The City of London is the ‘square mile’ at the heart of wider London.
Founded by the Romans about two thousand years ago as a fortified trading hub, it prospered as a fording place across the Thames where ships could moor safely in the river ‘pool’.
London fell into ruins when the legions left in the fifth century AD. For many years, our streets were deserted.
Later, King Alfred rebuilt the protective walls, enabling the community to thrive again, reasonably safe from attacks.
Sitting at the intersection of Anglo Saxon kingdoms, it drew citizens from all across England – and further afield. As time went by the neighbouring city of Westminster developed as the centre of central government for England (then the United Kingdom) while the ‘City of London’ served as the heart of commerce.
We are still (loosely speaking) bounded by our historical frontiers – the Roman walls, some sections visible to this day.
However, we are now the world’s leading financial centre and a place where science and academia thrive alongside a vibrant range of small and larger business.
Well over 90% of firms in the City are Small/Medium Sized Enterprises and about half of the 620,000 workers here are within them.