Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
City of London (the Square Mile), London
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London » London » Things To Do » City of London (the Square Mile) Reviews

London Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

City of London (the Square Mile), London

Somerset House - London
Somerset House
by Sharon
City of London (the Square Mile) tips and photos posted by real travelers and London locals.
• 107 Photos
• 87 Reviews

See all London Things To Do
London City of London (the Square Mile) Reviews 1 - 10 of 87  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
City of London (the Square Mile): Royal Exchange Building
  • Tip Rating:
    • sue_stone
  • By sue_stone on July 17, 2006
  • London Page by sue_stone
    • inside the Royal Exchange Building - London
    inside the Royal Exchange
    Building
    by sue_stone,
    1 more photos
    Situated between Threadneedle Street and Cornhill is the impressive Royal Exchange building. Its eight majestic columns attract your attention and respect and draw you up to the entrance for a closer look.

    Originally built in 1565, it was destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times over the centuries. In more recent times, until 1991/2, it was home to the London International Futures Exchange.

    Since then the building has been beautifully restored and these days is home to some gorgeous designer stores and every girls favourite place - Tiffany's!

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: Located at the junction of Threadneedle Street and Cornhill Nearest Tube: Bank
  • Website: http://www.theroyalexchange.com/
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting London?

    Read reviews about London Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    City of London (the Square Mile): 30 St Mary Axe, aka the Gherkin
  • Tip Rating:
    • sue_stone
  • By sue_stone on July 17, 2006
  • London Page by sue_stone
    • the Gherkin - London
    the Gherkin
    by sue_stone,
    2 more photos
    One of the most stunning buildings in the City of London is 30 St Mary Axe, also known as the Gherkin or the Swiss Re building.

    Opened in May 2004, this 180 metre high building is a stunning. It gets its nickname from the shape and colour of the building which does look a tiny bit like a gherkin I suppose. It certainly stands out in the London skyline, a fabulous addition to this vibrant city.

    Located in the heart of the City of London, it is filled with offices - half of the floors are occupied by Swiss Re (Insurance) and the rest by various other companies.

    Unfortunately the building is not open to the public, but I am hoping to get into it one day, perhaps for a job interview or something.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 30 St Mary Axe, London
  • Directions: Nearest Tube: Bank or Liverpool Street
  • Website: http://www.30stmaryaxe.com
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): The Ceiling of Leadenhall Market
  • Tip Rating:
    • easyoar
  • By easyoar on February 10, 2005
  • London Page by easyoar
    • The Ceiling of Leadenhall Market - London
    The Ceiling of Leadenhall
    Market
    by easyoar
    If you walk past Leadenhall Market, make sure you go inside. One of the best bits about it is the Ceiling which is full of windows and brightly coloured panels.

    Leadenhall originally got its name from a mansion that stood nearby that had a Lead Roof. This has long since gone, but the name remains.

    The Roof/ceiling covers what is these days mostly a smallish shopping precinct which has permanent shops and some market stalls selling food.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Whittington Ave EC3
  • Directions: Bank or Monument Underground Stations.
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): Horse Guards Are Human, Too.
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By Elena_007 on March 20, 2005
  • London Page by Elena_007
    • Royal Horse Guard in London - London
    Royal Horse Guard in
    London
    by Elena_007
    The Royal Horse Guards will continue to perform their duties without a word. Please do not annoy them by trying to speak with them. They are just doing their job, which happens to include allowing a tourist, such as myself, the honor (honour) of taking their photograph free of charge. The Changing of the Guard takes place everyday, when the Household Cavalry rides from Hyde Park, via The Mall, to Whitehall for the 11.00 am changeover.

    Mon-Sat: 11:00 Sun: 10:00
    Dismounting Ceremony: daily, 16:00
    Admission is FREE

    Not as eleborate as the "Changing of the Guards" at Buckingham Palace, but also no where near as crowded.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Whitehall London SW1
  • Website: http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_sights/horseguards1.htm
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): 311 Monumental Steps
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mariajoy
  • Updated By Mariajoy on April 23, 2007
  • London Page by Mariajoy
    • Don't look down! - London
    Don't look down!
    by Mariajoy, 3 more photos
    On an impulse I decided that I should - just once - climb the Monument. Built in 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London - it stands in Monument Street and celebrates the rebuilding of the city - (this time in brick!). A Doric column designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the 311 steps lead to a viewing platform. The Monument, still the tallest free standing column in the world, is 202 feet high - the exact distance from it to Pudding Lane (see other photo) - the site where the fire started.
    Don't attempt the climb if you are feeling unwell - they can't stretcher you down!!! (I asked). It is a long steep, vertiginous climb and you will pay 2 pounds for the privilege. The view is worth it though! Oh and they give you a certificate when you get back down to prove that you made the climb successfully!

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Monument Street
  • Directions: EC - (the City) 202 feet from Pudding Lane
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting London?

    Read reviews about London Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    City of London (the Square Mile): The Old Bailey or Central Criminal Court
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mariajoy
  • Updated By Mariajoy on May 14, 2006
  • London Page by Mariajoy
    • When will you Pay Me Say the Bells of Old Bailey? - London
    When will you Pay Me Say the
    Bells of Old Bailey?
    by Mariajoy, 2 more photos
    Built on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison, The Old Bailey is where the infamous Oscar Wilde stood trial in 1895, Dr Crippin in 1910 and Peter Sutcliffe in 1981.

    The bronze lady holds the Scales of Justice in one hand and the Sword of Freedom in the other. She faces the place where criminals were executed.

    Above the doors of the Old Bailey are the words:
    "Defend the Children of the Poor and Punish the Wrongdoer" See the other photo for this tip.

    The public can attend when the court is in session Monday-Friday, There are two public galleries with entrances at Warwick St, off Old Bailey and Newgate St. Children under 14 are not permitted.

    Opening times:
    10.30-1pm
    2pm-4pm

    Closed: Christmas, New Year, Easter and public holidays.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Corner of Newgate St and Old Bailey EC4
  • Phone: 020 72483277
  • Directions: St Paul's Tube Station
  • Website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/our_services/law_order/central_criminal_court.htm
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): Leadenhall Market
  • Tip Rating:
    • easyoar
  • By easyoar on February 10, 2005
  • London Page by easyoar
    • Leadenhall Market - London
    Leadenhall Market
    by easyoar
    The Leadenhall market is easily missed, which is a shame as it is very ornate. There has been a food market on the site since the 14th Century.

    The current building however is Victorian and was built in 1881 by Sir Horace Jones, who also built the more famous Billingsgate Fish Market.

    Inside there are sometimes market stalls, but there are also regular shops inside too. It is a popular place with city workers (Lloyds the Marine Insurance company is right next door). However this has the effect that it gets pretty dead at weekends.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Whittington Ave EC3
  • Directions: Bank or Monument Underground Stations.
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): A Warrior Queen in London
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By Elena_007 on March 20, 2005
  • London Page by Elena_007
    • Queen Boadicea - London
    Queen Boadicea
    by Elena_007
    The Iceni Queen Boadicea statue was placed near The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in 1902 by the London City Council. Ironically, this great woman warrior led an army of around 120,000 against the Romans in London about the time of AD 60. A mother, outraged by the rape of her two daughters, and the death of her husband, rallied the people together for battle, and was responsible for the deaths of nearly 80,000 Britons.

    For a wonderful, quick 2 page story about her life, see the website below.

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: Near Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament)
  • Website: http://www.fanzone50.com/Tales/Boadicea1.html
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): The Guildhall, London
  • Tip Rating:
    • easyoar
  • By easyoar on February 12, 2005
  • London Page by easyoar
    • The Guildhall, London - London
    The Guildhall, London
    by easyoar
    The Guildhall is the adminstrative centre for London. The buildings on this site have had this purpose for over 800 years (it is linked in with the Mayor of Londons role, which was 800 years old in 1989).

    For many hundreds of years, the hall here was used to try some of the more notorius crimes in London. Probably one of the most famous of which was the trial which condemned to death one of the Gunpowder Plot gang (the Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament by Guy Fawkes in 1605. 36 barrels of gunpowder were smuggled in to the Houses of Parliament, but before they could be blown up, the men involved were caught and sentenced to death).

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Guildhall Yard, EC2
  • Directions: St Pauls Underground
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City of London (the Square Mile): The Mansion House
  • Tip Rating:
    • easyoar
  • By easyoar on February 10, 2005
  • London Page by easyoar
    • The Mansion House - City of London - London
    The Mansion House - City of
    London
    by easyoar
    The Mansion Houseis the Official Residence of the Lord Mayor of London. It was built in 1753 and is a famous London landmark.

    There are some very impressive state rooms inside, including one built to an Egyptian theme.

    Originally there were 11 prison cells inside and a magistrates court as the mayor was the chief magistrate in London! Emmeline Pankhurst who campaigned for women to get the vote was imprisoned in this building.

    It is only possible to visit in a group, and this must be prebooked.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Walbrook EC4
  • Directions: Bank or Mansion House Underground Stations (it's right next to Bank)
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... 9
    More London Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 1,788 - Photos: 1,485
    Things To Do
    Tips: 9,604 - Photos: 13,277    		Nightlife
    Tips: 1,387 - Photos: 1,178
    Transportation
    Tips: 1,999 - Photos: 1,570    		Restaurants
    Tips: 2,979 - Photos: 3,302
    Shopping
    Tips: 1,048 - Photos: 1,155    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 1,608 - Photos: 2,059
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 500 - Photos: 346    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 709 - Photos: 412
    Local Customs
    Tips: 728 - Photos: 671    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 293 - Photos: 127
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 228 - Photos: 339    		General Tips
    Tips: 2,331 - Photos: 2,298
    Flights
    Tips: 167 - Photos: 0
    Best London Travel Deals

    500 Hotels in London
    Save up to 75% on your booking. Low rates and great availability!

    London Hotels
    Find the Perfect Hotel! Book Online for the Lowest Prices Guaranteed.

    Radisson Edwardian Hotels
    Luxury Hotels throughout London. Experience London in Luxury.

    Hand-picked London Hotels
    Low price guarantee - if you can find it cheaper we'll match it!

    Vacation in England
    myguideBritain, The England experts Custom built vacations to England

    Sponsored Links

    More London Travel Deals

    London hotels
    50 charming hotels selected Up to 50% discount - No prepayment

    London hotels
    Luxury to Budget hotels in London Book now and Save up to 70%!

    Hilton Hotels London
    Book 21 days or more in advance for 20% off at the official Hilton site

    Sponsored Links


    London Hotels

    Cheap hotels from
    Cheap flights from
    Cheap car rentals from
    Cheap cruises from
    Cheap vacations from
    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.