WHAT IS THE CITY OF LONDON
CORPORATION?
ENSURING THE CITY REMAINS RELEVANT
The City of London Corporation has a vital role to play in how we navigate our way forward, ensuring that our position of pre-eminence is not only maintained but enhanced in an increasingly competitive and challenging time. We want to meet this challenge head on, open and engaged to ensure that the City of London is increasingly an attractive place to work and transact business but also a city that is part of the solution when it comes to addressing the economic, social and environmental challenges that we face as a City, a Nation and as an ever increasingly interconnected global community.
THE SQUARE MILE
The City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is the financial district of London.
It is the ancient core from which the rest of London developed. It has been a centre for settlement, trade, commerce and ceremony since the Roman period, producing a unique historic environment of exceptional richness and significance.
One of the reasons the Square Mile is unique, is the number of people who live, work and visit. In just 1.12 square miles, the City of London counts around 8,000 residents, 513,000 daily commuters and 10m annual visitors. The City of London boundaries stretch from Temple to the Tower of London, on the River Thames including, from west to east Chancery Lane and Liverpool Street.
The City of London Corporation
Based in Guildhall, the City Corporation looks after and promotes the City of London. It is headed by the Lord Mayor with the Court of Common Council being its main decision-making body. We are a uniquely diverse organisation, with a role that goes beyond that of an ordinary local authority. We have our own government (the oldest in the country with origins pre-dating Parliament), our own Lord Mayor and independent police force.
As the governing body of the Square Mile, we are dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.
We aim to:
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Contribute to a flourishing society
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Support a thriving economy
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Shape outstanding environments
By strengthening the connections, capacity and character of the City, London and the UK for the benefit of people who live, work and visit here. Our reach extends far beyond the Square Mile’s boundaries and across private, public and voluntary sector responsibilities. This, along with our independent and non-party political voice and convening power, enables us to promote the interests of people and organisations across London and the UK and play a valued role on the world stage. Find out more about our vision in our Corporate Plan.
What we are responsible for
We provide local government services for residents and City workers based in the Square Mile, but not those of other boroughs. If you are unsure which borough you need to contact, find your local council (external link) will help you find the website for your local authority.
However, our unique role means that our reach does extend beyond the City to include:
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More than 11,000 acres of green spaces, including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest
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Billingsgate, Smithfield and New Spitalfields wholesale food markets
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Housing across London
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A range of schools and academies
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And we are London’s Port Health Authority