The Square Mile: London’s most historic area

We take a deeper look at the ‘city of London’.

Transcript

00:00Hello, I'm here right by the Tower of London, inside the Square Mile, officially known as

00:08the City of London, which is the ancient and historic core of the capital. While modern

00:14London sprawls for miles in every direction, the Square Mile is where it all began. The

00:20story starts nearly 2,000 years ago, in around 43 AD. The Romans founded a settlement called

00:28Londinium along the River Thames. They chose the spot for its strategic position for trade

00:34and transport. By the 2nd century, Londinium was a bustling commercial hub, protected by

00:43a stone wall, the remnants of which still exist today inside the Tower of London. By the medieval

00:51period, the City of London had become a powerful economic force, full of guilds, merch,

00:58merchants, and craftsmen. In 1066, following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror granted

01:06London special privileges in exchange for loyalty. The city maintained its own governance with

01:15elected officials and unique rights that continue to this day. Now, the Square Mile faced enormous

01:23challenges. The Great Plague in 1665 killed tens of thousands of Londoners. A year later, the Great

01:30Fire of London destroyed much of the city, but it also cleared the space for rebuilding. Architect

01:36Sir Christopher Wren redesigned many churches, including the iconic St Paul's Cathedral as well.

01:43And then later, the Tower of London was built, both centrepieces in a now modern London city.

01:50By the 18th and 19th centuries, the city had cemented itself as a global financial powerhouse.

01:58The founding of the Bank of England in 1694 and the emergence of institutions like the Lloyds of

02:05London and the London Stock Exchange turned the Square Mile into the beating heart of global commerce.

02:12During the blitz of World War II, the city was heavily bombed, but yet again, it was rebuilt,

02:19this time blending historical preservation with modern architecture. In the late 20th and early 21st

02:26centuries, skycrapers like the Gherkin and the Walkie-Talkie emerged alongside centuries-old buildings.

02:33Today, the Square Mile is one of the world's leading financial districts, but it's more than just

02:41business. It's also home to Roman ruins, medieval churches, livery halls and the Guildhall, where

02:48city governance still happens today. Uniquely, the City of London also has its own police force

02:53and ceremonial, Lord Mayor, separate from the rest of London as well.