R6 - The Tower of London to London Bridge -4 Km - Across London Visual Marathon (Part 6/14)
- philip carey
- Jan 26, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 22, 2024
Start at Tower Hill Station
Finish at London Bridge Station
THE EXPERIENCE
City of London Power Trail
This 4.0 Km section of the Across London Visual Marathon takes you on a route past many of the major sites within the City of London. It starts at the Tower of London, which has stood as a symbol of London and its power for almost 1000 years. The route then heads towards Aldgate - the old eastern gate to the City of London and the home of London's industrious East End. It then turns westwards to the skyscrapers around Cornhill that represent the modern financial quarter of the City of London and onwards to its historic centre at Bank with the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, and Mansion House. The route then heads back to the river, passing Cannon Street and the Monument to the Great Fire of London before crossing over London’s most historic Bridge (London Bridge) and its tallest building – the Shard.
It is good for cityscapes, river views, skyscrapers, shops, churches, attractions, and other famous City of London landmarks. Numerous eating and drinking spots are also available along the way.
MUST SEE PLACES
What to See List
1 Tower of London
2 Fenchurch Street & Aldgate
3 Leadenhall and Lloyds Building
4 Bank of England, Royal Exchange
5 Mansion House
6 Cannon Street
7 Monument and St Martha’s Church
8 Borough Market
9 Guy Hospital and the Shard
10 London Bridge
Areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry
On this route, the main areas for eating and drinking are around St Katharine Docks, North of the Tower of London, Fenchurch Street, Leadenhall Market, Bank, Cannon Street, Borough High Street, Borough Market, and London Bridge Station.
BEST TIME
Morning—This route will be quite busy in places. The best time to do it is on weekends in the early morning when the lighting is at its best and there are few people around.
Day - Most of this route will be busy in places.
Evenings - Quieter in most places, especially after 8:30.
ROUTE OVERVIEW
This 4.0 Km section of the Across London Visual Marathon takes you northeast from the Tower of London towards Fenchurch Street and Aldgate. It then heads into the heart of the City of London’s skyscrapers belt before heading to the more historic financial buildings such as the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and Mansion House. It then heads south to Cannon Street and the Monument before crossing over London Bridge to the Shard and London Bridge Station.
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DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO GALLERY
This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Use the Google Map above to find their location. Double-click to see the image in full size.
HISTORY & INTERESTING FACTS
This video gives you a short introduction to how the City of London grew during the Tudors (1560) and the Victorians (1860)
7:26 mins
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is officially called Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. It was founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest.
The Byward Tower is at the southwest corner of the Tower of London and is the Great Gatehouse of the Outer Ward of the Tower. It was built by King Henry III and completed in 1272 to offer additional protection to the central keep. The tower comprised a series of defences to deter intruders, including a drawbridge in the causeway, arrow loops in the twin towers and two portcullises. Today, it is the main entrance to the Tower of London.
The White Tower is the tower’s keep and was used as a refuge, a military base, and a living quarter for the reigning monarchy. It was built in 1097 by William the Conqueror after the invasion of 1066 to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and deter foreign invaders. It was painted white in 1240 by Henry III and has since been known as the White Tower – and the ‘torture tower’ by traitors!
Tower of London Moat and Wall
Edward I created this deep moat in the 1270s to keep attackers at a distance and to prevent them from undermining a new curtain wall. This was so well-built and effective that its basic shape still survives. Initially, it was at least 50 metres wide and very deep at high tide, and sluice gates controlled the ebb and flow of the river. The moat has experienced many changes over its history, and in 2022, it was transformed into a flower garden
City of London buildings
The Royal Exchange
The Royal Exchange was founded by the merchant Sir Thomas Gresham. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, who awarded it a royal title and a licence to sell alcohol. It was London’s first purpose-built centre for trading stocks but had to be rebuilt twice, in 1666 and 1844, after being destroyed by fires. Trading ended here in the 1940s due to war damage. It was renovated in 2001 and now has luxury shopping and dining.
Fenchurch Street and the Walkie-Talkie
"Fenchurch" means "church in the fen” and refers to St Gabriel, a church that stood near here before the Great Fire of London in 1666. Fenchurch Street links Aldgate in the east with Lombard Street in the west, and the area has many corporate offices and financial buildings. One of these buildings is 20 Fenchurch Street, nicknamed "The Walkie-Talkie" because of its distinctive shape. It has a three-floor "sky garden" at the top, with restaurants and bars open to the public.
Fenchurch Street Station was the first station to be granted permission to operate inside the City of London when it opened in 1841. It is also the only station without a dedicated underground, and this building dates from 1935.
The Bank of England
The Bank of England is the UK’s central bank, and its mission is to deliver monetary and financial stability for the people of the United Kingdom. It was founded as a private bank in 1694 to act as the government's banker and to fund the war against France. The Bank’s headquarters has been on Threadneedle Street since 1734. It is responsible for issuing banknotes and coins and holds around 400,000 bars of gold worth over £200 billion.
Mansion House and Lombard Street
Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London and was built in 1752 in the Palladian style. It is used for some of the City of London’s official functions, such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer's “Mansion House Speech”. A new Lord Mayor of London is elected each year by the City as head of the City of London Corporation. It's a civic role and not political. To date, there have been over 693 Lord Mayors of London.
Leadenhall Market Interior
Leadenhall Market is one of the oldest markets in London and dates from the 14th century. It is right in the heart of the City of London on the site once the epicentre of Roman London. The current structure was designed in 1881 by Sir Horace Jones, who also designed Billingsgate Fish Market and Tower Bridge. Today, it's home to boutique retailers, pubs, wine bars and restaurants. The market was also used as the location of Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter film.
Lloyd’s of London and Willis Tower Watson and others
The Lloyds Building was designed by Richard Rogers and the Willis Building was designed by Norman Foster. The Willis Building features a “stepped” design, which was intended to resemble the shell of a crustacean, whilst the “inside out” Lloyds Building has its critical service routed on its outside walls. The pointed building next to the Willis Tower is nicknamed the Scalple, and the tall one opposite is known as the Cheesegrater.
Fishmonger’s Hall
Fishmongers’ Hall by London Bridge is the headquarters of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers – a guild of fish and seafood sellers in the City – and one of the 110 livery companies of the City of London. The Company has been in existence since 1272. This is their fourth hall, and it opened in 1834 when London Bridge was moved and rebuilt. Fishmongers’ Hall contains many treasures, some dating back to the 1380s..
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA
Click on the picture below to go on a 360 virtual tour of the shopping areas and have a look around.
Use the route to explore this location by looking around in 360, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the area and going on a virtual tour.
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