Royal Exchange, London

Easily the most dashing and well-dressed member of the Bank of England鈥檚 extended architectural family is the Royal Exchange鈥攁 financial fashion icon since 1570, thanks to the deep pockets of one Thomas Gresham, the English merchant and financier who acted on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. You can still spot his blingy family mascot鈥攁 golden grasshopper鈥攍ounging proudly on the rooftop.

Back in Gresham鈥檚 day, the word 鈥渟tock鈥� didn鈥檛 mean tech shares or hedge funds鈥攊t meant actual stuff. You know, barrels of fish, bolts of cloth, or perhaps a goat or two being loaded off ships from the Thames. But Londoners, being the enterprising folks they are, eventually swapped the livestock for little slips of paper鈥攁nd thus, futures trading was born. The need for money changers and bankers quickly followed, and soon, the City鈥檚 financial district was buzzing louder than a trading floor on a caffeine binge.

The version of the Royal Exchange we see today鈥攃omplete with its grand eight-column portico and steps tailor-made for posing with your sandwich鈥攄ates back to the 1840s and is actually the third rebuild after a couple of inconvenient fires. These days, instead of frantic traders, you鈥檒l find luxury boutiques and shops that gently remind you that your bank account isn鈥檛 quite in Gresham's territory.

Still, it's absolutely worth stepping inside to admire the inner courtyard: a classy affair with a tiled floor, a glowing glazed roof, and some impressive half-columns strutting their stuff in not one, but three classical styles (because one would be too basic). While you're there, treat yourself at Fortnum鈥檚 Bar and Restaurant, perched on the mezzanine like a cat with a credit card, where you can sip something fancy while soaking in frescoes that chart the City鈥檚 history鈥攂ecause who doesn鈥檛 love a side of art with their aperitif?

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

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