London – The City

London City 1. St Paul’s Cathedral
The Current St Pauls was built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1676 and 1710, after the previous building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.The world-famous Dome is an iconic feature of the London skyline, but there is so much more to Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece than its impressive facade. The interior, with its glittering mosaics, intricate stone carving, and breathtaking vantage points, are just a few reasons why a visit to St Paul’s is a must.

2. The Tower of London
The Tower of London was built, to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and to deter foreign invaders. It’s now an iconic symbol of London and Britain and one of the world’s premier tourist attractions. The Crown Jewels are the greatest working collection of Crown Jewels in the world and include the world’s most famous diamonds – the enormous Cullinan I and the notorious Koh-i-Noor. Why not take a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tour and find out more about the tower and it’s history.

3. Nose to Tail meat eating at the St John Bread & Wine Restaurant
At his St John restaurant in sited around the corner from Smithfield meat market, Fergus Henderson has pioneered a new style of British cooking, stressing flavour above fashion or presentation, and unashamedly celebrating the parts of animals that most restaurant diners never see. St John’s Bread & Wine has become a London institution since it opened in 1994, with recipes like Pigs Head and Beans, Lambs Tongues Turnips & anchovy and Braised Hare & Swede.

4. Leadenhall Market
Situated in the heart of the City of London, Leadenhall Market is a thriving retail centre with a combination of covered retail outlets housed in a magnificent Victorian arcade, and bustling market stalls with a wide range of goods on sale. There’s an excellent selection of upmarket stores, from wine and suits to pens, leather goods and cheese. Its cobbled walkways and glass roof make it an attractive place to shop, eat and drink or simply to relax.

5. The Museum of London
With prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and Early Stuart galleries and the London’s Burning exhibition, as well as paintings, drawings, prints and a 20th century collection, the Museum of London provides a fascinating overall insight into the history and culture of the capital. From stone age man to Mods and Vespa motor scooters, the Museum of London is a rich resource that has something for everyone.

6. The Clockmaker’s Museum
The Clockmaker’s Museum at London’s historic Guildhall not only contains a sparkling display of horological instruments, but also tells the story of clock and watch making in London from 16th century to the present day. Begun in 1814, it is the oldest collection of clocks and watches in the world, and has been open to the public since 1874. The most important pieces are the marine timekeepers, particularly the celebrated 5th marine timekeeper completed by John Harrison in 1770.

7. The Millennium Footbridge
London’s Futuristic footbridge spans the river from St Paul’s Cathedral to Tate Modern. Unforeseen problems with lateral movement (or wobbling) when people walked across it soon after opening in 2000, temporarily earned it the nickname The Wibbly-Wobbly Bridge. Now fully stabilised, the fantastically slim structure is an engineering marvel, and has fast become a firm favourite, connecting the north and south banks of the Thames for pedestrians at an important location.

8. The Bank of England Museum
The collections at the Bank of England Museum contains a fascinating display of items accumulated over the 300 years or so of the Bank’s history. These include early banknotes and coins, books and documents, furniture, pictures and photographs, silver, statues and other artefacts which illustrate the history of the institution and it’s role today at the centre of the UK economy. Additional exhibitions and events take place throughout the year.

9. The Barbican Arts Centre
The Barbican Arts Centre is the largest multi-arts centre in Europe. It features displays of painting, film and photography, classical, folk and contemporary musical performaces, theatre, dance and special exhibitions and events throughout the year. In addition to the two huge performance spaces, there is a gallery, tropical roof top conservatory and three restaurants; Searcy’s, the Waterside Café and the Balcony Bistro.

10. Dr Johnson’s House
Dr Johnson’s House is one of the few residential houses of its age still surviving in the City of London. Built in 1700, it was a home and workplace for Samuel Johnson from 1748-1759, and it was here that he compiled the first comprehensive English Dictionary. Now restored to its original condition, the house contains panelled rooms, a pine staircase, and a collection of period furniture, prints and portraits. Situated to the north of Fleet Street, the house is found among a maze of courtyards and passages that are a reminder of historic London.

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