London Stone, London

If you鈥檙e wandering through the City of London and trying to find its beating heart, you might point to the Bank of England鈥攐r maybe the stately Guildhall. But the true center, the one shrouded in myth and mystery, is鈥� a rock. Yes, a rather unremarkable chunk of limestone known as the London Stone.

Tucked behind iron bars on the exterior wall of 111 Cannon Street, right where it meets St. Swithin鈥檚 Lane, this humble block has been sitting around since Roman times鈥攁llegedly hauled over from Bath. Not impressed? Well, try this: during the 1450 Peasants鈥� Revolt, rebel leader Jack Cade marched in from Kent, smacked the stone with his sword, and proclaimed himself "Lord of the City." Bold move. Unfortunately for Jack, declaring yourself king by bashing a rock turned out to be less effective than he鈥檇 hoped鈥攈is rebellion (and reign) ended just as dramatically as it began.

Now, legends cling to the London Stone like pigeons to a statue. Some say it鈥檚 a Druidic altar, others claim it was a Roman milestone. Even William Blake, the poet, wrote about it in his usual ominous fashion. One persistent myth claimed that if the stone were ever moved, disaster would follow.

Naturally, London has moved it鈥� several times.

In 1742, it was shifted next to St. Swithin鈥檚 Church. In 1940, the church was blitzed to rubble. Then the stone sat beside an office building鈥攗ntil that came down in 2016. Briefly sent to the Museum of London, the stone returned in 2018, now safely embedded in the latest glass-and-steel iteration of 111 Cannon Street.

So far, the world hasn鈥檛 ended. But the stone鈥檚 mystique lives on鈥攑art relic, part urban legend, and fully committed to staying put. At least for now...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: London Stone
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

City of London Walking Tour

Walking Tours in London, England

Create Your Own Walk in London

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Harry Potter Walking Tour I

The Harry Potter phenomenon began with author J.K. Rowling, who famously dreamed up the series while delayed on a train from Manchester to London. With the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone in 1997, the literary world changed forever. Across seven books, readers followed Harry鈥檚 evolution from an orphaned schoolboy at Hogwarts to a brave young wizard confronting evil... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Jane Austen鈥檚 London

The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham鈥檚 elopement in 鈥淧ride & Prejudice.鈥�

One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles

Harry Potter Walking Tour II

The Harry Potter movies and London go together like Butterbeer and a cold winter night at Hogsmeade. While much of the magical world was brought to life with computer-generated images and studio sets, quite a few iconic scenes were filmed right in the heart of the British capital, transforming ordinary city spots into wizarding landmarks. Here's a look at six more London locations where the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

City of London Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles

Walk around Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence, is a must-see for anyone visiting London, but so are the adjacent royal establishments that give a unique window into the royal way of life. On this self-guided walking tour, along with Buckingham Palace and its memorable fountain, you will visit the St. James's private royal residence, the wonderful Queen's Gallery, and... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

Bridges of London

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The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles

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