Historic England: City of London

This illustrated history of the City of London provides a nostalgic look at the Square Mile’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.

The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.

This book shows the City of London as it once was, from its medieval streets and alleys to its grand churches and commercial buildings. This is where London began 2,000 years ago when the Romans invaded Britannia. Though the City of London suffered terrible destruction during the bombing of the Second World War, it has reinvented itself into a high-tech business zone and today is one of the most important financial centres in the world. This fascinating collection of photographs will help you discover its remarkable history and witness the changes it has undergone over the past century and more.