Freedom of the city of London: more than just sheep on London Bridge December 9, 2025 If you mention the Freedom of the City of London, most people picture sheep crossing London Bridge – and yes, that quirky tradition still happens. But the Freedom is far more than a photo opportunity; it’s a living link to the City’s heritage and civic pride. Historical roots and medieval rights Dating back to the [...]
London Museum: inside the £400m cultural development at West Smithfield December 9, 2025 The London Museum is set to open at West Smithfield in 2026. It is one of Europe’s largest cultural developments and is backed by more than £400m in funding from the City of London Corporation and the Mayor of London, of which the City Corporation is contributing £222m. I recently toured the museum and met [...]
London’s history revisited: the incredible St. Bart’s Hospital restoration December 4, 2025 The City of London is where London began – founded by the Romans as Londinium around 47 AD, it’s the oldest part of the capital. It is a place where history is made; where Shakespeare lived and worked, where the London Stock Exchange took root, shaping global finance. And with more than 600 listed buildings, [...]
How the Square Mile is taking the fight to the fraudsters November 19, 2025 Fraud has towered over our economy for too long and has reached the highest levels since first measured in the crime survey for England and Wales. This deceitful crime now represents 44 per cent of all offences or 4.1 million incidents, with more than £1 billion lost to fraud last year alone. Behind those numbers [...]
Lady Mayor Susan Langley: My career has been completely accidental November 13, 2025 Susan Langley is the City's first titled Lady Mayor. Today, fresh from her inauguration, she takes us through her Square Mile career.
Reimagining 50 Fenchurch Street: A Sustainable Tower Rooted in the City’s Heritage November 6, 2025 The new development at 50 Fenchurch Street will deliver a 36-fold increase in public space on the ground floor level, with a public roof garden at the 10th floor level, while also providing 60,000 sq m of office space across 35 floors and 800 sq m of retail space. The plans also make provision for the Lambe’s Chapel [...]
Innovative fashion flourishes at Studio Smithfield October 31, 2025 London has long stood among the world’s great fashion capitals, home to innovative designers who compete daily with creative powerhouses in Paris, New York, and Milan. Iconic British brands such as Paul Smith, Stella McCartney, Oswald Boateng and Alexander McQueen have all used London as a launchpad to grow their global influence and define contemporary [...]
UK investment: Optimism from Expo Real 2025 October 22, 2025 I recently returned from Expo Real in Munich, where I joined colleagues from the City of London Corporation and a UK cities delegation committed to one clear goal: To drive global investment into the UK and deliver the growth this country needs. But the competition is fierce. Cities like New York and Singapore are not [...]
The world believes in Britain, the government must too September 29, 2025 Business leaders remain laser-focused on delivering growth, now the Chancellor must create the conditions for them to do so, says Chris Hayward As the Chancellor prepares to address the Labour Party Conference, her desk in Number 11 Downing Street is doubtless already buckling under the weight of submissions featuring friendly advice about how to shape [...]
Unexpected turns: Exploring the City of London September 25, 2025 If you really want to get to know the City of London, forget the big shiny buildings for a second and just wander. You’ll find old alleyways, odd corners, and a mix of old and new that’s hard to beat. Grab a bite or a drink As Director of the London Archives, I spend my [...]