City of London travel guide — City of London tourism and travel information

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City of London travel guide

about City of London

The City of London, often referred to as just the City or as the Square Mile (from its area) (but never referred to simply as London) forms the historic and financial centre of Greater London. Although the City was for centuries synonymous with London, the latter term is now reserved for the large conurbation surrounding it. The City has a population of about 7,000.

The City of London holds a unique political status, a legacy of the historic privileges granted by the Crown over hundreds of years. It is administered by the Corporation of London, headed by the Lord Mayor of London (confusingly, this post is distinct from but subordinate to the Mayor of London). It has a unique electoral system, which does not follow the usual rules of democracy, allowing businessmen a vote and arranging voters in wards with very unequal number of voters. The City is a ceremonial county and has its own Lord-Lieutenant.

It has its own independent police force, the City of London Police. The rest of Greater London is policed by the London Metropolitan Police, based at New Scotland Yard.

The City also has three independent schools run by the Corporation - City of London School (all male), City of London School for Girls (all female) and City of London Freemen's School (co-educational).

The City itself has two independent enclaves within it - Inner Temple and Middle Temple. It also has a number of exclaves well outside its own boundaries: these comprise eight open spaces (parks, forests and commons) in and around London.

Its Latin motto is "Domine dirige nos" which means "Lord, direct us".

City of London history

See History of London for details of the origins of the City of London.

It has been administered separately since 886 when Alfred the Great appointed his son-in-law Earl Aethelred of Mercia Governor of London. Alfred made sure there was suitable accommodation for merchants from north west Europe, which were then extended to traders from the Baltic and Italy.

The City developed its own code of law for the mercantile classes, developing such an autonomy that Sir Laurence Gomme regarded the City as a separate Kingdom making its own laws. In the tenth century Athelstan permitted eight mints to be established as against six in his capital, Winchester, indicating the wealth of the city. The City was composed of wards governed by Aldermen, who chaired the Wardmotes. There was a folkmoot for the whole of the city held in the shadows of St Paul's Cathedral.

Following the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror marched on London, to Southwark and failed to get across London Bridge or to defeat the Londoners. He eventually crossed the River Thames at Wallingford, pillaging the land as he went. Rather than continuing the war Edgar Atheling, Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria surrendered at Berkhamstead. London was rewarded by 1075 William granted the citizens a charter. The City of London was one of the few Institutions where the English retained some authority.

However, William insured against attack by building 3 Castles to keep the Londoners subdued:

In 1132 Henry I recognised full County status for the city and by 1141 the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community. This was the origin of the Corporation of London.

The city was burned nearly to the ground first in 1212 and then again (and more famously) in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Both of these fires were referred to as the Great Fire.

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "City of London".

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