Hubworking

Bank of England

Tower of London · 0.6 miles

The Bank of England stands on Threadneedle Street in the City of London, opposite the historic Tower of London and at the junction known as Bank Junction. Often referred to as “The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street” after an 1797 cartoon, the building is listed as a heritage landmark and is operated by the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. Founded in 1694 to serve as the English Government’s banker and debt manager, the institution has remained at the same site since the early 18th century. It functions as the United Kingdom’s central bank, overseeing monetary stability through the Bank Rate and quantitative easing, and supervising payment systems such as CHAPS. The bank also safeguards the nation’s official gold reserves and manages foreign-exchange holdings. Although it no longer provides consumer banking, it maintains a limited public service for exchanging superseded banknotes. Visitors can view the façade from the surrounding streets and observe the distinctive architecture that houses the world’s second-oldest central bank. The location is readily reachable on foot via Bank Junction, with the Tower of London a short walk away. No admission charge or dedicated visitor facilities are mentioned, and access is limited to external observation and the occasional public-facing service.

London Troops War Memorial

Tower of London · 0.6 miles

The London Troops War Memorial, located in front of the Royal Exchange in the City of London, commemorates the men of London who fought in World War I and World War II.

Duke of Wellington

Tower of London · 0.6 miles

The equestrian bronze monument of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, stands in front of the Royal Exchange, overlooking Bank junction in the City of London. The statue, created by Sir Francis Chantrey and completed by his assistant Henry Weekes after Chantrey’s death, depicts the Duke on horseback and serves as a memorial to his role in securing the London Bridge Approaches Act of 1827, which led to the development of King William Street. The plinth bears the inscription “Wellington” on each side and records the erection date of 18 June 1844, the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Bronze for the figure was cast from cannon captured at Waterloo, and a brass plaque at the base details the contributions that funded the work. The monument forms part of the ventilation system for Bank and Monument Underground stations, a function added during the 1994 expansion of Bank station. A granite fragment from the historic London Bridge is set into the pavement beside the statue, marking the bridge’s former presence before its removal in 1967. The site is accessible via Bank and Monument stations, though the monument itself is not wheelchair accessible. The nearest landmark listed by OpenStreetMap is the Tower of London, and the monument is recorded as a historic memorial erected in 1844.

All Hallows Staining

Leadenhall Market · 0.6 miles

A medieval tower dating from around AD 1320 survives at the corner of Mark Lane and Dunster Court, in the north-eastern part of Langbourn ward, City of London. The stone structure marks the former All Hallows Staining church, a Church of England parish that once lay close to Fenchurch Street railway station and the historic Leadenhall Market. The ruins are listed as a historic feature and are currently looked after by the Sanctuary in the City, which also oversees St Olave Hart Street and St Katharine Cree. The church first appears in records from the late 12th century and received the suffix “Staining” to distinguish its stone building from other All Hallows churches that were timber. It survived the Great Fire of 1666, but the tower and a small west-end fragment collapsed in 1671, possibly because of extensive burials against the walls. Rebuilding took place in 1674, after which the interior was described as a simple, narrow room with a modest cornice. In 1870 the parish merged with St Olave Hart Street and the main body of the church was demolished, leaving the tower as the sole remnant. The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, whose hall once stood nearby, has owned and maintained the tower since that time, and the structure was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950. Beneath the yard once lay the remains of Lambe’s Chapel Crypt, relocated in 1872 and subsequently listed at Grade II alongside the tower. After wartime damage to St Olave Hart Street, a prefabricated church used the tower as its chancel between 1948 and 1954, and a new church hall was erected on the site in 1957. As of 2025 the block containing the tower is undergoing redevelopment, involving demolition of surrounding buildings and reconstruction of the crypt within a new office development, while proposals aim to remove modern infill from the tower’s south and east arches.

Finsbury Square

Cheapside · 0.6 miles

A public green of about 0.7 hectare lies on the east side of City Road, opposite Bunhill Fields, and is managed by Islington Council. The square incorporates a six-rink grass bowling green and an underground NCP car park, with two former petrol-station sites now used for surface parking. It is served by bus routes 21, 43, 141 and 214 and sits roughly 200 m north of Moorgate station, 300 m north-west of Liverpool Street station and 400 m south of Old Street station, making it easily reachable on foot or by public transport. An occasional farmers’ market is held on the site, and entry to the green is free. Originally laid out in 1777 as a planned quadrangle of terraced town houses surrounding a central garden, the area was previously part of the open Finsbury Fields in the parish of St Luke’s. From the late-19th century the residential buildings were replaced by larger commercial premises. Throughout its history the square has hosted a range of occupants, including the Temple of the Muses, James Lackington’s bookshop and the early home of the rabbinical seminary that later became the London School of Jewish Studies (1855–81). In the early 20th century the City of London Yeomanry were based at 39 Finsbury Square, a site now occupied by City Gate House. Today the western side contains a 150 000 sq ft office block used by the London Metal Exchange, while the north side is dominated by Triton Court and Royal London House, the latter now operating as The Montcalm Hotel. The east side houses the University of Liverpool’s London campus and Grant Thornton’s offices. The square continues to function as an open space within a dense commercial district, offering both recreational facilities and easy access to surrounding transport links.

Guildhall

Barbican · 0.6 miles

A historic municipal building stands off Gresham and Basinghall streets, straddling the City of London wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. Operated by the City of London Corporation, the structure dates from 1411 and is listed at Grade I by Historic England. The site has hosted civic functions for several centuries and continues as the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City, distinct from the modern City Hall in Canning Town. Archaeological evidence shows that a Roman amphitheatre once occupied the ground, with partial remains displayed in the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery and the arena’s outline marked on the courtyard paving. Visitors can view the medieval Great Hall, the principal room that survived the Great Fire of 1666 and later restorations, as well as the statues of the legendary giants Gog and Magog, whose current wooden forms were installed in 1953. The complex also includes the Guildhall Art Gallery, added in the 1990s, and the Guildhall Library, a public reference facility holding specialist collections dating from the 11th century. Modern extensions – the North Wing (1955-58) and the West Wing (1970-75, Grade II listed) – flank the historic core and house the Corporation’s offices. The building is accessible to the public during the annual London Open House weekend, and the courtyard provides a clear view of the Roman amphitheatre’s layout. The nearest landmark is the Barbican area, and the heritage status is confirmed by Historic England.