Walk into Guildhall Yard and you are standing on layers of London's history. Roman remains lie beneath your feet, a medieval hall rises in front of you, and a modern art gallery sits alongside. Guildhall is, as the City of London Corporation puts it, the centre of City government since the Middle Ages, and it is well worth knowing about if you love the Square Mile.
Roots in Roman London
In 1987 the remains of a Roman amphitheatre were discovered under Guildhall Yard, suggesting the site was significant in Roman times. You can still see the remains today beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery, a striking reminder that London's civic life has centred on this spot for nearly two thousand years.
A medieval great hall
A document from 1128 refers to a London guildhall, and the west crypt of the present building is thought to be part of a late-13th-century structure. The Great Hall itself was built in 1411. Its scale was designed to impress, and it has served as a stage for the City's ceremonies and politics ever since.
Survivor of fire and bombs
What makes Guildhall exceptional is what it came through. It survived both the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz in the Second World War. The City of London Corporation notes that it is the only secular stone structure from before 1666 still standing in the City. Much of the surrounding medieval city was lost, which makes the Great Hall all the more precious as a link to the pre-Fire capital.
Trials, ceremony and memorials
The hall has hosted state and mayoral ceremonies since 1502. It was also the setting for dramatic moments in English history: Lady Jane Grey's state trial took place here in 1553, and during the Reformation peers, an archbishop and a queen were tried here for treason. Inside, memorials commemorate figures including Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill.
Still a working building
Guildhall is not a museum piece. It is home to the City of London Corporation and hosts state and civic banquets, meetings of the Court of Common Council, and Honorary Freedom of the City ceremonies. The Great Hall can also be hired for corporate events of various styles and sizes.
Visiting
Access depends on what is happening in the building. City of London Tours runs monthly guided tours on days the Court of Common Council meets. Tours take place in the morning and last about an hour, and tickets must be booked in advance through the City of London Guides website. Closures can occur at short notice for civic or state functions, so check before you travel; the Corporation lists 020 7332 1313 for details.
Why it matters for walkers
If you are exploring the City on foot, Guildhall makes a superb anchor point. Combine it with a look at the nearby churches and lanes, and you can trace the story from Roman London through the medieval city and the rebuilding after 1666 to today. Pause in the yard, look up at the facade, and remember how much this one building has seen.
Source: City of London Corporation, Guildhall and Great Hall visitor information.