Despite a history stretching back almost 2,000 years, the City of London
is one of the world's most modern, booming and yet unspoiled places to
visit. Today it is teeming with those who work in London's international
financial, legal and insurance industries. Catering to their every need,
the tiny 'Square Mile' is full of fine-dining establishments, cafés,
cocktail bars, clubs, cultural venues and historic pubs. With street
names including Poultry, Cornhill and Cheapside, it is impossible to
ignore the City's long and colourful history as a major commercial hub.
Stretches of Roman wall, fort, amphitheatre and bathhouse also provide
constant reminders of its past. In this book, author Lucy McMurdo guides
us on a fascinating tour highlighting fifty of the City's architectural
treasures and landmarks from across the centuries. The City has a
reputation for pageantry and tradition. It has its own government and
Lord Mayor and is home to many livery companies and guilds. Great
institutions are also based here, such as the Bank of England and Stock
Exchange, as are some exceptional historic churches. With buildings of
every style, age and height the City is an exciting destination, for its
skyline changes constantly with new office towers. Today, many of them
offer free viewing on their upper floors, revealing the fabulous London
panorama. From here you see the City's complex layout: narrow streets,
ancient and ultra-modern buildings as well as Tower Bridge and UNESCO
World Heritage Site the Tower of London. Illustrated throughout, City of
London in 50 Buildings offers a superb and engaging portrait of the rich
architectural heritage of the Square Mile.
