The World’s Commercial Capital: A City of London Tour

(14 reviews)

London audio tour: The World’s Commercial Capital: A City of London Tour

This is a 2.6mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

How did a small Roman marshland settlement evolve over 2,000 years into a global hub for finance, business, and commerce?

On this London walking tour, you’ll uncover the City’s influence on the world economy, exploring its history and modern-day role.

The tour starts on the famous London Bridge, where I’ll take you back to Roman times, when the city was known as Londinium, and explain its role in the Roman Empire’s economy. At the Monument to the Great Fire of London, we’ll move forward in time, and I’ll tell you how the infamous inferno in the 1600s gave rise to the insurance business.

You’ll briefly stop in front of the former location of Plantation House, once a hub for trading commodities from across the British Empire with ties to the slave trade. In 2020, it was renamed 30 Fenchurch Street. The tour ends at Paternoster Square, beside St. Paul’s Cathedral, where you’ll learn about the 1960s redevelopment criticized for clashing with the domed temple’s iconic architecture.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

Hear how the City’s landmark skyscrapers got their nicknames as you take in the Walkie-Talkie, the Cheese Grater, and the Gherkin up close
Understand the crucial role of coffeehouses in the history of the financial system
Discover the history of the Bank of England, one of the world’s oldest central banks, and trace the roots of British banking to influential family dynasties
Visit historic markets like Leadenhall Market, Billingsgate, and the Royal Exchange
Experience Lombard Street’s bustle, the traditional heart of London’s financial district
Find out why three bronze horses are named after currencies in Plantation Lane
Hear the stories of London’s Stock Exchange, both old and new

By the end of this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a deeper understanding of 2,000 years of the city’s social and economic history. You'll have seen all the major landmark buildings and institutions that are at the heart of Britain’s capital.

No knowledge of business or finance is required to enjoy the tour, everything is explained. There are many opportunities to take creative photographs and make lasting memories too.

Tour Producer

Gerard Kelly

1 tour

I was born in Islington and I have lived or worked in London all my life. I am a chartered accountant by profession and working in the City gave me a life-long interest in the development and heritage of London, particularly its economic and social history.
The story of London, its people and places were shaped by its geography and past events connected to monarchs and political and military figures with whom we may be familiar. But in parallel there is an economic and social history of how trading and commercial activity has influenced London, the lives of ordinary Londoners across centuries and created the great metropolis we see today.

Through Voicemap and these tours, I am able to combine my passion for London, with some of my other interests in writing, transport, architecture, photography and technology.

I am hoping to add additional tours on Voicemap on these themes and I look forward to sharing all this with you. Please contact me with any comments or suggestions.

Preview Location

Location 45

Inside Guildhall Yard II

Back in Roman times there was an amphitheatre here and a black circle laid into the stone of the Yard indicates where it stood. It has remained a venue for public events since then, effectively the City of London’s Town Square and ceremonial centre.

The Guildhall became the... Back in Roman times there was an amphitheatre here and a black circle laid into the stone of the Yard indicates where it stood. It has remained a venue for public events since then, effectively the City of London’s Town Square and ceremonial centre.

The Guildhall became the place where the livery companies conducted their business. Livery companies are historic trade associations or guilds originally formed to regulate various trades, crafts, and professions. Dating back to the medieval period, they were responsible for setting quality standards, controlling apprenticeships, and protecting the interests of their members - an early form of regulation and compliance. Over time, these companies gained influence in the governance of the City of London, contributing to its economic and civic life. Today, there are 110 livery companies, ranging from traditional crafts like metal-working, fishmongers and tailoring to modern industries like information technology. While their regulatory role has diminished, they remain active in charity, education, and ceremonial functions. Livery companies also participate in the election of the Lord Mayor of London - an office that has existed since 1189
- and other city officials. The livery companies of London are some of the most powerful and wealthy organizations in the city, with assets estimated to be worth billions of pounds today.

The Guildhall is also the administrative and ceremonial centre of the City of London Corporation founded in 1067, which governs the city’s financial district. It is headed by the Lord Mayor with the Court of Common Council being its main decision-making body.

Guildhall Great Hall is the building directly in front of the passage where we entered. It's the building with the heavy wooden doors and has been the centre of City government since the Middle Ages. It's the City's only surviving secular medieval building and dates from 1411. The other buildings here are the church of St Lawrence Jewry, designed of Sir Christopher Wren and the official church of the Lord Mayor of London - there are also the civic offices, an art gallery and a modern library.

As the financial power of the City of London grew during the medieval and early modern periods, the Guildhall became a symbol of London’s economic might. It hosted many important events, such as royal proclamations and judicial proceedings, where key decisions about trade, commerce, and governance were made. The Court of Common Council, the City's main decision-making body, met here, impacting commercial policy in areas like market regulation, taxation, and infrastructure development. The Economist magazine said in 2001 that there are three ancient institutions still functioning in modern Britain: the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the Corporation of London but while the importance of the first two is much diminished, the Corporation, the least reformed of all, is more influential than it has been since its medieval heyday.” The City of London Corporation predates parliament and even today still has special relationship with parliament though a curious officer called the Remembrancer who has a seat in the House of Commons, effectively as a lobbyist for City and its interests.

In the modern era, the Guildhall is a venue for high-profile financial conferences, business events, and corporate gatherings, hosting global leaders, CEOs, and policymakers. Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela were both awarded the Freedom of the City of London here. A large formal dinner is held every year here to mark the retirement of the previous year's Lord Mayor of London. It is attended by the Prime Minister, who traditionally makes an important speech often focused on foreign policy. Read More

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Major Landmarks

London Bridge
Monument to the Great Fire of London
Billingsgate Roman House & Baths
Old Billingsgate
Custom House
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
Minster Court
Plantation House
The Fenchurch Building (The Walkie-Talkie)
Leadenhall Market
Lloyd's of London
The Leadenhall Building
30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)
Heron Tower
Saint Helen's Place
Horizon 22
Signature by Regus - London Tower 42
City of London Club
The Royal Exchange
Lombard Street
The Bank
London Troops War Memorial
Bank of England
Guildhall Yard
Guildhall Art Gallery
Cheapside
London Stock Exchange
Paternoster Square
St. Paul's Cathedral

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
24 Borough High St, London SE1 1TL, UK
Total distance

4km
Final location
Paternoster Sq., London EC1A 7BA, UK
Distance back to start location

1km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins on the south side of London Bridge which crosses the River Thames. London Bridge station which is right by the start, has mainline rail and Undergound services. London Bridge Underground Station is on the Northern Line and Jubilee Line, with regular tube services connecting to north, south, east, west and central London. The following bus routes also serve London Bridge station: 17, 43, 141, 149 and 388. Check Transport for London for full details: https://tfl.gov.uk/

The exact starting point is at the corner of London Bridge with London Bridge Walk. It's right by London Bridge Station with the iconic pyramid-shaped super-skyscraper The Shard behind you. The Southwark Gateway Needle, the sharp stone obelisk should also be immediately behind you. At the beginning of the bridge, you'll see the City of London boundary marker with the dragon and shield bearing the City of London's coat of arms painted in red and white and the red cross of Saint George. This is our precise starting point.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are lots of places to get refreshments on the way, shops, cafes and restaurants and suggestions for further visits. Leadenhall Market is a perfect place to stop for a drink or refreshments surrounded by history and vitality or take a break and relax in the exquisite churchyard of St Dunstan's. Some of the skyscrapers like Horizon 22 have free public viewing galleries and cafes or restaurants - check first for opening hours and booking.

There are museums close by such as the Bank of England Museum and the London Museum and art galleries and culture at the Guildhall Art Gallery and The Barbican. Many are free to enter but check opening hours. There is shopping at The Royal Exchange and at Cheapside.

Best time of day

From dawn to dusk but it could also be a nighttime walk - London Bridge and the City streets can be extra busy at the start and end of the business day Monday to Friday, so if you can, avoid 8am to 9.30am and 5pm to 6.30pm but it's not essential if you don't mind a few extra people around who may be in a rush.

Precautions

The City of London is a busy business district and is generally very safe. Some areas are pedestrianised but be aware of busy roads, vehicles and bikes - electric vehicles and bikes can be very quiet so watch out extra carefully for those. Cross roads only at the designated crossing points when it is safe. Please be aware of your surroundings. It's London so an umbrella is always useful!

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