City of London, Financial district in London, England.
The financial district spans one square mile and holds glass and steel towers rising between medieval churches and Georgian facades. Narrow alleys wind between the skyscrapers, modern squares open unexpectedly among tightly packed blocks. Historic buildings made of Portland stone stand beside mirrored office towers, and in some places you can still see fragments of Roman walls built into sidewalks and small parks.
Romans established a settlement here in the first century and built defensive walls that still mark the boundaries of the area today. After the great fire of sixteen sixty six the site was rebuilt following plans by Christopher Wren, who designed numerous churches. During the nineteenth century it grew into the heart of British banking, while in the twentieth century stock traders and insurance companies transformed the skyline with modern towers.
Office workers in dark suits flood the narrow lanes on weekdays and disappear into pubs where they gather over a pint after work. The centuries old tradition of Livery Companies still shapes social life, craft guilds organize banquets and maintain rituals that outsiders rarely witness. On weekends the area feels deserted, most shops stay closed and the streets belong to the few tourists and photographers wandering through.
Several underground stations including Bank, Liverpool Street and Moorgate connect the area with the rest of the city, rush hour runs from eight to ten in the morning and from five to seven in the evening on weekdays. Many restaurants and cafes close on weekends, but you can explore the site without crowds then. Comfortable shoes help since cobblestones in some lanes are uneven and attractions spread across a wide territory.
The district runs its own police force and grants businesses special voting rights, allowing companies to participate in local elections and exercise more political influence than is usual elsewhere in Britain.
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