s at major entrances, such as Holborn and the south end of London Bridge. A more substantial monument marks the boundary at [[Temple Bar, London|Temple Bar]] on Fleet Street.

In some places, the financial district extends slightly beyond the boundaries, notably to the north and east, into the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Islington, and informally these locations are regarded as being part of the "Square Mile". Since the 1990s the eastern fringe, extending into Hackney and Tower Hamlets, has increasingly been a focus for large office developments due to the availability of large sites compared to within the city.

===Gardens and public art===
{{See also|List of public art in the City of London}}
[[File:Finsbury Circus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Finsbury Circus]], the largest public open space, seen from [[Tower 42]]]]
The city has no sizeable parks within its boundary, but does have a network of a large number of gardens and small open spaces, many of them maintained by the corporation. These range from formal gardens such as the one in [[Finsbury Circus]], containing a [[bowling green]] and [[bandstand]], to churchyards such as [[St Olave Hart Street]], to water features and artwork in courtyards and pedestrianised lanes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gardensofthecityoflondon.co.uk |title=Gardens of the City of London |publisher=Gardens of the City of London |access-date=30 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115212318/http://www.gardensofthecityoflondon.co.uk/ |archive-date=15 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gardens include:
*Barber-Surgeon's Hall Garden, London Wall
*Cleary Garden, [[Queen Victoria Street, London|Queen Victoria Street]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baytrust.org.uk/about/the-history-of-the-bay-trust/ |title=The History of the Bay Trust, Fred Cleary – Founder |publisher=baytrust.org.uk |year=2013 |access-date=8 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109223713/http://baytrust.org.uk/about/the-history-of-the-bay-trust/ |archive-date=9 January 2014 }}</ref>
*[[Finsbury Circus]], Blomfield Street/London Wall/[[Moorgate]]
*Jubilee Garden, [[Houndsditch]]
*Portsoken Street Garden, Portsoken Street/Goodman's Yard
*[[Postman's Park]], [[Little Britain, London|Little Britain]]
*Seething Lane Garden, [[Seething Lane]]
*[[St Dunstan-in-the-East]], St Dunstan's Hill
*[[St Mary Aldermanbury]], Aldermanbury
*St Olave Hart Street churchyard, Seething Lane
*St Paul's churchyard, [[St Paul's Cathedral]]
*West Smithfield Garden, [[West Smithfield]]
*Whittington Gardens, College Street

There are a number of private gardens and open spaces, often within courtyards of the larger commercial developments. Two of the largest are those of the [[Inner Temple]] and [[Middle Temple]] Inns of Court, in the far southwest.

The Thames and its riverside walks are increasingly being valued as open space and in recent years efforts have been made to increase the ability for pedestrians to access and walk along the river.

===Climate===
The nearest weather station has historically been the London Weather Centre at [[Kingsway, London|Kingsway]]/ [[Holborn]], although observations ceased in 2010. Now St. James Park provides the nearest official readings.

The city has an [[Maritime Climate|oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] "Cfb") modified by the [[urban heat island]] in the centre of London. This generally causes higher night-time minima than outlying areas. For example, the August mean minimum<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[YR.NO]] |url=http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Old_Bailey/statistics.html |title=Aug Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811122818/http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Old_Bailey/statistics.html |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> of {{convert|14.7|C|F}} compares to a figure of {{convert|13.3|C|F}} for Greenwich<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[MetOffice]] |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/greenwich.html |title=Aug Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628141612/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/greenwich.html |archive-date=28 June 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Heathrow<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[MetOffice]] |url=http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Heathrow/statistics.html |title=Aug Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224110511/http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Heathrow/statistics.html |archive-date=24 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> whereas is {{convert|11.6|C|F}} at Wisley<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[MetOffice]] |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/wisley.html |title=Aug Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031043437/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/wisley.html |archive-date=31 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> in the middle of several square miles of [[Metropolitan Green Belt]]. All figures refer to the observation period 1971–2000.

Accordingly, the weather station holds the record for the UK's warmest overnight minimum temperature, {{convert|24.0|C|F}}, recorded on 4 August 1990.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tutiempo |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/LONDON_WEA_CENTER/04-08-1990/37780.htm |title=Aug 1990 Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202205739/https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/08-1990/ws-37780.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The maximum is {{convert|37.6|C|F}}, set on 10 August 2003.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tutiempo |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/London_Weather_Centre/10-08-2003/37790.htm |title=Aug 2003 Max |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202205749/https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/08-2003/ws-37790.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The absolute minimum<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tutiempo |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/LONDON_WEA_CENTER/12-01-1987/37780.htm |title=Jan 1987 Min |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202205800/https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/01-1987/ws-37780.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for the weather station is a mere {{convert|−8.2|C|F}}, compared to readings around {{convert|−15.0|C|F}} towards the edges of London. Unusually, this temperature was during a windy and snowy cold spell (mid-January 1987), rather than a cold clear night, cold air drainage is arrested due to the vast urban area surrounding the city.

The station holds the record for the highest British mean monthly temperature,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tutiempo|url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/London_Weather_Centre/07-2006/37790.htm|title=Jul 2006 Mean|access-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005131733/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/London_Weather_Centre/07-2006/37790.htm|archive-date=5 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{convert|24.5|C|F}} (mean maximum {{convert|29.2|C|F}}, mean minimum {{convert|19.7|C|F}} during July 2006). However, in terms of daytime maximum temperatures, Cambridge NIAB<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[MetOffice]] |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |title=Jul 2006 Mean |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215430/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref> and Botanical Gardens<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]] |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=2006&indexid=TX&stationid=1639 |title=Jul 2006 Mean |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160111/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=2006&indexid=TX&stationid=1639 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> with a mean maximum of {{convert|29.1|C|F}}, and Heathrow<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[MetOffice]] |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/heathrowdata.txt |title=Jul 2006 Mean |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018051422/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/heathrowdata.txt |archive-date=18 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> with {{convert|29.0|C|F}} all exceeded this.

{{Weather box|location = London Weather Centre 1971–2000, 43&nbsp;m asl
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 8.3
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 11.1
|Apr high C = 13.5
|May high C = 17.1
|Jun high C = 20.0
|Jul high C = 22.6
|Aug high C = 22.5
|Sep high C = 19.3
|Oct high C = 15.3
|Nov high C = 11.2
|Dec high C = 9.1
|Jan low C = 3.7
|Feb low C = 3.4
|Mar low C = 5.0
|Apr low C = 6.4
|May low C = 9.4
|Jun low C = 12.3
|Jul low C = 14.6
|Aug low C = 14.7
|Sep low C = 12.5
|Oct low C = 9.6
|Nov low C = 6.2
|Dec low C = 4.7
|source 1 = yr.no<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Old_Bailey/statistics.html |title=LWC 1971–00 averages |access-date=16 September 2011 |publisher=YR.NO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811122818/http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Old_Bailey/statistics.html |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Public services==
[[File:Domine Dirige Nos - geograph.org.uk - 1111983.jpg|thumb|City of London coat of arms on the street]]

===Police and security===
{{Further|Crime in London}}
[[File:City of London Police Mitsubishi.jpg|thumb|A City of London Police vehicle on [[Blackfriars Bridge]]]]
The city is a [[police area]] and has its own [[territorial police force|police force]], the [[City of London Police]], separate from the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] covering the majority of Greater London. The City Police previously had three police stations, at [[Snow Hill, London|Snow Hill]], [[Wood Street, London|Wood Street]] and [[Bishopsgate]]. They now only retain Bishopsgate along with an administrative headquarters at Guildhall Yard East.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/about-us/Pages/how-to-find-us.aspx|title=How to find us – City of London|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702152322/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/about-us/Pages/how-to-find-us.aspx|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The force comprises 735 police officers including 273 detectives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.colp.uk/resources/|title=Resources – City of London Police Annual Report 2018|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113215657/http://www.colp.uk/resources/|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the smallest territorial police force in [[England and Wales]], in both geographic area and the number of police officers.

Where the majority of British police forces have silver-coloured [[Cap badge|badges]], those of the City of London Police are black and gold featuring the City crest. The force has rare [[Sillitoe tartan#United Kingdom|red and white]] chequered cap bands and unique red and white striped duty arm bands on the sleeves of the tunics of constables and sergeants (red and white being the colours of the city), which in most other British police forces are black and white. City police sergeants and constables wear crested [[custodian helmet]]s whilst on foot patrol. These helmets do not feature either [[St Edward's Crown]] or the [[Brunswick Star]], which are used on most other police helmets in [[England and Wales]].

The city's position as the United Kingdom's financial centre and a critical part of the country's economy, contributing about 2.5% of the UK's [[gross national product]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/keyfacts.htm |title=Key facts |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023000216/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/keyfacts.htm |archive-date=23 October 2011 }}</ref> has resulted in it becoming a target for political violence. The [[Provisional IRA]] exploded several [[bomb]]s in the early 1990s, including the [[1993 Bishopsgate bombing]].

The area is also spoken of as a possible target for [[al-Qaeda]]. For instance, when in May 2004 the BBC's ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' programme examined the preparedness of Britain's emergency services for a terrorist attack on the scale of the [[September 11 attacks|11 September 2001 attacks]], they simulated a chemical explosion on [[Bishopsgate]] in the east of the city. The [[Ring of steel (London)|"Ring of Steel"]] was established in the wake of the IRA bombings to guard against terrorist threats.

===Fire brigade===
{{Main|London Fire Brigade}}
The city has fire risks in many historic buildings, including [[St Paul's Cathedral]], [[Old Bailey]], [[Mansion House, London|Mansion House]], [[Smithfield Market]], the [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]], and also in numerous high-rise buildings. There is one London Fire Brigade station in the city, at [[Dowgate]], with one [[Fire appliances in the United Kingdom|pumping appliance]].<ref name="zlqtbi">{{cite web |url=http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/City_of_London.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005231358/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/City_of_London.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2007 |title=London Fire Brigade – City of London Profile |publisher=London-fire.gov.uk |access-date=30 October 2011 }}</ref> The City relies upon stations in the surrounding London boroughs to support it at some incidents. The first fire engine is in attendance in roughly five minutes on average, the second when required in a little over five and a half minutes.<ref name="zlqtbi" /> There were 1,814 incidents attended in the City in 2006/2007, the lowest in Greater London.

===Power===
There is a [[power station]] located in [[Charterhouse Street]] that also provides heat to some of the surrounding buildings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/28/londons-hidden-gas-plant-which-could-heat-and-power-the-future|title=London's hidden gas plant which could heat and power the future|last=Vaughan|first=Adam|date=28 July 2017|website=The Guardian|access-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025185907/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/28/londons-hidden-gas-plant-which-could-heat-and-power-the-future|archive-date=25 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Demography ==
[[File:City of London population pyramid.svg|thumb|Population pyramid of the City of London in 2021]] {{Historical populations
| footnote = Sources: [[Office for National Statistics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/development-and-population-information/demography-and-housing/Documents/DP_PL_demographicB%5B1%5D%20Historic.pdf |title=City of London Resident Population 2001 – Historical trends |publisher=[[City of London Corporation]] |date=1 July 2005 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731212644/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/development-and-population-information/demography-and-housing/Documents/DP_PL_demographicB%5B1%5D%20Historic.pdf |archive-date=31 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population estimates for England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid2024#cite-this-page |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>

| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1801]] | 130117
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1811]] | 122924
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1821]] | 127040
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1831]] | 125353
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1841]] | 127514
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1851]] | 132734
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1861]] | 108078
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1871]] | 83421
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1881]] | 58764
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1891]] | 43882
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1901]] | 32649
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1911]] | 24292
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1921]] | 19564
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1931]] | 15758
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1941]] | 10920
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1951]] | 7568
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1961]] | 5718
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1971]] | 4325
| [[Census in the United Kingdom|1981]] | 4603
| [[United Kingdom Census 1991|1991]] | 3861
| [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001]] | 7186
| [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011]] | 7375
| [[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021]] | 8600 
| 2023 | 15111
}}
The [[Office for National Statistics]] recorded the population in 2011 as 7,375;<ref name="2010pop">{{English district population citation}}</ref> slightly higher than in the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|previous census]], 2001,<ref name="census">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00aa.asp|title=City of London Census 2001 profile|access-date=23 October 2010|website=[[United Kingdom Census 2001|Census 2001]]|publisher=The [[Office for National Statistics]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629184519/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00aa.asp|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and estimates the population as at mid-2016 to be 9,401. At the 2001 census the ethnic composition was 84.6% [[White people|White]], 6.8% [[British Asian|South Asian]], 2.6% [[Black British|Black]], 2.3% [[British Mixed-Race|Mixed]], 2.0% [[British Chinese|Chinese]] and 1.7% were listed as "[[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]".<ref name="census" /> The population was between 120,000 and 140,000 in the first half of the 19th century, decreasing dramatically from 1851 to 1991, with a small increase between 1991 and 2001. The only notable boundary change since the first census in 1801 occurred in 1994.

The city's full-time working residents have much higher gross weekly pay than in London and Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland): £773.30 compared to £598.60 and £491.00 respectively.<ref name="nomis">{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431860/report.aspx?town=city%20of%20london#tabrespop|title=Labour Market Profile: City of London|website=nomis|publisher=The [[Office for National Statistics]]|access-date=24 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615052536/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431860/report.aspx?town=city%20of%20london#tabrespop|archive-date=15 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is a large inequality of income between genders (£1,085.90 in men compared to £653.50 in women), and this can be explained by job type and length of employment respectively.<ref name=nomis /> The 2001 Census showed the city as a unique district amongst 376 districts surveyed in [[List of English districts|England]] and [[Districts of Wales|Wales]].<ref name=census /> The city had the highest proportional population increase, one-person households, people with qualifications at degree level or higher and the highest indications of overcrowding.<ref name=census /> It recorded the lowest proportion of households with cars or vans, people who travel to work by car, married couple households and the lowest average household size: just 1.58 people.<ref name=census /> It also ranked highest within the Greater London area for the percentage of people with no religion and people who are employed.<ref name=census />

=== Demographic Breakdown of the City of London (1981–2021) ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:right"
|+
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="10" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref>{{cite journal |author=Commission for Racial Equality |date=1985 |title=Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |journal=Commission for Racial Equality |pages=Table 2.2 |access-date=19 December 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513060235/https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name=":412">Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215152146/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm |date=15 December 2021 }} of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602031124/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name=":36">{{cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808112341/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207095805/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total 
!3,732
!95.5%
!3,840
!92.7%!! 6,075 !! 84.6% !! 5,799 !! 78.5%
!5,955
!69.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White British|British]]
|
|–
|–
|–|| 4,909 || 68.3% || 4,243 || 57.5%
|3,649
|42.5%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 241 || % || 180 || 2.4%
|185
|2.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–|| || || 3 || 0.0%
|0
|0.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: Roma
|–
|–
|
|
|
|
|
|
|59
|0.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 925 ||12.8% || 1,373 || 18.6%
|2,062
|24.0%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!–
!–
!217
!5.2%!! 638 !! 8.9% !! 940 !! 12.5%
!1,445
!16.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|–
|–
|69
|1.7%|| 159 ||2.2 % || 216 || 2.9%
|321
|3.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|20
|0.5%|| 23 ||0.3 % || 16 || 0.2%
|33
|0.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|9
|–|| 276 ||3.8 % || 232 || 3.1%
|287
|3.3%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|56
|1.3%|| 147 ||2 % || 263 || 3.5%
|545
|6.3%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 
|–
|–
|63
|1.5%|| 33 || % || 213 || 2.8%
|259
|3.0%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total 
!–
!–
!38
!0.9%!! 184 !! 2.6% !! 193 !! 2.5%
!232
!2.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|–
|–
|12
|0.3%|| 117 ||1.6 % || 98 || 1.3%
|153
|1.8%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|12
|0.3%|| 51 || % || 46 || 0.6%
|54
|0.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|–
|–
|14
|0.3%|| 16 || % || 49 || 0.6%
|25
|0.3%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total 
!–
!–
!–
!–!! 163 !! 2.3% !! 289 !! 3.8%
!470
!5.5%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black Caribbean 
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 33 || % || 38 || 0.5%
|53
|0.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black African 
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 16 || % || 37 || 0.5%
|49
|0.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Asian 
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 57 || % || 111 || 1.5%
|179
|2.1%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: Other Mixed 
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 57 || % || 103 || 1.3%
|189
|2.2%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Other: Total 
!–
!–
!47
!1.1%!! 125 !! 1.7% !! 154 !! 2%
!482
!5.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Other: Arab
|–
|–
|–
|An|| || || 69 || 0.9%
|114
|1.3%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Other: Any other ethnic group 
|–
|–
|47
|1.1%|| 125 ||1.7 % || 85 || 1.1%
|368
|4.3%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Ethnic minority: Total 
!177
!4.5%
!302
!7.3%!! 1,110 !! 15.4% !! 1,576 !! 21.5%
!2,629
!30.6%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Total 
!3,909
!100%
!4,142
!100%!! 7,185 !! 100% !! 7,375 !! 100%
!8584
!100%
|}

==Economy==
{{see also|Economy of London}}
[[File:Banco de Inglaterra, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 141.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Bank of England]], on [[Threadneedle Street]], is the central bank of the United Kingdom.]]
[[File:Paternoster Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Paternoster Square]], since 2004 the home of the [[London Stock Exchange]]]]
The City of London vies with New York City's [[Lower Manhattan]] for the distinction of the world's pre-eminent financial centre. The [[London Stock Exchange]] ([[Share capital|shares]] and [[Bond (finance)|bonds]]), [[Lloyd's of London]] (insurance) and the [[Bank of England]] are all based in the city.<ref name=NG>{{cite journal |author1=Allan C. Fisher Jr. |title="The City" - London's Storied Square Mile |journal=[[National Geographic]] |date=June 1961 |volume=119 |issue=6 |pages=735–778}}</ref> Over 500 banks have offices in the city. The [[Alternative Investment Market]], a market for trades in [[Capital stock|equities]] of smaller firms, is a recent development. In 2009, the City of London accounted for 2.4% of UK GDP.<ref name="citylondon">{{cite web |title=City of London Jobs |url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/economic-research-and-information/Documents/city-statistics-briefing.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825145809/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/economic-research-and-information/Documents/city-statistics-briefing.pdf |archive-date=25 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017 |publisher=The City of London}}</ref>

London's foreign exchange market has been described by Reuters as 'the crown jewel of London's financial sector'.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Tommy Wilkes, Saikat Chatterjee |title=Global daily forex trading at record $6.6 trillion as London extends lead |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-global-forex-bis/global-daily-forex-trading-at-record-6-6-trillion-as-london-extends-lead-idUKKBN1W1210 |publisher=Reuters |date=17 September 2019 |work=Reuters |access-date=1 October 2020 |archive-date=21 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921185514/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-global-forex-bis/global-daily-forex-trading-at-record-6-6-trillion-as-london-extends-lead-idUKKBN1W1210 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Of the $3.98&nbsp;trillion daily global turnover, as measured in 2009, trading in London accounted for around $1.85&nbsp;trillion, or 46.7% of the total.<ref name=citylondon /> The [[pound sterling]], the currency of the United Kingdom, is globally the fourth-most traded currency<ref>{{cite web |title=Triennial Central Bank Survey Foreign exchange turnover in April 2022 |url=https://www.bis.org/statistics/rpfx22_fx.pdf |publisher=[[Bank for International Settlements]] |access-date=29 October 2022 |page=12 |date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027140118/https://www.bis.org/statistics/rpfx22_fx.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and the fourth most held [[reserve currency]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves |url=https://data.imf.org/regular.aspx?key=41175 |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=IMF Data |archive-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512202858/https://data.imf.org/regular.aspx?key=41175 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Canary Wharf, a few miles east of the City in Tower Hamlets, which houses many banks and other institutions formerly located in the Square Mile, has since 1991 become another centre for London's financial services industry. Although growth has continued in both locations,{{Ambiguous|date=June 2020}} and there have been relocations in both directions, the Corporation has come to realise that its planning policies may have been causing financial firms to choose Canary Wharf as a location.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 2022, 12.3% of City of London residents had been granted non-domicile status in order to avoid their paying tax in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 April 2022 |title=Non-doms: 12% of residents in London's richest parts claimed status in 2018 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/07/non-doms-12-of-residents-in-londons-richest-parts-claimed-status-in-2018 |first1=David |last1=Batty |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407052036/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/07/non-doms-12-of-residents-in-londons-richest-parts-claimed-status-in-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Headquarters===
Many major global companies have their headquarters in the city, including [[Aviva]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviva.com/about-us/contact-us/|title=Contact us|access-date=15 August 2010|publisher=Aviva|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007062338/http://www.aviva.com/about-us/contact-us/|archive-date=7 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[BT Group]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.btplc.com/thegroup/contactbt/index.cfm|title=Contact BT|access-date=15 August 2010|publisher=BT Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117172747/http://www.btplc.com/thegroup/contactbt/index.cfm|archive-date=17 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lloyds Banking Group]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/about_us/company_contacts.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310191913/http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/about_us/company_contacts.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Company Contacts|access-date=15 August 2010|publisher=Lloyds Banking Group}}</ref> [[Quilter plc|Quilter]], [[Prudential plc|Prudential]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prudential.co.uk/prudential-plc/siteservices/directory/plccontact/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106183040/http://www.prudential.co.uk/prudential-plc/siteservices/directory/plccontact/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2006|title=Contact|access-date=15 August 2010|publisher=Prudential}}</ref> [[Schroders plc|Schroders]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schroders.com/en/contact-us/worldwide-locations/uk/|title=Contact us|access-date=3 November 2016|publisher=Schroders|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104014437/http://www.schroders.com/en/contact-us/worldwide-locations/uk/|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Standard Chartered]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standardchartered.com/uk/contact-us/en/|title=Contact Us|access-date=15 August 2010|publisher=[[Standard Chartered]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829014438/http://www.standardchartered.com/uk/contact-us/en/|archive-date=29 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Unilever PLC|Unilever]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unilever.com/resource/unilever-registered-offices.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830072007/http://www.unilever.com/resource/unilever-registered-offices.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Unilever registered offices|archivedate=30 August 2010}}</ref>

A number of the world's largest law firms are headquartered in the city, including four of the [[Magic Circle (law firms)|Magic Circle]] law firms ([[Allen & Overy]], [[Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer]], [[Linklaters]] and [[Slaughter & May]]), as well as other firms such as [[Ashurst LLP|Ashurst]], [[DLA Piper]], [[Eversheds Sutherland]], [[Herbert Smith Freehills]] and [[Hogan Lovells]].

===Other sectors===
[[File:Barbican Centre City of London.jpg|thumb|right|Barbican Centre]]
Whilst the financial sector, and related businesses and institutions, continue to dominate, the economy is not limited to that sector. The legal profession has a strong presence, especially in the west and north (i.e., towards the [[Inns of Court]]). Retail businesses were once important, but have gradually moved to the [[West End of London]], though it is now Corporation policy to encourage retailing in some locations, for example at [[Cheapside]] near St Paul's. The city has a number of visitor attractions, mainly based on its historic heritage as well as the [[Barbican Centre]] and adjacent [[Museum of London]], though tourism is not at present a major contributor to the city's economy or character. The city has many pubs, bars and restaurants, and the "night-time" economy does feature in the [[Bishopsgate]] area, towards [[Shoreditch]]. The meat market [[Smithfield Market|at Smithfield]], wholly within the city, continues to be one of London's main markets (the only one remaining in central London) and the country's largest [[butcher|meat market]]. In the east is [[Leadenhall Market]], a fresh food market that is also a visitor attraction.

===Retail and residential===
The trend for purely office development is beginning to reverse as the Corporation encourages residential use, albeit with development occurring when it arises on windfall sites. The city has a target of 90 additional dwellings per year.<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Planning/Local_Development_Framework/core_strategy.htm City of London Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512135507/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Planning/Local_Development_Framework/core_strategy.htm |date=12 May 2010 }} Core Strategy</ref> Some of the extra accommodation is in small pre-[[World War II]] [[listed building]]s, which are not suitable for occupation by the large companies which now provide much of the city's employment. Recent residential developments include "the Heron", a high-rise residential building on the Milton Court site adjacent to the Barbican, and the [[Heron Tower#Heron Plaza|Heron Plaza]] development on Bishopsgate is also expected to include residential parts.

Since the 1990s, the City has diversified away from near exclusive office use in other ways. For example, several hotels and the first [[department store]] opened in the 2000s. A shopping centre was more recently opened at [[One New Change]], [[Cheapside]] (near St Paul's Cathedral) in October 2010, which is open seven days a week. However, large sections remain quiet at weekends, especially in the eastern section, and it is quite common to find shops, [[Public house|pubs]] and cafes closed on these days.

==Landmarks==
===Historic buildings===
Fire, bombing and post-[[World War II]] redevelopment have meant that the city, despite its history, has fewer intact historic structures than one might expect. Nonetheless, there remain many dozens of (mostly Victorian and Edwardian) fine buildings, typically in historicist and [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]]. They include the [[Monument to the Great Fire of London]] ("the Monument"), [[St Paul's Cathedral]], [[Guildhall, London|the Guildhall]], the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]], [[Dr. Johnson's House]], [[Mansion House, London|Mansion House]] and a [[:Category:Churches in the City of London|great many churches]], many designed by [[Sir Christopher Wren]], who also designed St Paul's.

[[Prince Henry's Room]] and [[2 King's Bench Walk]] are notable historic survivors of heavy bombing of [[Temple, London|the Temple]] area, which has largely been rebuilt to its historic form. Another example of a bomb-damaged place having been restored is [[Staple Inn]] on Holborn. A few small sections of the Roman [[London Wall]] exist, for example near the Tower of London and in the Barbican area. Among the twentieth-century [[listed buildings]] are [[Bracken House, London|Bracken House]], the first post World War II buildings in the country to be given statutory protection, and the whole of the [[Barbican Estate|Barbican]] and [[Golden Lane Estate]].

The [[Tower of London]] is not in the city, but is a notable visitor attraction which brings tourists to the southeast of the city. Other landmark buildings with historical significance include the [[Bank of England]], the [[Old Bailey]], the [[Custom House, City of London|Custom House]], [[Smithfield, London|Smithfield Market]], [[Leadenhall Market]] and [[St Bartholomew's Hospital]]. Noteworthy contemporary buildings include a number of modern high-rise buildings (see section below) as well as the [[Lloyd's building]].
[[File:Royal Exchange Panorama.jpg|center|thumb|upright=2.25|The Bank of England (left) and the Royal Exchange (centre) are two of the many significant buildings in the City of London.]]

===Skyscrapers and tall buildings===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings and structures in London}}
[[File:Cityoflondonskylinewide.jpg|thumb|The City skyline in 2021, including [[20 Fenchurch Street]], the [[122 Leadenhall Street|Leadenhall Building]], [[30 St Mary Axe]] & [[22 Bishopsgate|22 Bishopgate]], the tallest building in the City of London. London Bridge to the bottom left.]]
;Completed
A growing number of tall buildings and skyscrapers are principally used by the financial sector. Almost all are situated in the eastern side around [[Bishopsgate]], [[Leadenhall Street]] and [[Fenchurch Street]], in the financial core of the city. In the north there is a smaller cluster comprising the [[Barbican Estate]]'s three tall residential towers and the commercial [[CityPoint]] tower. In 2007, the {{convert|100|m|0|adj=on|abbr=on}} tall [[Drapers' Gardens]] building was demolished and replaced by a shorter tower.

The city's buildings of at least {{convert|100|m|0|abbr=on}} in height are:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border:#999; background:#fff;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Rank
! rowspan="2"|Name
! rowspan="2"|Completed
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2"|Architect
! rowspan="2"|Use
! colspan="2"|Height&nbsp;to&nbsp;roof
! rowspan="2"|Floors
! rowspan="2"|Location
|-
! style="width:50px"|metres !! style="width:50px"|feet
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 1 ||[[22 Bishopsgate]]|| 2020 
|[[File:22BishopsgateDec19.png|alt=|168x168px]]|| [[PLP Architecture]]|| Office || 278 || 912 || 62 || 22 [[Bishopsgate]]
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 2 || [[Heron Tower]] || 2010 
|[[File:Heron_Place_(office_Block)_-_panoramio.jpg|120x120px]]|| [[Kohn Pedersen Fox]] || Office || 230 || 754 || 46 || 110 Bishopsgate
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 3 ||[[122 Leadenhall Street|Leadenhall Building]] || 2014 
|[[File:The Leadenhall Building (13911854879).jpg|136x136px]]|| [[Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners]] || Office || 225 || 737 || 48 || 122 [[Leadenhall Street]]
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 4 || [[8 Bishopsgate]]|| 2022 
|[[File:8 Bishopsgate.jpg|136x136px]]|| [[WilkinsonEyre]] || Office || 204 || 669 || 51 || 8 Bishopsgate
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 5 || [[The Scalpel]] || 2018 
|[[File:The_Scalpel,_August_2018.jpg|107x107px]]|| [[Kohn Pedersen Fox]] || Office || 190 || 630 || 39 || 52 [[Lime Street, London|Lime Street]]
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 6 || [[Tower 42]] || 1980 
|[[File:Tower_42_looking_north_from_Bishopsgate_2011-05-04.jpg|160x160px]]|| [[Richard Seifert|R Siefert & Partners]] || Office || 183 || 600 || 47 || 25 Old Broad Street
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 7 || [[30 St Mary Axe]] || 2003 
|[[File:30_St_Mary_Axe_from_Leadenhall_Street.jpg|110x110px]]|| [[Foster and Partners]] || Office || 180 || 590 || 40 || 30 [[St Mary Axe]]
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 8 || [[100 Bishopsgate]] || 2019 
|[[File:100_Bishopsgate_2019.png|alt=|141x141px]]|| [[Allies and Morrison]] || Office || 172 || 563 || 40 || 100 [[Bishopsgate]]
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 9 || [[Broadgate Tower]] || 2008 
|[[File:Broadgate_Tower.jpg|128x128px]]|| [[SOM (architectural firm)|SOM]] || Office || 164 || 538 || 35 || 201 Bishopsgate
|- style="background:#efefef;" 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 10 || [[20 Fenchurch Street]] || 2014 
|[[File:Walkie-Talkie_-_Sept_2015.jpg|120x120px]]|| [[Rafael Viñoly]] || Office || 160 || 525 || 37 || 20 [[Fenchurch Street]]
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 11 || [[40 Leadenhall Street]] || 2022 
|[[File:40 Leadenhall Street Construction.jpg|120x120px]]|| [[Make Architects]] || Office || 154 || 505 || 34 || 40 Leadenhall Street
|- style="background:#efefef;
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 12 || One Bishopsgate Plaza || 2020 
| [[File:One_Bishopsgate_Plaza_From_Front.jpg|120x120px]] || MSMR || Hotel || 135 || 443 || 44 || 150 Bishopsgate
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 13 || [[CityPoint]]{{efn|group=upper-alpha|CityPoint was originally completed in 1967 and named Britannic House standing at 122 m tall, but was refurbished in 2000 and increased to 127 m in height.}} || 1967 
|[[File:City Point.jpg|106x106px]]|| F. Milton Cashmore and H. N. W. Grosvenor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mimoa.eu/projects/United%20Kingdom/London/CityPoint%20-%20Britannic%20House/|title=CityPoint – Britannic House|website=Mimoa|access-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204123938/https://www.mimoa.eu/projects/United%20Kingdom/London/CityPoint%20-%20Britannic%20House/|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> || Office || 127 || 417 || 36 || 1 Ropemaker Street
|- style="background:#efefef;" 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 14 || [[Willis Building (London)|Willis Building]] || 2007 
|[[File:Willis_Building_(London).jpg|163x163px]]|| Foster and Partners || Office || 125 || 410 || 26 || 51 [[Lime Street, London|Lime Street]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| =15 || Cromwell Tower || 1973 
|[[File:Crowell_Tower,_London.jpg|133x133px]]|| [[Chamberlin, Powell and Bon]] || Residential || 123 || 404 || 42 || [[Barbican Estate]]
|- style="background:#efefef;" 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| =15 || Lauderdale Tower || 1974 
|[[File:Lauderdale_Tower,_Barbican_Estate,_London.jpg|131x131px]]|| Chamberlin, Powell and Bon || Residential || 123 || 404 || 42 || Barbican Estate
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| =15 || Shakespeare Tower || 1976 
|[[File:Barbican_Estate_Tower_2007.jpg|120x120px]]|| Chamberlin, Powell and Bon || Residential || 123 || 404 || 42 || Barbican Estate
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 18 || [[St. Helen's (skyscraper)|St. Helen's]] || 1969 
|[[File:St._Helen's_-_St._Mary_Axe-_2011-05-04.jpg|80x80px]]|| [[GMW Architects]] || Office || 118 || 387 || 28 || 1 Undershaft
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 19 || [[The Heron]] || 2013 
|[[File:The_Heron,_Milton_Court.jpg|107x107px]]|| [[David Walker Architects]]|| Residential || 112 || 367 || 35 || Milton Court
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 20 || [[St Paul's Cathedral]] || 1710 
|[[File:Cathédrale_St-Paul_-_entrée_principale.jpg|80x80px]]|| [[Sir Christopher Wren]] || Cathedral || 111 || 365 || n/a || [[Ludgate Hill]]
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 21 || [[99 Bishopsgate]] || 1976 
|[[File:99_Bishopsgate_from_above.jpg|106x106px]]|| GMW Architects || Office || 104 || 340 || 26 || 99 Bishopsgate
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 22 || One Angel Court || 2017 
|[[File:1 Angel Court 2020.png|alt=|116x116px]]|| Fletcher Priest || Office || 101 || 331 || 24 || 1 Angel Court
|- 
| style="text-align:center; background:#edecff;"| 23 || [[Stock Exchange Tower]] || 1970 
|[[File:Former_London_Stock_Exchange_Building_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1501273.jpg|107x107px]]|| [[Richard Llewelyn-Davies, Baron Llewelyn-Davies]], Weeks, Forestier-Walker and Bar || Office || 100 || 328 || 27 || 125 Old Broad Street
|- 
|}
{{notelist-ua}}
;Timeline
The timeline of the tallest building in the city is as follows:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Name<br />
!Years as tallest<br />
!Height to roof (m)<br />
!class="unsortable"|Height to roof (ft)<br />
!Floors<br />
|-
| [[22 Bishopsgate|Twentytwo]] || 2019–present || 278 || 912 || 62
|-
| [[Heron Tower]] || 2010–2019 || 230 || 754 || 46
|-
| [[Tower 42]] || 1980–2010 || 183 || 600 || 47
|-
| [[CityPoint]] || 1967–1980 || 122 || 400 || 35
|-
| [[St Paul's Cathedral]] || 1710–1967 || 111 || 365 || n/a
|-
| [[St Mary-le-Bow]] || 1683–1710 || 72 || 236 || n/a
|-
| [[Monument to the Great Fire of London]] || 1677–1683 || 62 || 202 || n/a
|-
| [[Old St Paul's Cathedral]] || 1310–1677 || 150 || 493 || n/a
|}

==Transport==
{{See also|Transport in London}}
[[File:Bank station MMB 07.jpg|thumb|[[London Underground]] roundel (flanked by City dragons) at [[Bank–Monument station|Bank]] station]]

===Rail and Tube===
The city is well served by the [[London Underground]] ("tube") and [[National Rail]] networks.

Seven London Underground lines serve the city; the underground stations include:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf|title=London's Rail and Tube Services|website=[[Transport for London]] and [[National Rail]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125210513/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf|archive-date=25 January 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

*[[Aldgate tube station|Aldgate]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|Metropolitan}}
*[[Bank and Monument stations|Bank and Monument]] {{Rail-interchange|London|Central}} {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}} {{Rint|London|Northern}} {{Rint|London|W&C}}
*[[Barbican tube station|Barbican]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|H&C}} {{Rint|London|Metropolitan}}
*[[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}} 
*[[Cannon Street station|Cannon Street]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}}
*[[Chancery Lane tube station|Chancery Lane]] {{Rint|London|Central}}
*[[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]] {{Rint|London|Central}} {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|H&C}} {{Rint|London|Metropolitan}}
*[[Mansion House tube station|Mansion House]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}} 
*[[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] {{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|H&C}} {{Rint|London|Metropolitan}} {{Rint|London|Northern}}
*[[St Paul's tube station|St. Paul's]] {{Rint|London|Central}}

In addition, [[Aldgate East tube station|Aldgate East]] ({{Rint|London|District}} {{Rint|London|H&C}}), [[Farringdon tube station|Farringdon]] ({{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|H&C}} {{Rint|London|Metropolitan}}), [[Temple tube station|Temple]] ({{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}}) and [[Tower Hill tube station|Tower Hill]] ({{Rint|London|Circle}} {{Rint|London|District}}) tube stations are all situated within metres of the City of London boundary.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Canary-wharf-one.jpg|left|thumb|[[Docklands Light Railway|DLR]] trains link the City directly to Canary Wharf.]]
The [[Docklands Light Railway]] (DLR {{Rint|london|dlr}}) has two termini in the city: Bank and [[Tower Gateway DLR station|Tower Gateway]]. The DLR links the City directly to the [[East End of London|East End]]. Destinations include Canary Wharf and [[London City Airport]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/dlr-route-map.pdf|title=DLR map|website=[[Transport for London]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223161824/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/dlr-route-map.pdf|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

The [[Elizabeth line]] (constructed by the [[Crossrail]] project) runs east–west underneath the City of London. The line serves two stations in or very near the City – [[Farringdon station|Farringdon]] and Liverpool Street – which additionally serves the Barbican and Moorgate areas. Elizabeth line services link the City directly to destinations such as Canary Wharf, [[Heathrow Airport]], and the [[M4 corridor|M4 Corridor]] high-technology hub (serving [[Slough]] and [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/elizabeth-line-when-fully-open.pdf|title=Elizabeth line|website=[[Transport for London]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119031410/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/elizabeth-line-when-fully-open.pdf|archive-date=19 November 2019|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

The city is served by a frequent [[Thameslink]] rail service which runs north–south through London. Thameslink services call at Farringdon, [[City Thameslink railway station|City Thameslink]], and London Blackfriars. This provides the city with a direct link to key destinations across London, including [[Elephant & Castle railway station|Elephant & Castle]], [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]], and [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras International]] (for the [[Eurostar]] to [[mainland Europe]]). There are also regular, direct trains from these stations to major destinations across [[East Anglia]] and [[South East England|the South East]], including [[Bedford]], [[Brighton]], [[Cambridge]], [[Gatwick Airport]], [[Luton Airport]], and [[Peterborough]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/London_South_East_Network_Railcard_map_Dec2019.pdf|title=London and the South East rail services|website=[[National Rail]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330104757/https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/London_South_East_Network_Railcard_map_Dec2019.pdf|archive-date=30 March 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>
[[File: Greater Anglia 745010 Colchester.jpg|thumb|The [[Stansted Express]] departs from [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street Station]] in the city and runs directly to [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted Airport]] in Essex.]]
There are several "[[London Terminals]]"<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46587.aspx#terminals|title="London Terminal" Stations|website=[[National Rail]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803181138/https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46587.aspx|archive-date=3 August 2019|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> in the city:

*[[Blackfriars station|London Blackfriars]] – Thameslink services and some [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] services to South East London and [[Kent]].
*[[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]] – Southeastern services to South East London and Kent.
*[[Fenchurch Street railway station|London Fenchurch Street]] – [[c2c]] services along the [[Thames Estuary]] towards East London, south [[Essex]], and [[Southend-on-Sea|Southend]].
*[[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]] – [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]] and some c2c services towards destinations in East London and East Anglia, including [[Stratford, London|Stratford]], Cambridge, [[Chelmsford]], [[Ipswich]], [[Norwich]], Southend, and [[London Southend Airport|Southend Airport]]. [[Stansted Express]] to [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted Airport]]. [[London Overground]] ({{Rint|London|overground|lea}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-overground-network-map.pdf|title=London Overground|website=[[Transport for London]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110135700/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-overground-network-map.pdf|archive-date=10 November 2019|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> to destinations in north and east London including [[Hackney Downs railway station|Hackney Downs]], [[Seven Sisters station|Seven Sisters]], [[Walthamstow Central station|Walthamstow]], [[Chingford]], [[Enfield Town|Enfield]], and [[Cheshunt railway station|Cheshunt]].
*[[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] – [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise|Great Northern]] towards [[Finsbury Park station|Finsbury Park]], Enfield, and other destinations in North London and [[Hertfordshire]], including [[Hertford]] and [[Welwyn Garden City]].

All stations in the city are in [[London fare zone 1]].<ref name=":0" />

===Road===
[[File:Space taken vs numbers in City of London (transport).png|thumb|Space taken vs numbers in City of London (transport)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s91800/Appendix+1+-+Traffic+in+the+City+2018.pdf|page=20|title=Traffic in the City 2018|access-date=8 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729120834/https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s91800/Appendix+1+-+Traffic+in+the+City+2018.pdf|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
The national [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]], [[A10 road (England)|A10]] [[A3 road|A3]], [[A4 road (England)|A4]], and [[A40 road]] routes begin in the city. The city is in the [[London congestion charge]] zone, with the small exception on the eastern boundary of the sections of the A1210/A1211 that are part of the [[Inner Ring Road, London|Inner Ring Road]]. The following bridges, listed west to east (downstream), cross the River Thames: [[Blackfriars Bridge]], [[Blackfriars Railway Bridge]], [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]] (footbridge), [[Southwark Bridge]], [[Cannon Street Railway Bridge]] and London Bridge; [[Tower Bridge]] is not in the city. The city, like most of central London, is well [[Buses in London|served by buses]], including night buses. Two bus stations are in the city, at [[Aldgate bus station|Aldgate]] on the eastern boundary with Tower Hamlets, and at [[Liverpool Street bus station|Liverpool Street]] by the railway station.
However although the London Road Traffic Act 1924 removed from existing local authorities the powers to prevent the development of road passengers transport services within the London Metropolitan Area, the City of London retained most such powers. As a consequence, neither Trolleybus nor Green Line Coach services were permitted to enter the City to pick up or set down passengers. Hence the building of Aldgate (Minories) Trolleybus and Coach station as well as the complex terminal arrangements at Parliament Hill Fields. This restriction was removed by the Transport Act 1985.

===Cycling===
[[File:Cycle superhighway cs6.jpg|thumb|[[List of cycle routes in London|Cycleway 6]] runs between [[Elephant and Castle|Elephant & Castle]] and [[Kentish Town]], passing through the City of London between Blackfriars and Farringdon.]]
[[Cycling infrastructure]] in the city is maintained by the City of London Corporation and [[Transport for London]] (TfL).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/cycle|title=Cycle|website=[[Transport for London]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223164758/https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/cycle|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

*[[List of cycle routes in London|Cycle Superhighway 1]] runs from [[Tottenham]] to the city. It is a signposted cycle route, passing through [[Stoke Newington]] and [[Hackney, London|Hackney]] before entering the City south of Old Street.
*[[List of cycle routes in London|Cycle Superhighway 2]] runs from [[Stratford, London|Stratford]] to the city, via [[Bow, London|Bow]], [[Mile End]], and [[Whitechapel]]. The route enters the city near Aldgate. The route runs primarily on segregated [[cycle track]].
*[[Cycle Superhighway 3|Cycleway 3]] is an east–west [[bike freeway]] through the city. The route runs along the southern rim of the city, following the route of the Thames. Eastbound, Cycleway 3 provides cyclists with a direct, signposted cycle link to [[Shadwell]], [[Poplar, London|Poplar]] and Canary Wharf, and [[Barking, London|Barking]]. The route runs Westbound on traffic-free track to [[Lancaster Gate]] via [[Parliament Square]], [[Buckingham Palace]], and [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]].
*[[List of cycle routes in London|Cycleway 6]] runs north–south through the city on traffic-free cycle track. The track passes [[Farringdon station|Farringdon Station]], the [[Holborn Viaduct]], [[Ludgate Circus]], [[Blackfriars station]], and [[Blackfriars Bridge]]. Northbound, the route passes through [[Clerkenwell]], [[Bloomsbury]], [[Kings Cross, London|King's Cross]], and [[Kentish Town]]. The route southbound carries cyclists to [[Elephant and Castle]].
*[[List of cycle routes in London|Cycle Superhighway 7]] begins in the City at an interchange with Cycleway 3. It leaves the City over [[Southwark Bridge]] and provides cyclists with an unbroken, signposted route to [[Colliers Wood]] via Elephant and Castle, [[Clapham]], and [[Tooting]], amongst other destinations.
*[[List of cycle routes in London|Quietway 11]] is a northbound continuation of Cycleway 7. It is a signposted cycle route which runs from Southwark Bridge to [[Hoxton]], via the Barbican and Moorgate.

The [[Santander Cycles|Sandander Cycles]] and Beryl bike sharing systems operate in the City of London.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beryl.cc/bikeshare/london|title=London bike share|website=Beryl bike share|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403014922/https://beryl.cc/bikeshare/riders|archive-date=3 April 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

===River===
One [[London River Services]] pier is on the Thames in the city, [[Blackfriars Millennium Pier]], though the [[Tower Millennium Pier]] lies adjacent to the boundary near the Tower of London. One of the [[Port of London]]'s 25 [[safeguarded wharf|safeguarded wharves]], [[Walbrook Wharf]], is adjacent to Cannon Street station, and is used by the corporation to transfer waste via the river. Swan Lane Pier, just upstream of London Bridge, is proposed to be replaced and upgraded for regular passenger services, planned to take place in 2012–2015. Before then, Tower Pier is to be extended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lda.gov.uk/upload/pdf/River_Thames_Pier_Plan_Diagram_9_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615021648/http://www.lda.gov.uk/upload/pdf/River_Thames_Pier_Plan_Diagram_9_1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2011 |title=River Thames Pier Plan |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=30 October 2011 }}</ref>

There is a public riverside walk along the river bank, part of the [[Thames Path]], which opened in stages – the route within the city was completed by the opening of a stretch at [[Queenhithe]] in 2023.<ref>[https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/final-section-of-riverside-walkway-completes-thames-path-through-city/ City of London Corporation] ''Final section of riverside walkway completes Thames Path through City'' (22 March 2023)</ref> The walk along Walbrook Wharf is closed to pedestrians when waste is being transferred onto barges.

===Travel to work (by residents)===
According to a survey conducted in March 2011, the methods by which employed residents 16–74 get to work varied widely: 48.4% go on foot; 19.5% via light rail, (i.e. [[London Underground|the Underground]], [[Docklands Light Railway|DLR]], etc.); 9.2% work mainly from home; 5.8% take the train; 5.6% travel by bus, minibus, or coach; and 5.3% go by bicycle; with just 3.4% commuting by car or van, as driver or passenger.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census: QS701EW Method of travel to work, local authorities in England and Wales|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-wards-and-output-areas-in-england-and-wales/rft-qs701ew.xls|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915043538/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-wards-and-output-areas-in-england-and-wales/rft-qs701ew.xls|archive-date=15 September 2013|url-status=live}} Percentages are of all residents aged 16–74 including those not in employment. Respondents could only pick one mode, specified as the journey's longest part by distance.</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Sir_John_Cass's_Foundation_Primary_School_(cropped).jpg|thumb|[[The Aldgate School]] (using its former name)]]
The city is home to a number of higher education institutions including: the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]], the [[Cass Business School]], [[The London Institute of Banking & Finance]] and parts of three of the [[universities in London]]: the [[Maughan Library]] of [[King's College London]] on [[Chancery Lane]], the business school of [[London Metropolitan University]], and a campus of the [[University of Chicago Booth School of Business]]. [[University of Law|The College of Law]] has its London campus in [[Moorgate]]. Part of [[Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry]] is on the Barts hospital site at West Smithfield.

The city has only one directly maintained primary school, [[The Aldgate School]] (formerly Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School) at [[Aldgate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sirjohncassprimary.org/|title=The homepage of Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School|access-date=14 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321113933/http://www.sirjohncassprimary.org/|archive-date=21 March 2009|url-status=usurped}}</ref> (ages 4 to 11). It is a Voluntary-Aided (VA) [[Church of England]] school, maintained by the Education Service of the City of London.

City residents send their children to schools in neighbouring [[Local Education Authority|Local Education Authorities]], such as [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]], [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]], [[City of Westminster|Westminster]] and [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]].

The City controls three independent schools, [[City of London School]] (a boys' school) and [[City of London School for Girls]] in the city, and the [[City of London Freemen's School]] (co-educational day and boarding) in [[Ashtead]], Surrey. The City of London School for Girls and City of London Freemen's School have their own preparatory departments for entrance at age seven. It is the principal sponsor of The [[City Academy, Hackney]], [[City of London Academy Islington]], and [[City of London Academy, Southwark]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/our_services/Education/schools/schools.htm#muscat_highlighter_first_match|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905022232/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/our_services/Education/schools/schools.htm#muscat_highlighter_first_match|url-status=dead|title=Term dates for Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School|website=City of London|archivedate=5 September 2006}}</ref>

===Public libraries===
[[File:KCLMaughanLibrary2.jpg|thumb|The [[Maughan Library]], [[King's College London]], located on [[Chancery Lane]]]]
Libraries operated by the Corporation include three lending libraries; Barbican Library, Shoe Lane Library and Artizan Street Library and Community Centre. Membership is open to all – with one official proof of address required to join.

Guildhall Library, and City Business Library are also public reference libraries, specialising in the history of London and business reference resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/index.htm|title=City of London libraries|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218012827/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/index.htm|archive-date=18 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Money laundering==
The City of London's role in illicit financial activity such as [[money laundering]] has earned the financial hub sobriquets such as 'The Laundromat' and 'Londongrad'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2022/jun-2022/ec-londongrad-how-the-city-became-a-moneylaundering-haven|title=Londongrad: how the City became a money-laundering haven|website=www.icaew.com}}</ref>

In May 2024, the UK's then deputy foreign secretary, [[Andrew Mitchell]], said that 40% of the dirty money in the world goes through London and crown dependencies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |title=Nearly 40% of dirty money is laundered in London and UK crown dependencie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/14/nearly-40-of-dirty-money-is-laundered-in-london-and-uk-crown-dependenies |website=The Guardian |date=14 May 2024 |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[City of London Corporation]]
*[[City of London School]]
*[[City of London Freemen's School]]
*[[List of churches in the City of London]]
*[[List of areas of London]]
*[[Londinium]]
*[[Street names of the City of London]]

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*Richard Tames. ''City of London Past'', London: Historical Publications, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-94866-731-2}}

==External links==
*{{URL|https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/|City of London Corporation}}
*{{URL|http://www.claxity.com/|Classical Architecture in the City of London}}

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