Staying in City of London, England

The City of London, colloquially known as the ‘Square Mile’, is a cornerstone of historical, fiscal and architectural renown. Not to be confused with London itself, the City of London marks a distinct area within Greater London with its own independent local authority and Lord Mayor.  

The English Monarchy may be what first comes to mind when picturing historical London, however the City of London itself dates back even further to the Roman era as the original Roman settlement, from which London itself would eventually develop.  

The City is home to some giants of the London skyline, including the Gherkin, the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. Beyond this, The City is noteworthy as an epicentre for global finance. With the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange among other famed institutions all found here, The City is London’s very own Wall Street.   

If you’re planning to stay within the great Square Mile, this is your ultimate guide of everything you must know for your business trip to The City of London. 

Visiting City of London, England - Key Information

Weather in City of London

The City of London experiences warm summers and cold, windy winters. July is the warmest month with average temperatures of 22.6 degrees Celsius, while temperatures drop to their lowest in December with lows often reaching below 0 degrees C. Thick layers will be your best friend in the winter months, while light layers will be perfect for a summer business trip to The City of London. While jokes about the dreary English weather are harsh, they are certainly true! Rain is likely year-round in London, so be sure to come prepared with an umbrella and raincoat whatever time of year you travel.  

Currency in City of London

Currency (GBP)

The City of London uses the Great British Pound. Staying in The City, you’re nestled in one of the world’s leading cashless societies where card and digital payments are the norm - MasterCard and Visa are accepted throughout The City. Whilst it’s a good idea to carry some cash for smaller local stores or when you need a £1 coin to use a shopping trolley at the supermarket, you’ll rarely need to make cash purchases.  

A 10-15% tip is custom to acknowledge good service, but isn’t expected. 

Health & Well-being in City of London

Greater London celebrates its impressive range of parks and green spaces, and The City of London proudly follows suit. One space raved about by locals is the Barbican Conservatory; a free-to-enter sanctum of tropical plant species. The City is also primely located for accessing the rest of London’s parks. Interestingly, whilst not within its geographic boundaries, The City of London Corporation owns and manages some of Greater London’s most acclaimed green spaces. Including Hampstead Heath, where visitors can enjoy a summer swim in its natural bathing ponds, Epping Forest, and West Ham Park. If an indoor workout is more your style, there are plenty of state-of-the-art gyms where you can enjoy group classes or get lost in your own tunes with a solo routine.  

Data in City of London

In the heart of the British capital, there’s so much to see that, you will always be on the go during your corporate trip to The City of London, so having enough data will be crucial. SIM cards can be purchased from various network stores across The City, but also from supermarkets and drugstores. Some of the most popular SIM providers include Vodafone, EE, O2, and Three.  

Plug Type: Type G

Cuisine in City of London

If you’re looking for good food on your business trip to the City of London, you are in luck. The city is home to some world-calibre restaurants from virtually every cuisine, but if you want some classic English food, the country is known for its “pub grub” and comfort meals. From the famed roast dinner to bangers and mash, and the humble British fish and chips, local cuisine can be found in pubs throughout The City, for those wanting the true British culinary experience.  

Speaking the Language in City of London, England

English is the official language in The City of London but, with its position in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, there are hundreds of languages spoken by those living or working in The City. Some of those most spoken include Bengali, Polish, Turkish and Punjabi. But with London’s rich and culturally diverse history, it has developed its own local slang that can seem like a language in itself. Here’s a few phrases you need to know to get by: 

Fiver - £5 

Tenner - £10 

Central – The centre and busiest areas of London (“I’m going into Central”). 

Oyster – Oyster Card – the travel card used as payment for London public transport (“Have you topped up your Oyster?”). 

Corner Shop – A local convenience store.  

Transport in City of London - Getting Around City of London, England

Getting around the City of London couldn’t be easier, with endless public transport options and some of London’s best-connected stations found here.  

The London Underground is the most popular for those commuting into and around The City. Conveniently, the City of London is home to Bank/Monument, one of the capital’s best-served underground stations. This interconnected hub hosts five underground lines as well as the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), an automated light metro system linking The City with London’s other major financial district, Canary Wharf. There are also plenty of bus routes for a more scenic trip around The City.  

You can pay for all London’s tubes and buses using your phone wallet or contactless bank card, or you can purchase and top up an Oyster Card from most corner shops. Make sure you remember to tap in and out when entering and exiting tube station gates to avoid being charged the maximum daily fare. 

For a more in depth how-to on London’s public transport, make sure to read our London Corporate Traveller Guide. 

If you’re looking to see more of what England has to offer on your business trip to the City of London, both Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street station are found here with railway lines out of London and to key international transport hubs like Heathrow and Stanstead Airports.  

The City’s public transport system may be convenient but, if privacy is what you’re looking for, there are plenty of taxi services available like a classic London black cab or apps like Uber and Bolt.  

City Map

Now you're up to date on some travel tips for your stay in The City, head over to our blog page and read some of our other London guides to become even more of an expert.

You can also browse our serviced apartments on offer in The City of London here.