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Bank is the historic heart of the City of London, the financial engine room where great institutions in stone and glass meet at one of the capital’s grandest junctions. Busy with office workers by day and hushed at weekends, it is a place of soaring architecture and centuries of money and power.
Where is Bank and how to get there
Bank sits at the centre of the City of London, the historic square mile. Bank station is a major interchange for the Central, Northern, Waterloo & City and DLR lines, and the area is a short walk from St Paul’s and the river.
Grand institutions and the museum
The junction is ringed by monuments to commerce: the Bank of England, whose free museum tells the story of the nation’s finances and lets you handle a real gold bar, the columned Royal Exchange, now a courtyard of luxury shops and cafes, and the Lord Mayor’s official residence at Mansion House. The surrounding lanes hide old churches, the Monument to the Great Fire and glimpses of the City’s towers.
Eating and drinking
The City around Bank is geared to the working week, with smart restaurants, historic pubs and the cafes of the Royal Exchange, at their busiest on weekday lunchtimes and after work. Weekends are quiet, which suits an unhurried architectural wander.
Good to know
Can you visit the Bank of England?
You can visit the free Bank of England Museum, which explores the history of the bank and the nation’s money, with interactive exhibits and a chance to lift a genuine gold bar. The working bank itself is not open to the public, but the museum entrance is on Bartholomew Lane.
Where to go next
Walk to the City of London, Liverpool Street or London Bridge, or browse all our London neighbourhood guides.
