Let’s start our tour with a short overview of how the city developed.

We have chosen this location for a reason - River Thames was essential for the establishment and development of London. Enjoy the view of London and its bridges while I share how the city and this view evolved over time.&nbsp;

The first settlers arrived in the Thames Valley around 400,000 years ago. At the time these shores were marshland, forest and fields. Nomads competed with lions and bears, hunting for horses, deer andddddd the 15 tonne Straight Tusked Elephants!

Let’s skip thousands of years forward… The Roman empire is growing across Europe and eventually, they set their sights on conquering Britain, an island rich in natural resources.&nbsp;

Around 2,000 years ago Roman empire successfully invaded Britain. They choose a strategic location for their settlement - along the banks of the main trading route with Europe - the river Thames. This city became known as... ‘Londinium’.&nbsp;

Where you stand now is where London began!

It quickly turned into a cosmopolitan city buzzing with trade. And so these banks changed from marshland into wharfs lined with warehouses and infrastructure more akin to a commercial port than what you can see in front of you today!&nbsp;&nbsp;

The large, ocean-going ships would moor in the deep waters at the centre of the river and use small boats to shuttle the imported cargo such as wine, pottery, olive oil and slaves to the stone. These same small boats would then turn around to transfer the export goods like copper, tin, silver, corn and oysters. With the bustle of trade, a thriving community grew along the river where you are standing now.&nbsp;

Opportunities in this growing city attracted migrants from other parts of the country as well as the continent. While some came peacefully and brought their craft skills, others came with force. A massive wall was constructed around the city for protection purposes. This wall remained unchanged for close to 1700 years.&nbsp; Fragments of it can still be seen today around the tower of London and inside the Museum of London.

In the time that it stood, it created clear geographical boundaries for the city that are still respected today - The City of London borough is exactly where Londinium used to be.&nbsp;

As the city grew in size and influence, its cultural and commercial developments have shaped the country and the world. Throughout the tour, you will hear in detail about the events that shaped the development of this incredible city.&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bendavisual">Benjami</a><a href="https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YYA0040736/A-Prospect-of-the-City-of-London-from-St-Georges-Fields-in-Surry">n Cole</a>

👣  A brief history of London

See how centuries-old London bridge looked like throughout time&nbsp;<a href="http://www.globetrott.com/post/londonbridgethroughouttime">here</a>

Our first stop is the London Bridge, the first one&nbsp; to your right? True, this is not the most ornate bridge but a very significant one. It is the original point of crossing and up until 300 years ago, was the only bridge over the river.

The first bridges were built from timber and as you would expect, they needed constant repair and didn’t last long. The construction of the first stone bridge was completed in the early 13th century, immediately turning it into the prime location for business and residences.

Five story houses soon were built on the bridge, with the residential rooms on higher floors and shops at road level. Housing regulations or Health &amp; Safety were clearly not a thing at the time and many of these houses leaned outwards and above the river.

If you would like to see what a built-up London Bridge looked like, <a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/londonbridgethroughouttime">click the link in the transcript section.&nbsp;</a>

The weight from the buildings, frequent fires and increasing traffic was threatening its structural stability and required continuous repairs. This was becoming too costly and so, it was decided that time has come to replace the old structure. The New London Bridge was opened to the public in 1831. However it turned out that it wasn’t as strong as its predecessor and could not handle the huge amount of traffic that was passing through it each day and the bridge started to sink!

Have you ever heard this song [Input from London Bridge is Falling Down]

I bet its origins are starting to make a bit more sense!

By 1968 it was clear that another bridge needed to be built and a unique idea to put the existing one for sale was proposed. And guess what, it found its buyer, American entrepreneur Robert McCulloch, who paid just under $2.5 million for it. That is $18.5 million in today's equivalent for the bridge alone. The transportation over the Atlantic and construction of it, cost a few additional million.

Look to the bridge on your left. That is the Tower Bridge. Stunning, right?

When signing the final contract McCulloch was photographed with Tower Bridge behind him and a rumour started that he had thought he was going to be the owner of this, far grander landmark. These rumours are most likely false, though it still remains a popular anecdote for Londoners to tell their visitors.

The New London Bridge was dismantled stone by stone and numbered so that they could be correctly reassembled at McCullock’s new resort in Arizona, US.

So, be sure not to get the names of these two bridges mixed up.

The bridge you see in front of you now is referred to as the “Modern London Bridge”.&nbsp; Almost 50 years ago Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated and opened it to the public.

Credits 
Image&nbsp;by <a href="https://www.timeout.com/london/news/london-bridge-is-closing-down-sort-of-until-october-022520">Shutterstock</a>

👣  London Bridge

You might have wondered at what point London started to sprawl and expand past its city wall. Devastating Fire of London was one event that greatly contributed to that.&nbsp;

It is September 1666. London looked very different. It wasn’t this huge metropolis that we know it to be now. It was overcrowded, an estimated 350,000 residents lived crammed into a city that was still gated by a wall and was only one square mile in size.

Rows of wooden houses with thatched roofs were separated by narrow alleyways. So narrow that neighbours were able to shake hands with each other from their windows.&nbsp;

Traders and merchants had their stores and workshops at the street level, with residents living upstairs. River Thames was a trading hub, so there were plenty of warehouses right around the London Bridge, as well as small stables around the city to keep the horses.&nbsp;

A little after midnight on 2nd September, baker Thomas Faryner made a small mistake that had enormous consequences. In his bakery on Pudding Lane, he failed to extinguish the fire in his oven. This quickly led to his house catching fire.&nbsp;

Gusts of wind quickly spread the blaze from one house to the next. After an unusually dry and hot summer, the wooden houses caught fire in seconds. London was soon in flames and the fire was spreading uncontrollably. To make matters worse, the nearby river-side Warehouses were filled with combustible goods and the small stables stacked with hay. Everything that was in the way of the fire kept on fueling it. What a disaster!

London was burning for 4 days and 4 nights. Churches bells rang to alert everyone of the emergency. Desperate to escape, people were cramming what they could into horse carriages, and digging holes to hide valuable belongings. It was a chaotic scene.

While some were fleeing from the burning city into the fields outside of it, others aimed to stop the fire. Lines of Londoners stood side by side next to each other passing leather buckets of water in an attempt to contain the fire. With no taps, fire hydrants, or trained fire brigades, this was the best method they had. Were they having much success? As you can probably guess, the answer was no…. The buckets were nearly empty by the time they reached the burning houses and the fire was just way too strong.&nbsp;

How would you stop such a fire? Extreme situations require extreme measures. A rather unconventional method was chosen - more explosions. Yes, you heard correctly - more explosions. Seems counterintuitive, right? The Navy was instructed to blow up houses to create a break in the fire. It was a success! The firebreaks and a much-needed drop in the wind, have stopped the fire from spreading any further. Turns out you can fight fire with fire!

Isn’t it incredible how one seemingly small mistake by a baker had completely devastated the city? In those 4 days, around 80% of London was destroyed. Wooden houses were turned into ashes and only a few unstable fragments of the City’s stone buildings remained.&nbsp;

How did London bounce back?

For life and trade to get back to normal, the remains were demolished and the city was rebuilt almost from scratch.&nbsp; The roads became wider and the new houses were built from stone and brick instead of wood. A wise decision!&nbsp;

Very few elements of medieval London survived to this day - to see how a medieval English city looked like, you should travel to somewhere like York, Canterbury or Chester.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Great Fire of London was a catastrophic event. But with every disaster comes new opportunities.

Many people chose not to move back into the city, and instead headed outwards to the West and East - establishing completely new neighbourhoods. This gave way to the current expanded look of London.&nbsp;

After such a devastating fire that wiped out the city, everyone was terrified of their homes going up in flames again. Businessmen realized that people would pay money to be protected from fire. And so this gave birth to the first fire fighting brigades - though they were quite different to the ones we have today!&nbsp;

Initially, they were established as private insurance companies.&nbsp;

House owners paid a monthly fee and received a tile to place on their house. This way the firefighters could quickly see whose house had insurance and whether they should be putting out the fire.&nbsp;

As you can guess, not everyone was able to afford such a luxury. Imagine seeing firefighters ignoring your burning house in favour of your wealthier neighbours - frustrating, to say the least! It took 200 years for the situation to change.&nbsp; London Fire Brigade became a public service available to everyone just over 180 years ago.

The fire of London gave way to the geographic expansion of the city and changed how it looks. At the next stop, we will talk about what shaped the commercial development and growth of the City.

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@rowanfreeman">L</a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monument_to_the_Great_Fire_of_London_with_another_building.jpg#/media/File:Monument_to_the_Great_Fire_of_London_with_another_building.jpg">ewek-rafek</a>

Fire of London

You should now be standing in front of a gate, lookup can you see the ornate coat of arms with the colourful leopards?&nbsp; This is the entrance to the hall of the&nbsp; Worshipful Company of Dyers.&nbsp;

There are more than a hundred of such Worshipful companies in the City of London. But what are they?&nbsp;

To answer this, let’s rewind to around seven hundred years ago. By then, London was already the wealthiest and most influential city in England. The opportunities on offer attracted people from rural parts of the country and immigrants from the continent.&nbsp;

For new arrivals settling here, there were plenty of ways to make a living - working on the docks by the Thames, acting in one of the newly opened theatres, or joining an industry by specialising in a selected craft - such as fan making, baking or <a href="https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Resources/learning/targettudors/words.html#goldsmith" style="text-decoration:none">goldsmithing</a>. What would you choose?&nbsp;

Many chose the third option. With more and more skilled craftsmen, there came a need to both regulate the quality of workmanship and represent the industries. And so medieval trade guilds were established. Ever since they’ve played an essential role in the City.&nbsp;

To ensure high quality of workmanship, these guilds provided apprenticeships to those wanting to join their specific trade and carried out regular control checks on the member-run businesses.&nbsp;

All guilds had high standards of quality for the goods and services provided by their members. With fierce competition, guilds wanted members to showcase which specific guild they belonged to. So they adopted fancy clothing and armoury, earning them the name of Livery Companies.&nbsp;

What does ‘livery’ mean you might ask. In the middle ages, around the 14th century, it meant allowance of any kind, though it was most commonly used to describe the clothing allowance in specific colors that was specifically dedicated for the members of the household.&nbsp;

Are you familiar with the phrase “Baker's Dozen”? What number is it referring to - 12 or 13?&nbsp;

This saying actually stems from Livery Companies. As a quality measure, each good sold needed to meet specific requirements set by the guild. In the baker’s world, those who were caught selling bread or cakes smaller than the set standard received a penalty - and even risked being expelled from the guild! To avoid this, when someone ordered a dozen pieces of bread, bakers would regularly include the 13th piece for free. Sounds nice for the customers, right?

Take a few steps forward, moving towards the city. On your left, you should be able to see a gate into another courtyard. Feel free to get closer and examine the emblem on top of the gate.&nbsp;

How would you describe it? Fancy? Ornate?

This is the emblem of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers. Each of the companies has similar emblems that mark their halls. So pay attention as you walk around the City of London. If you wander into the smaller streets you will be able to find emblems with Leopards and Unicorns.&nbsp;

Also, if you notice someone walking with a cape as if they are heading to a medieval dress-up party, they are likely a member of the worshipful companies. It may seem outdated, but the dress code still remains in use during the meetings today.&nbsp;

Nowadays you are most likely to see people rushing to their office dressed in suits. There is a picture provided to paint you a better image of what shopping in medieval London would have looked like, as craftsmen would have worn a similar outfit while in their shops to represent their affiliation with the Livery Companies.&nbsp;

Let’s continue walking, and I will tell you more as we walk.&nbsp;

Keep heading straight. Once you reach Cannon Street, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing, and continue walking straight.&nbsp;

There is no doubt that livery companies played a very significant role in the development and governing of the City of London. They represented and lobbied on behalf of their trade, provided training to pass the skill and knowledge, and regulated the quality of services provided. What role do they have in modern London, that is far larger than the one square mile within which they operated?

Not all of the original livery companies survived, due to changes in fashion and technology some companies like Long Bow String Makers and Hat-ban makers were replaced by new companies that represent emerging industries - such as the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, Management Consultants and Water Conservators were established.&nbsp;

Nowadays, some companies still maintain close connections to their trade, by continuously supporting education for those practising the trade. Involvement ranges across companies and industries. Collectively as a group, the livery companies and chiefly known for their charitable giving - donating over 40 million pounds each year to different causes.&nbsp;

That’s a lot of money!

Today, the existence of the Livery Companies is not common knowledge, let alone the scope of their influence. But it is safe to say that&nbsp; with plenty of fancy social events, no lack of funds, and even the Royal family amongst their members, there is no doubt that the Worshipful Companies are influential multi-million dollar organisations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Livery Companies

The building on your right is called Mansion House. This is the official residence of the Honorable Lord Mayor of the City of London.&nbsp;

The Lord Mayor of London is different from the Mayor of London.

One is a political position that was created only in year 200 and is responsible to oversee the entire Greater London area, while the other is only responsible for the one square mile large borough of the City of London and has existed since the late 12th century.

Which one is the Lord Mayor responsible for?

I hope you guessed the latter!&nbsp;

The Honourable Lord Mayor of the City of London is now an apolitical role whose main objective is to promote businesses that are based in the City. Because of this sometimes the Lord Mayor is referred to as an international ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services industry,&nbsp; majority of which is based within this district.&nbsp;

How much do you think is the&nbsp; salary for such a role?&nbsp;

I wouldn’t blame you for thinking that with such a grand title and important responsibility would come with quite a nice monthly paycheck. But it is quite the opposite. The position is unsalaried and whoever holds it is expected to contribute towards the costs of entertaining guests and taking international trips.&nbsp;

Basically, you have to pay for the honour of holding the position - sounds like a strange arrangement!

Still, for a whole year, you get to live in this beautiful Mansion house, wear velvet leggings and cloaks as your office attire, and throw parties to entertain around 50 thousand guests a year. Who wouldn’t want that life?

Let’s walk across the road to see the main entrance of the building.&nbsp;

Take some time to admire the front facade. What a magnificent mansion!&nbsp;

Since the role of Rightful Honorable Lord Mayor of the City began in late 12th century, the Lord Mayor’s private homes and livery company halls were used to complete their duties.&nbsp;

After the Great Fire of London had devastated the city, there were fewer Livery Company halls where guests could be entertained. And it was seen that the companies whose halls were used had a level of advantage within the city.&nbsp;

Because of these factors, an independent residence for the Lord Mayor was built in the mid 18th century.&nbsp;

All great buildings come with a hefty price tag. Though not all of them have a scandalous story about its funding attached to it.

Well, the Mansion house does. Mark Twain even wrote about it in one of his books!

So how did the city's officials manage to raise money for the house? A by-law was passed imposing a heavy fine upon anyone who refused to stand for election, or who, if elected, refused to serve as the Sheriff of the City of London.&nbsp;

Are you already asking yourself, where is the catch?&nbsp;

To serve as Sheriff of the City of London, one had to take the sacrament under the Church of England. Given the growing movement of English Dissenters - Protestants who separated from the Church of England - many were not willing to fulfil this requirement. Officials knew this was the case - so what did they do? They deliberately targeted wealthy dissenters and fined them until they’d collected the needed funds.&nbsp;

The fines were really hefty. If you were in that situation, would you pay a fine that today is equivalent to GDP 90,000 or take a sacrament in a religion that you do not believe in and have just separated from.

Pretty crafty, right? Well this is&nbsp; how they managed to pay off the price tag for the building that stands before you today!

Today, both the Lord Mayor and the Worshipful Companies play important roles in sustaining many centuries-old traditions within the City of London.&nbsp;

If you’re interested in experiencing some of centuries old London traditions, you should consider attending the Lord Mayor’s show - one of the longest surviving parades in London!&nbsp;

The show takes place every November to celebrate the inauguration of the incoming Lord Mayor and offers a mix of British tradition and modern carnival. It’s quite a spectacle!

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2ktsc1Q">diamond geezer</a> 
&nbsp;

Mansion House

Cheapside - quite a funny name for a road - don’t you think?

Any ideas what it could mean?

Did you guess it was the poor side of town?&nbsp;

London has plenty of street names whose origin is directly linked to what was happening there. &nbsp; Such as Bread Street where one would find the bakers or Knightrider street - where jousting tournaments would take place.&nbsp;

In Medieval England ‘Cheap’ actually meant market and this is where Londoner came to do their shopping.&nbsp;

The meaning of this world has changed quite significantly… Also shopping in some of the stores around here is not exactly what one would call cheap…&nbsp;

👣  Cheapside

To see how St. Pauls Cathedral changed over centuries, <a href="http://www.globetrott.com/post/st-paul-s-cathedral-a-story-of-survival">click the link</a> to see additional images.&nbsp;

We have reached St. Paul’s Cathedral. We are going to walk around it, so that you could admire the architecture from different sides.&nbsp;

Personally I am a big fan of this spot. As it catches you by surprise and showcases how seamlessly modern architecture mixes with classical buildings in London.&nbsp;

This masterpiece was designed by Architect Sir Christopher Wren, who was leading the rebuilding of the City of London after the Great Fire destroyed around 80% of the city.

This version of St. Paul’s Cathedral is the 5th to stand on these grounds. Or maybe the 6th, as it is likely that a roman temple to Goddess Diana was the first building on this site.&nbsp;

As you would expect, the first buildings were destroyed by either fires or Viking attacks. After 153 years of construction, in 1240 the Medieval Gothic Cathedral was built. It&nbsp; was a masterpiece of its time!

It looked very different from what you see now. It was built from red stones, had high pointed arches, elaborate stained glass windows and a striking 150m spire. That is more than double the height of the current dome. With a spire that tall, for over 300 years the Old St. Pauls Cathedral maintained the title of the tallest building in the world.&nbsp;

If you would like to see how St. Pauls Cathedral changed over centuries, <a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/st-paul-s-cathedral-a-story-of-survival">click the link in the transcript section to see additional images.&nbsp;</a>

Even though built of stone The Cathedral did not survive the Great Fire of London. Its wooden roof caught fire. With primitive tools of leather buckets and the rest of the city in flames - the fire was not extinguished fast enough. As it spread from the roof into the main naval and the crypts, Everything from the wooden benches, to painting, the altor and thousands of books was set aflame and kept on fueling the fire.&nbsp; Such heat created immense pressure and the stone walls gave it. Explosions started and loose rocks were spewing out, while the cathedral was collapsing. What a devastating sight...

It was damaged beyond possible repair and its remains needed to be demolished.&nbsp;

As if Phoenix rising from the ashes, the current masterpiece has been built in its place.&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/_njd4lE853I">Nick Fewings</a>

👣  St. Pauls Cathedral: raising from the ashes

To see some additional pictures of St. Pauls's Cathedral <a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/st-paul-s-cathedral-a-story-of-survival">click on the link here.</a>

Many people like this spot, as it combines two landmarks of London - the red telephone booth and the magnificent dome of St. Pauls Cathedral.

Survival of this church came under threat again during the Second World War, when London was heavily bombed by the Germans. It was an awful and extremely frightening period that lasted 8 months. London was hit really badly as it was bombed nearly every night.&nbsp;

A huge part of London was destroyed, more than 40,000 people died and over 1.5 million Londoners were left homeless.&nbsp;

Winston Churchill, prime minister at the time issued a message saying “St. Paul’s Cathedral must be saved at all costs”. And against all odds it did survive.&nbsp;

In your phone you can see an image of how badly this area has been affected.

Survival of the cathedral is largely due to a group of volunteers known as St Paul’s watch. They stayed up during the night and guarded the building. In case of fire or any other damage, they were the first response to tackle it.&nbsp;

As bombs were being dropped and set areas around St. Pauls ablaze, burning pieces&nbsp; frequently fell onto the roof of the Cathedral. It was essential to put them out immediately, because otherwise they could have set the roof on fire, and&nbsp; history could have repeated itself.&nbsp;

The night of December 29th was horrific. At least 28 incendiary bombs, designed to set fire, hit the Cathedral and the surrounding area. One landed on the dome.. As it burned it started to melt the lead of the iconic dome…

Luckily St. Pauls Watch and the firefighters were able to contain the fire and have saved this beautiful Cathedral.&nbsp;

There was damage done to both the exterior and interior of the building. But as you can see it has been perfectly restored. And when it comes to the interior, actually it got enhanced as detailed a mosaique has been introduced.&nbsp;

You can visit the cathedral to see it yourself or check out the additional images by<a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/st-paul-s-cathedral-a-story-of-survival"> clicking the link </a>provided in the transcript section.

👣  St. Pauls Cathedral: survival during WW2

This is the main entrance to St. Pauls Cathedral.

No one will argue that it is a stunning fasade. 
Quite common to other catholic churches, the triangular relief depicts a religious scene. It showcases St.Paul, patron of this church, conversion to chirstiantiy.

Look above the triangular relief, can you see the gold sculptures on top of both towers? It might be difficult to see their exact shape, these actually are golden pineapples - a symbol of peace, prosperity and hospitality. Quite an uncommon sculpture to find.

The most uncommon feature is the two story facade. As it goes around the building, it gives an illusion that the interior of the building might be split into two stories too. Which is not the case. 
The original model of the Cathedral was smaller, with a more traditional one story facade and without any towers. Though as more funds became available to built the Cathedral, architect Sir Christopher Wren kept on enhancing the design to achieve the masterpiece that we see in front of us now.

As you can see the visitor entrance is on your left through the side door. That is becauseThe&nbsp; main doors are open only on special occasions, that usually coincide with the visit of the Royal family.

And there have been quite a few royal occasions that were celebrated here..

Royal Jubilees mark major periods in Monarch’s reign. St. Pauls has seen five such celebrations.

Queen Victoria was the first one to celebrate a diamond Jubilee - The 60th anniversary of being crowned the Queen of England. The only other monarch to celebrate a diamond Jubilee is her great-great-granddaugther Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Who is now both the oldest and longest serving monarch ever.

Look at the steps of St Pauls, this might be a challenge for an elderly person. At the time of her Diamond Jubilee, Queen Victoria was 78 years old and her health was poorly. Climbing those steps without any support would have been a struggle. And so she has remained in her carriage with the ceremony taking place around it.

The latest Jubilee celebrations was for Her Majesty's Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee celebration, that took place in July 2012. She was 86 years old and feeling great as ever. That same month she even jumped out of the helicopter with James Bond to open the London Olympics. Those who saw the opening ceremony will remember the reference and if you haven't - it is definitely worth a watch.

Look right behind you, have you noticed the sculpture of the Queen? 
This sculpture is actually of neither of the Queens that we have just mentioned. It is of Queen Anne who was a ruling monarch at the time St. Pauls Cathedral was being rebuilt.

Another significant celebration that took place here is the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It was a grand and stunning ceremony, with over 2,700 guests attending in person and around 750 million spectators viewing the ceremony on television.

It is a known fact that this royal marriage did not last. One could say maybe if Diana would have said the correct name of Prince Charles during the wedding ceremony the fate would have been different. Yes, you heard that&nbsp; right.

During the ceremony Diana said “ I take Philip Charles Arthur George” … while his name is Charles Philip Arthur George. In her defence she only got the order wrong and knowing the significance of the ceremony and the amount of spectators watching, it is understandable that she might have been quite nervous.

Hope you have enjoyed a little bit of the Royal gossip.

If you are going to be visiting the Cathedral, make sure to visit all of the galleries. 360 views of London open up from the stone gallery that goes all the way around the outer done. As you enter the whispering gallery you are likely to see people glued up to the walls - join them and listen in to what others are whispering. Words said on one side of the gallery travellers to across and can be heard on the opposite side.

The cathedral is open to attend prayer services that take place in the morning and evening. Throughout the day it is open to visitors for sightseeing. Tickets are around GDP 20 and can be bought at the entrance.

Credits 
Image West Entrance, St Paul's Cathedral by&nbsp;<bdi><a href="https://flic.kr/p/ztPko">S</a></bdi><a href="https://flic.kr/p/ztPko"><bdi>teve Cadman</bdi></a>

St. Pauls Cathedral: Royal Family traditions

How does one become a member of the Livery Company you might ask?&nbsp;

One must be awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

Let’s talk about this intriguing title and a centuries old tradition that is still practiced today.

Each of the Livery Companies provided apprenticeships to those wanting to join their trade. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, when the person has proved their mastery of the trade, they were invited to become members of that specific Worshipful Company, and were awarded the Freedom of The City. This status was very important as it granted the privilege to trade, own property, and carry a sword in public within the borough! It also meant you saved on the toll fee when herding sheep over London Bridge.

Can you imagine someone practising their right of herding sheep across London Bridge amongst all the commuters?

In Medieval London, that was a daily occurrence, as farmers moved the cattle for selling at the Spitalfields meat market. Not needing to pay the toll fee gave farmers a notable increase in their profits.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Did the thought of sheep being heard across the busy London Bridge made you cringe?&nbsp; Is it something that you would like to see? ?&nbsp;

Once a year every September, the Worshipful Company of Woolmen organize the annual sheep drive - a fundraiser where all the proceeds go to charity and Londoners are reminded of cities medieval past.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Nowadays the Freedom of the City is mainly a ceremonial tradition. It is still granted for new members of the Livery Companies and as an honorary title to those who have significantly contributed to the City of London. Famous recipients of this honorary title include Princess Diana, Nelson Mandella, and J.K. Rowling to name a few.

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Certificate_of_the_Freedom_of_the_City,_Jenner._Wellcome_M0011023.jpg#/media/File:Certificate_of_the_Freedom_of_the_City,_Jenner._Wellcome_M0011023.jpg">Welcome Images</a>

👣  Freedom of the City

You can find a political cartoon by Thomas Gillray <a href="http://Thomas Gillray depicted the situation in a political Cartoon, you can see here">here</a>

The grand building before you is the Bank of England. It is also known by its nickname as The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.&nbsp;

Let’s first talk about how the bank was established and it’s gold reserves.

Nowadays few of us could imagine a world without central banks. Who would issue banknotes, set interest rates or manage national debt?

If you were to guess, how long ago do you think the Bank of England established?&nbsp;

You might be surprised to learn that the world’s second-oldest central bank is just over three hundred years old and less than 75 years ago it was a private company.&nbsp;

In the late 17th century, England was at war with France. New artillery and ships were needed for England to win and regain global power. The King and the government were desperate for money. Several affluent Londoners proposed a concept of creating the Bank of England, that will raise funds to finance governments debt. King Wiliam III issued the Royal Charter and the Bank of England was established as a private company in the year 1694.

You might be asking, how were those wealthy merchants planning to raise funds?

Firstly the agreement has been signed with the British government who agreed to take out a loan for GDP 1,2m with an 8% interest rate.&nbsp;

At the time majority of people earned around GDP20 a year, so raising that kind of money was not an easy task.&nbsp;

Those same merchants who established the bank then approached other wealthy Londoners offering to buy shares in the bank. And the response was overwhelming. They were able to raise more than the needed funds in only 12days.

Londoners brought their gold and in exchange received a bankers note stating the value that the bank owns them. It was a promise that the bank will repay the holder of the note the stated amount. These notes started to be traded amongst people, giving way to the banknotes as we know it today.&nbsp;

Do you have a banknote in your wallet? Take it out and have a look. On the side of the note that has the image of the Queen, in the top middle part, you should be able to easily see the Bank of England emblem. Now look right below it for a declaration in a smaller font that reads “I promise to pay the beholder on demand the sum of …”

Hundreds of years ago you could have exchanged such note for gold…&nbsp;

Talking about gold…

I am sure it will come as no surprise to hear that England’s gold reserves are amongst the largest in the world.&nbsp;

Though, how much gold do you think is held within the volts?&nbsp;

Three stories below the building and past many high tech security features, the volts safeguard over 5 thousand tonnes of gold!

To put that into perspective, estimates suggest this could amount to around 3% of all the gold mined throughout the HISTORY of humankind!&nbsp;

Action movies frequently show robbers getting access to volts in banks that are stacked with cash or gold bars. Bank of England claims to be the safes bank and according to its records, no one has ever broken into its volts.&nbsp; There is no doubt that a super-advanced security system is guarding it. But what would happen in case the technology were to fail? There is also a more traditional way of opening the volts - using a set of very special keys - with each of the keys being over three feet long. That's a size of a toddler! Attempting to sneak around with just one key of this size is nearly impossible - no wonder that no one has robbed the bank this way.

Though there have been several fraud cases, as well as banknotes worth millions being stolen from the messengers delivering them.&nbsp;

Bank of England is a grand building. If you have some time, you can visit the Bank of England museums and explore some areas inside the building too. Obviously, visiting the vaults and other office areas is off-limits to the public.&nbsp; Entry to the museum is free and gives you a chance to learn more about its history, and modern importance, as well as an opportunity to try to lift a real gold bar!&nbsp;

Do you remember the nickname that the bank is still commonly referred to?

The old lady of Threadneedle Street. So where does it come from?

In the mid 18th century, slightly less than a century after the bank's establishment, a financial recession hit the country and the government was desperate for money again. Thomas Gillray depicted the situation in a political Cartoon, you can see <a href="https://romantic-circles.org/sites/default/files/styles/gallery_zoom/public/galleryOriginals/e8d7b9d0bd034a895c81114fcdd89f6a.jpg?itok=fp7zq637">here</a>.The old woman dressed in banknotes is sitting on a strongbox - very obviously she is representing the bank and its attempts to protect the gold coins that people have entrusted to it. The man is the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, is attempting to woo her, though his true intention is to get his hands on the money!

The Cartoon was named “Political Ravishment, or the Old Lady of Threadneedle-Street in Danger!’”. I am sure by now you have added the dots - Threadneedle is the name of the street the bank is built on.

Let’s say goodbye to the Old Lady and head towards the most modern part of the City of London.

On the way we will make a short stop to talk about who served the money lenders function before banks were established.&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Banco_de_Inglaterra,_Londres,_Inglaterra,_2014-08-11,_DD_141_(cropped).JPG#/media/File:Banco_de_Inglaterra,_Londres,_Inglaterra,_2014-08-11,_DD_141_(cropped).JPG">Diego Delso</a>

Bank of England

To see old logos and their similarities with new ones, <a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/historical-lombard-street-signs">click on the link</a> to see it.

This is Lombard Street. Historically, most UK-based banks had their headquarters here, and as I’m sure you can see, it is still filled with corporate offices servicing the financial industry! It’s even been compared to the famous Wall Street of New York City - pretty cool, right?

There is a history behind most street names.

When you hear Lombard Street, what ideas come to your mind?&nbsp;

If you’ve connected it to the Lombardy region in Northern Italy, then well done!

What’s the story behind this connection?

During the middle ages, it was considered unchristian to make a profit from lending money.

And so all around the world, this role was predominantly served by Jews.&nbsp;

As demand for money lending and tax collection was increasing,&nbsp; William the Conqueror, First King of England, invited Jewish immigrants to do just that.&nbsp;

They lived here and successfully fulfilled this role for about 200 years until all Jewish people were expelled from England at the end of the 14th century.

So who replaced them? Italian merchants and goldsmiths have settled in this area and opened prominent shops on this road. And as you can guess, most of them were from the Lombardy region. Londoners referred to them as ‘Lombards’ - and that’s how the street got their name!

But the Lombards were mostly Christian - so how could they lend money?

Well, they found a loophole!

As you would expect - the terms of the loan included the amount, repayment date and a guaranteed sum referred to either a voluntary gift or reward for taking a risk. It was not worded as interest, so I guess it was not a sin.

As London and International trade grew, so did their lending business.&nbsp;

With new partners joining, some of the initial shops turned into partnerships and later into banks.&nbsp;

Barclays and Lloyds are England's largest banks, and their early histories were shaped by what was happening on this narrow street!

Look up, can you see the signs hanging above the street level?&nbsp;

In the 17th century, many business houses involved with money lending filled this road.

Reading was not as common a skill as it is nowadays - so signs made it easier for Londoners to recognize the businesses and to tell them apart.&nbsp;

You could even say it was an early form of advertisement, without the hassle of words!&nbsp;

Are you familiar with Barclays Bank and the Eagle in their logo?&nbsp;

Well, their logo stems from these signs.&nbsp;

The new business that moved into the premises on this road typically inherited the signs that were already above their shops. When the Founding partners of Barclays bank moved their business to 54 Lombard Street, they inherited the sign of the Black Speared Eagle. It remains part of their logo today. The same story follows for Lloyds bank, who inherited the sign of a black horse.&nbsp;

If you want to see these logos and the similarities, we have included the pictures for you, just <a href="https://www.globetrott.com/post/historical-lombard-street-signs">click on the link </a>in the transcript section to see it!&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lombard_Street,_London-geograph-4123310-by-Oast-House-Archive.jpg#/media/File:Lombard_Street,_London-geograph-4123310-by-Oast-House-Archive.jpg"> Oast House Archive</a>

👣  Lombard Street

Here you can find the <a href="http://skygarden.london/visit/how-to-visit-2/">link to the address of Walkie Talkie</a> if you want to see birds-eye views of London while enjoying the luscious greenery around you.&nbsp;

Look up a little further in the distance. You should see plenty of skyscrapers - the most recently rebuilt side of the City of London. Can you see a building that is curved and slightly wider on top?&nbsp;

The skyscraper I am referring to has been nicknamed as Walkie talkie due to its shape.&nbsp;

What do you think of its design? Londoners are not big fans. It has even received an award as&nbsp;

the ugliest building that was completed in 2013 in the UK!&nbsp;

The curved design of the building has caused another highly unexpected problem… Several car owners reported that after leaving the car parked on the street, parts of it melted. Also there was an increase of minor fires around that area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As this was happening only on sunny days, it did not take long to realize that the design of the building is to blame for it. The glass was magnifying the sunlight while the curved design reflected it onto the street level. It’s safe to say that this left quite a few people unhappy.&nbsp;

This problem has been fixed and sun-shades were fitted onto the curved side of the building.

Both these facts are a little bit funny.&nbsp; Though, we are highlighting this building for a reason more beneficial for you. The top floor of this building is home to the highest public green space - The Sky Gardens. Yes you heard it right, it is open to the public and is completely free! 
 
In the description section, we have included the<a href="https://skygarden.london/visit/how-to-visit-2/"> link so you could easily find the address</a> if you want to see birds eye views of London while enjoying the luscious greenery around you.&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/xlh6oFbXp8A">Alex Tai</a>

👣  Walkie Talkie

Can you see the rounded aluminium structure? This is Lloyd’s building, home to the Lloyds of London - the oldest insurance market in the world.&nbsp;

Don’t discount it yet. This is not just a fancy building for another insurance company selling your car or holiday insurance.&nbsp;

It is a marketplace where more complex and some might even say fascinating insurance policies are issued. Lloyd’s prides itself on pricing large, complicated risks. It reportedly insured Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards’ hands for $1.6 million and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons’ tongue for more than $1 million.

Also, up until 2020 majority of its business dealings were conducted face to face, though as the COVID 19 pandemic has shaken the world, this is changing.

Nicknamed ‘the Inside-Outside Building’, the futuristic design of Lloyd’s building leaves few people indifferent - they either love it or hate it. What do you think?&nbsp;

I love the aluminium and the elevators look great too. Though it is a little bit odd to have all the service shafts on the outside. Taste is a personal choice - so let’s explore why the building looks the way it does!

This innovative building was designed to meet the clear needs of the company for whom it was built.&nbsp;

The key requirements were:

<ol>
	<li aria-level="1" style="list-style-type:decimal">It must be relatively easy to expand and rearrange the working environment inside the building 
	and</li>
	<li aria-level="1" style="list-style-type:decimal">No maintenance work or other rearrangements of the working environment can interrupt the work that is being done in the Underwriting Room</li>
</ol>

Are you intrigued by these specific demands? I will explain the reasons behind them in a minute.&nbsp;

Architect Richard Rogers and his company won the competition to design the building. As you can see, all of the service points - including lifts and ducts - are on the exterior of the building. The rounded aluminium feature is actually a staircase, to be used as an emergency exit.&nbsp;

Having all of these features on the outside of the building means that the interior can be easily rearranged as needed. Also, any maintenance work that is required can be done working outside, ensuring that it is always business as usual inside the building.&nbsp; The Underwriting Room - often simply called “the Room” - is on the ground floor at the centre of the building.&nbsp; Surrounded by a large atrium it gives everyone working there a sense of connection. 

Lloyds of London is an operating office where highly private business matters are discussed. As such, visiting is not allowed. But you can see several pictures of the interior on your phone.&nbsp;

What is “the room” used for exactly?

Based on the ground floor, “the room” operates almost like a street market. A broker has a specific risk they want to insure, so they walk in and start negotiating terms for the best options with specialized underwriters.&nbsp;

Sounds very straightforward. Though how does one insure something like a spaceship?&nbsp;

With the risks being so large, quite often several companies will cooperate and provide joint insurance. If all the parties and in close proximity to each other, it makes the process faster and more efficient.&nbsp;

You may be wondering why I keep mentioning spaceships. You see, in 2019 Lloyds of London launched a space policy that would cover tourists going into space. Sounds futuristic, right? But with SpaceX’s recent successful return missions. A trip to the space station might soon be possible for regular human beings like you and me.

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ZECWjnBBLEE">Max Whitehead</a>

Lloyds of London

You should recognize this iconic building of London. Its official name is 30 St Mary Ax, though due to its shape it is most commonly referred to as the Gherkin.&nbsp;

Environmental awareness is increasing around the world. Did you know that the Ghurkin is the first ecological highrise built in London? It consumes 50% less energy than other contemporary buildings of the same size.&nbsp;

As you can see its design is mostly created through the use of lighter and darker glass tiles. This is not only an astechical feature. The darker glass tiles are one of the building’s smart features. They are mechanical windows that open or close depending on weather conditions - massively reducing consumption from air-conditioning.&nbsp;

The rounded shape of the building gives a strong illusion that all the glass tiles used should be slightly rounded. This is not the case! In fact, they are all completely square except for one. The single rounded piece of glass is the one found on the very top of the building.

The Ghurking is only a few steps away, so you can walk to see it from up close. You can even admire the building from inside by grabbing a coffee from one of the cafes on the ground floor.&nbsp;

Credits 
Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/PGzu8mhAUj8">Alex Tai</a>

The Gherkin

Welcome to the City of London!

A City within a city, in a country within a country.

As we will walk across the city you will see how modern architecture seamlessly mixes with classical buildings. We will stop to admire St. Pauls's Cathedral, the GuildHall, and the Bank of England, as well as the modern architecture masterpieces such as The Gherkin and Lloyds of London.

More importantly, you will hear the stories of the major events that shaped the development of the city. We will also talk about old medieval traditions that are still practiced today and how they have impacted the modern world.

Credits 
Audio tour&nbsp;developed by GlobeTrott Travel 
Image&nbsp;by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@lachlangowen">Lachlan Gowen</a>

Audio tour | P6 | 6.99 EUR

London Tour

Welcome to London Tour

Welcome to London

Welcome to London, home of the Royal Family and Big Ben, once the heart of an empire that covered a quarter of the panet, and now among many other things... a forest! There are so many trees in London that it qualifies for the title under UN forestry standards. 
As you enjoy the greenery along your tour today I’m sure you’ll recognise many iconic landmarks and postcard worthy scenery but we are also going to be guiding you through some of London’s less known stories that shaped the destiny of this great city. 
To enjoy a truly immersive experience, we encourage you to enable the autoplay function that you can turn on by clicking the three dots in the right hand corner of the screen. This will allow for the audio files to start playing automatically as you approach sights that are part of your tour.&nbsp;We have built a few more features to help you navigate around the city. 
If you click the “Map” icon - you will see your tour route and your location. If you ever feel slightly lost, you can always get directions on how to reach a specific site by clicking on the directions icon. Now, click next to begin your tour, and the directions icon if you need guidance to reach the first site. 
Enjoy!

The End of the Tour

You have come to the end of the tour!&nbsp; 
I hope you enjoyed exploring London and learned something new to share with others. 
Globetrott would love to hear your feedback, which you can leave in the window that is about to pop-up on your screen.&nbsp; 
A quick tip while you’re writing your review: 
Most museums and galleries in London are free to visit. We particularly like The National Gallery and the Natural History Museum. 
Thank you for choosing GlobeTrott and see you next time!

&nbsp;

London

London Tour

Overview:

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LIST OF SITES