Places to visit in the City of London

Where to visit in the City

The City of London has the best of both worlds in terms of experiencing the old and the new of London. Some of my favourite monuments are situated in the heart of the City and it will always be one of my chosen areas to explore in London. This blog post gives you some ideas of awesome places to visit in the City of London.

Explore St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is such a stunning landmark in the heart of the City of London. It’s been destroyed four times throughout history but the current design by Sir Christopher Wren has thankfully survived three centuries. Its dome is also the second largest in the world at 366 feet high.

The cathedral can be viewed from many locations close by including:

Ludgate Circus
St Paul’s Cathedral Churchyard (where there is a seating and greenery to eat lunch in the summer)
One New Change (both at the bottom and from the top floor where Madison rooftop bar is located)
Millennium Bridge as you cross over the River Thames
Rooftop bars and restaurants in the City

It is open for sightseeing from Monday to Saturday with up-to-date opening times on the calendar page. Generally, sightseeing is available every day the cathedral is open from 8.30 apart from Wednesday when it opens at 10am.

Tickets include entry to the Stone Gallery, Golden Gallery and The Whispering Gallery. Advance booking is cheaper (£20.50) but there may be walk up tickets available on the day (£23).

St Dunstan in the East Church Garden

This garden is a hidden gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle of City life. St Dunstan church was first built on the site of the garden in Saxon times but was severely damaged in 1666 by the Great Fire of London. It was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren (who designed St Paul’s Cathedral) in 1697 but it was damaged again in the Blitz of 1941. The tower and steeple survived the bombing and the remains can be found in this public garden today.

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market’s incredible architecture and rich heritage dates back to the 14^th century when it started life in the centre of Roman London as a meat, poultry and game market.

It remains an iconic destination in the heart of the City offering shopping, dining and drinking – my favourite places to visit are The Lamb Tavern, Brokers Wine Bar and Osteria Del Mercato. Leadenhall Market was also the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone! When you visit, you will see why.

Barbican Conservatory

From the inside of the main Barbican building, the conservatory is located on Level 3. It’s a gorgeous glass-bound rainforest which is home to over 2,000 different species of plants! It’s free to visit and tickets are available up to a week in advance to pre-book. Keep an eye out on the website for special events within the conservatory.

Visit the Tower of London

The Tower of London is a must visit for any historical buffs! The Tower is best known for securely guarding royal possessions, as well as the Royal Family in wartimes. Throughout the years, Kings and Queens imprisoned their rivals and enemies within its walls with many of the stories being told throughout your visit.

Admission to the Tower of London is £33.60 and includes access to the vast majority of areas including:

Crown Jewels
Tower Green
White Tower
Bloody Tower
Medieval Palace
Torture at the Tower
The Ravens
All the outside grounds

Visitors can also join a Yeoman Warder Tour to hear more about the history of the Tower.

Shop, eat and drink in the Royal Exchange

Another historical building is The Royal Exchange, which was originally London’s first purpose-built trading centre in 1566. Today it’s an iconic landmark for with stunning architecture for luxury shopping and dining open Monday to Friday.

Popular boutiques include Mont Blanc, Tiffany & Co and Boodles and all-day dining is offered at Grind, The Libertine and Fortnum & Mason’s Bar and Restaurant. OenoHouse is perfect for after work wine and the exquisite macarons will hit your sweet spot at Ladurée,

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market is one of London’s oldest markets and remains a popular destination for shopping, dining and drinking. The market is actually split into Spitalfields E1 and Old Spitalfields Market (although this wouldn’t be obvious when you visit).

It’s open 7 days a week and is home to a large number of independent stall holders offering a range of clothes, accessories, hand crafted items, books and more. If you are looking to dine in at the market, there are a number of restaurants / bars to choose from including Brother Marcus, The Grocer, Players Social and Galvin Bistrot & Bar.

However, for me, it’s all about the street food! The Kitchens take centre stage in Spitalfields Market with traders including Yum Bun, Pleasant Lady Trading, Dumpling Shack, Guasa and Shrimpy. There are plenty of smaller traders in and around the Kitchens serving up an eclectic mix of cuisines, both savoury and sweet. Outside the perimeter of Spitalfields are a few food trucks including Rainbo, Smokoloko and The Duck Truck.

Free walking tour with Wonders of London

A 2.5 hour free walking tour with Wonders of London is a fantastic way to learn about over 2,000 years of history whilst viewing several landmarks and exploring the windy streets of the City. Advance booking is recommended and it’s completely free – you just tip what you want at the end!