The City of London is, technically, not London — or at least not the London most visitors picture. This ancient square mile sits at the heart of the capital but operates almost like a city-state within a city, with its own elected officials, its own police force, and a history that stretches back to Roman settlement nearly two thousand years ago.
Walking here on a weekday, you are surrounded by suited financiers and the glass towers of global banks. Come on a weekend, and the streets fall eerily quiet — a strange, almost cinematic stillness that makes it one of the most fascinating places to explore on foot without the usual crowds.
Start at the western edge near St Paul's Cathedral, where Wren's masterpiece still manages to hold its own against the surrounding skyscrapers. Head east along Cheapside and you will pass fragments of the old Roman wall near the Barbican, a brutalist arts complex that is genuinely worth an afternoon inside for its gallery and cinema.
Further east, the Tower of London anchors the riverbank alongside Tower Bridge, two of the most visited sites in the country for good reason.
Food options have improved enormously. Leadenhall Market is the obvious photo stop, but duck into the surrounding lanes for decent wine bars and sandwich counters that cater to the weekday lunch crowd. Borough Market is just across London Bridge and worth combining into a half-day itinerary.
Getting here is straightforward — the Central, Circle, District, Metropolitan, and Elizabeth lines all serve the area, with Bank, Monument, Moorgate, and Liverpool Street among the main stations. Most accommodation sits in neighbouring Shoreditch or along the South Bank, which are livelier after hours.
Go on a weekday morning if you want the full working-city energy, or a Sunday if you prefer the ghost-town atmosphere with unrestricted photography of the streets.