House Lake View

House Lake View

House Lake View

The City of London

Many visitors to England do not realize that the "City of London" does not refer to the whole of London itself but only to the "square mile" of the old Roman city of Londinium, now housing the financial district plus a bit of residential area at the north end. Parts of the original wall around the Roman fort can be seen near the Barbican, a name which refers to the battlements of the fort but now applies to the arts centre and housing development established in a bombed out area after the Second World War. The Museum of London has its main building in the Barbican at the address of 150 London Wall.

The City of London is a corporation; unlike the other boroughs of London, it has its own mayor (the Lord Mayor of the City of London) and its own police force. It is also unique in that it only has 11,500 residents among a day-time working population of about 312,000 (2009 mid-year census). It pays for the Barbican out of business taxes on the City (i.e. the financial district), and it maintains several other public facilities such as the Central Criminal Court and the Heathrow quarantine station, while the City of London cemetery (a Grade I listed landscape) is located far to the east in the borough of Newham.

The City of London Guildhall and Old Library

The Guildhall and associated buildings, including an art gallery, were open during the London Open House Weekend. One was free to walk around the various facilities and listen to guides stationed at certain points expanding on details in view. The Guildhall itself forms the administrative centre of the City of London. It was built in the early 15th century on the grounds of a previous 13th-century civic hall and has withstood damage in the Great Fire of London (1666) and the Blitz (1940). Built like a church (photo), its interior is named the Great Hall where the Court of Common Council (the corporation's decision-making entity) meets and where state banquets and other notable functions are held.