English Walks
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    • The City >
      • Walk: Clerkenwell
      • Walk: The Inns of Court
      • Walk: The Square Mile
      • Walk: St. Pauls - Heroes and Executions
      • Walk: The Heart of the City
    • East London >
      • Walk: Tower Hill & Shadwell
      • Walk: Bethnal Green
      • Walk: Sailing to Stepney Green
      • Walk: On the trail of Street Art: Hoxton to Shoreditch
      • Walk: The many faces of Dalston
      • Walk: Walthamstow Village
      • Walk: Spitalfields
    • North London >
      • Walk: Hampstead Village and Heath
      • Walk: Kilburn to West Hampstead
      • Walk: Old Street to Angel
    • South East London >
      • Walk: Bermondsey & Rotherhithe
      • Walk: Borough
      • Walk: Elephant & Castle
    • West London >
      • Walk: Fulham Broadway to Imperial Wharf
      • Walk: Hammersmith
      • Walk: Turnham Green to Chiswick Park
    • South West London >
      • Walk: Barnes Bridge to Fulham Palace
      • Walk: Last stop on the Victoria Line: Bustling Brixton
      • Walk: Richmond - River-views and royal connections
      • Walk: Vauxhall to Battersea
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The Square Mile: the City of London

'The City of London' is the area that was occupied by the Romans who built the original walled city._

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 The size of the area is just over one square mile. This is why we call it 'The Square Mile'.

'The City' or 'The Square Mile' usually refers to the UK's financial centre. This small area has been a global financial centre for centuries. 

The City's boundaries have remained almost the same since the Middle Ages. The area outside the walled city was countryside. 


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The symbol and motto of the Corporation of London (Domine dirige nos = Lord direct us)
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Lady Justice, the Old Bailey
1666, most of the City of London was destroyed by The Great Fire of London. Eighty-eight churches were destroyed. Sir Christopher Wren designed and rebuilt 51 of them, including St.Paul's cathedral.

During World War Two, the City of London was destroyed again.

In the 1970s, the first skyscrapers began to fill the skyline. 

In the 1980s and 90s, the area was bombed by the IRA (Irish Republican Army).

There are still many beautiful medieval churches, guild halls and open spaces hiding between the new modern buildings.
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A silver dragon, symbol of the City of London

For walks in The City, click on the links below:


Clerkenwell: A history of rebellion

London's Legal Quarter: The Inns of Court

Where Business, Finance and Skyscrapers meet Medieval London: Old Street to London Bridge

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A falcon. These birds are used in The City to help get rid of the pigeons

St. Paul's: Discover heroes, executions, palaces and a street that is not in London.

The Heart of the City












Did you know?

Within the City (the square mile) there
are over 150 parks and open spaces
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The area known as 'The Square Mile' (the City of London)