This one always throws people off especially if youre not from here. How can the City of London not actually be in London? Isnt it the same thing? The short answer: no. And once you understand the history, it makes a lot more sense.

The City of London also known as the Square Mile is the original, historic core of London. It dates back nearly 2,000 years, to when the Romans founded Londinium in 43 AD. That small Roman settlement eventually evolved into a powerful trade and financial hub. And while the rest of what we now call Greater London kept growing outward over the centuries, the City kept its own tight boundaries and a surprising amount of independence.

Heres the key: the City of London is a separate ceremonial county with its own mayor (the Lord Mayor of London not to be confused with the Mayor of London, who oversees the entire Greater London Authority). It even has its own police force, the City of London Police, which is entirely separate from the Met.

So technically, the City of London isn’t part of the 32 boroughs that make up Greater London. Its surrounded by London, but its not governed in quite the same way. Think of it like a city within a city an old institution thats been allowed to carry on doing its own thing for centuries.

The Citys independence is more than just symbolic. It has unique voting rights, where businesses not just residents get a say in elections. That makes sense when you consider how few people actually live in the Square Mile (around 9,000) compared to how many work there (well over half a million on a typical weekday).

And why has it stayed so separate? Mostly tradition but also power. The Citys autonomy allowed it to operate as a commercial and financial powerhouse. That autonomy also made it a bit resistant to being absorbed into the newer systems of local government when Greater London was formed in 1965.

Even today, the City plays by slightly different rules. There are ancient rights, customs, and even ceremonial roles that are still in place like the tradition that the Monarch must request permission to enter the City (its symbolic now, of course, but still observed).

In short, the City of London isnt just a financial district. Its a historic institution thats retained a remarkable amount of independence while still sitting right in the middle of one of the worlds largest cities. Its a quirk of governance that probably wouldnt fly today but in true London fashion, its survived because it works.