Eastcheap, street in the City of London
Eastcheap is a street in the City of London that runs from Monument Junction eastward and is lined with buildings spanning different periods. The street features cobblestones, narrow facades, and a mix of historic churches, old buildings, and modern shops that reflect centuries of London's development.
Eastcheap has been known since at least the 11th century, when its name appeared on a coin of King Harold I, and served as London's main meat market in medieval times. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed many buildings on the street, including the famous Boar's Head Inn, which was later rebuilt but torn down in the 1800s.
The street's name comes from the Old English word 'cheap', meaning market, and it served for centuries as a gathering place where people from all walks of life came to trade and do business. Even today, the name reflects its identity as a former marketplace where the community once gathered and exchanged goods.
The street is easy to reach and situated near landmarks like the Monument, making it part of many walking routes through the City of London. Visitors can explore at a leisurely pace and access historic churches such as St. Margaret Pattens and All Hallows-by-the-Tower, which are readily accessible.
A small easily-missed statue of two mice fighting over cheese sits at the corner of Eastcheap and Rood Lane and is called the Philpot Lane Mice. This tiny sculpture is a hidden curiosity that visitors often discover, adding to the street's collection of small surprises and local details.
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