Thursday 25 October 2012

My bits of London (19)

The Royal Exchange

The Bank of England

Mansion House
The convergence of five (nearly six as Poultry almost immediately splits from Queen Victoria Street) makes a confusing junction for traffic and pedestrians alike. It isn't much better in the Underground station which encompasses Bank and nearby Monument.

There are three very similar buildings often confused here. On the East side is The Royal Exchange, lonely and majestic between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street. To the North is the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, the Bank of England. Less defined and much larger. On the South is Mansion House, home of the Lord Mayor of London (not to be confused with the political Mayor of London). The Lord Mayor is in charge of the City and takes office only for a year. The election is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday in November with the Lord Mayor's Show.