City of London

: For London as a whole, see the main article London.

Extent

The size of the City was originally constrained by a defensive perimeter wall, known as 'London Wall', that was built by the Romans to protect their strategic port city. However, the boundaries of the City of London are no longer the old City Wall as the city expanded its jurisdiction to the so-called City Bars - such as Temple Bar. However, the boundary froze in the medieval period and so the City did not and does not control the whole of London.

Related Topics:
London Wall - Temple Bar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The walls have long since disappeared although several sections remain visible above ground. A section near the Museum of London was revealed after the devastation of an air-raid on 29 December 1940 at the height of the Blitz. Other visible sections are at St Alphage, London Wall, and there are two sections near the Tower of London.

Related Topics:
Museum of London - 29 December - 1940 - Blitz - St Alphage - London Wall - Tower of London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The City of London borders the City of Westminster to the west - the border cutting through Victoria Embankment, passing to the west of Middle Temple, going east along Strand and Fleet Street, north up Chancery Lane, where it becomes instead the border with the London Borough of Camden. It continues north to Holborn, turns east, continues, then goes northeast to Charterhouse Lane. As it crosses Farringdon Road it becomes the border with the London Borough of Islington. It continues to Aldersgate, goes north, and turns into some back streets soon after it becomes Goswell Road. It ends up on Ropemakers Lane, which as it continues east past Moorgate becomes South Place. It goes north, becomes the border with the London Borough of Hackney, then east, north, east on backstreets, meeting Norton Folgate at the border with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It continues south into Bishopsgate, and takes some backstreets to Middlesex Street where it continues south-east then south. It makes a divergence to the west at the end of Middlesex Street to allow the Tower of London to be in Tower Hamlets, and then reaches the river. The boundaries of the City are marked by black bollards bearing the City's emblem.

Related Topics:
City of Westminster - Victoria Embankment - Middle Temple - Strand - Fleet Street - Chancery Lane - London Borough of Camden - Holborn - Charterhouse Lane - Farringdon Road - London Borough of Islington - Aldersgate - Goswell Road - Moorgate - London Borough of Hackney - Norton Folgate - London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Bishopsgate - Middlesex Street - Tower of London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Map clearly showing the extent of the City today

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The City of London is England's smallest ceremonial county by both population and area covered and is the second smallest British city in both population and size, after St David's in Wales.

Related Topics:
Ceremonial county - British city - St David's

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At its maximum extent the City included areas now not part of it, including Southwark (as the 'ward of bridge without'). The City today controls the full spans of London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, but only half of the river underneath them.

Related Topics:
Southwark - London Bridge - Blackfriars Bridge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The City of London also owns and looks after a number of open spaces well outside its own boundaries. These are: Ashtead Common, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath (including Parliament Hill), Highgate Wood, Queen's Park, West Ham Park, and West Wickham and Coulsdon Common.

Related Topics:
Ashtead Common - Burnham Beeches - Epping Forest - Hampstead Heath - Parliament Hill - Highgate Wood - Queen's Park - West Ham Park - West Wickham and Coulsdon Common

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~