The City

Home to Britain's Wall Street

Noteworthy for: Nicknamed the Square Mile, this is the site of the original Roman settlement of Londonium, and parts of the defensive wall from 200AD still exist today.
Word to the wise: Restaurants here cater to the financiers with expense accounts; be warned they can be pricey.

When Londoners talk of The City they are referring to the financial district, rich in history as well as wealth. Home to the Bank of England and London Stock Exchange, this has been the commercial hub of England since the 11th century. Badly bombed in the Blitz, only a few ancient buildings remain, now dwarfed by the towering skyscrapers and office buildings that keep the wheels of the British economy turning.
It can seem sterile here, but there are interesting sites from St Paul's Cathedral to the Tower of London. Smithfields has been home to a livestock market since the 12th century - as well as some witch-burnings and public hangings - and the beautiful Victorian arcades of Leadenhall market feel like a timewarp. Cutting-edge culture can be found at arts complex the Barbican.

While the streets, pubs and restaurants are buzzing with suited crowds by week, at the weekend The City is a ghost town.