Hi. I'm David Hill with New York Habitat.
Today we are going to take you for a tour
of the financial district of London,
known quite simply as 'The City'.
The City of London is just a small part of modern day London.
'The City' as we know it constitutes the ancient City
that was established nearly 2000 years ago.
The CITY boundaries roughly mirror those of the ancient town
which remained largely unaltered until the 18th century
and the beginnings of the industrial revolution.
The City is also known as 'the Square Mile'
as it covers approximately 1 square mile of central London.
Its original city gates no longer stand but their names remain:
Bishopsgate, Aldgate, Moorgate, and Newgate.
With the River Thames as its southern border
and the Tower of London guarding the river,
The City became a well protected
and well connected trading port in Roman times.
Standing guard over the City of London since 1066
and the successful invasion of William the Conqueror,
the Tower of London stands as a powerful reminder
of its turbulent past as a fortress,
a state prison and a place of execution.
Today the Tower of London is a wonderful attraction
housing Royal Armour, the Crown Jewels,
and home to the Tower Ravens.
Legend has it that should the ravens leave the tower
and the country will fall!
Leadenhall Market dates back to the 14th century.
Once a meat and poultry market
it was redesigned in the 1880s by Sir Horace Jones
and the domed roof, cobbled walkways
and wonderful decorations make it the attraction it is today.
If you look closely
you can still see the original wrought iron hooks
where produce was displayed in Victorian London.
The River Thames runs through the heart of London
and London would not be the City it is today without it.
The river has less impact on London's economy today
but there are several riverboat services and sightseeing tours
showing some wonderful riverside attractions!
The City of London is arguably the financial capital of the world
although New York may have something to say about that!
More than 500 banks have offices here at the Bank of England.
Predominantly serving the financial sector
there are over 300,000 people
working within the City boundaries.
The City is the financial and legal centre of London.
If you are here on business then why not consider
one of New York Habitat's serviced apartments
here in the heart of the City.
We have a range of apartments available
from 1 day to 1 year throughout the area.
It was in The City, on Pudding Lane
that the Great Fire of London started in 1666.
The Monument behind us, designed by Christopher Wren,
stands as a lasting memory of the great fire
which destroyed the medieval city.
St Pauls Cathedral is one of London's most recognised landmarks.
Victim of the great fire, St Paul's was rebuilt in the 1600s
and is the final resting place of some of England's greatest figures
including Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson,
and the Duke of Wellington.
The City boasts some wonderful historic sites.
In contrast there is some wonderfully innovative
contemporary architecture: No1 Poultry; The Lloyds Building
known also as the inside-out building;
and 30 St Mary Axe known by all Londoners as The Gherkin.
The City highlights the rich culture of London,
both ancient and modern.
Well, we have come to the end
of our video tour of the CITY here in London.
If you know of any fun spots to visit,
make sure you leave a comment
in the comment section below.
And if you're coming to London,
be sure to visit our website at nyhabitat.com
and book a vacation rental or furnished apartment
with New York Habitat.
You'll find furnished apartments all over London.
I'm David Hill with New York Habitat.
Thanks for watching our video tour of the CITY
and we hope to see you soon in the exciting City of London!