New Year’s Day … the perfect time to take a bike ride around the City of London. The City, or the “Square Mile”, is the financial centre of London, and as today is a public holiday, known in the UK as a “bank holiday”, the Square Mile was empty! The pictures tell the story – click on the following images to enlarge them …
the ride started in London Wall. Normally this road is choked with traffic but not today 
There was plenty of time to stop and check out the city views:
London Wall follows the line of the old Roman wall, but nowadays is mostly shiny buildings.
There are many fine old buildings in the Square Mile, including this example in Lothbury.
The City is always growing.
The Lloyds building is still an icon, looking great today.
The old and the new live together quite comfortably.
Not sure how many of those who work here will know what this is!
Two London icons - Brompton and Swiss Re
Reflections in the Swiss Re building
The Tower of London is centuries old, the Shard opened in 2012.
Tower Bridge - another London icon, remarkably quiet this morning.
the river flows eastwards, towards Canary Wharf
reflections in the HSBC building, Canary Wharf
Not much traffic in Canary Wharf either today
Trees still dressed in their Christmas lights, Canary Wharf
through the Brunel tunnel to Greenwich South of the river
Brompton and Greenwich Naval College - both made in London
Looking from the Cutty Sark pub towards Canary Wharf having used Brunel's tunnel to walk under the water
The big sundial in Greenwich Park provides an accurate time check (at least when GMT applies)
Looking North East from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
Looking North from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
Looking North West from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
River - looking West, the Shard hoves back into view
Heading back to Tower Bridge
The Brompton is a great bike for exploring London. It’s very fast to switch from cycling to pedestrian mode which was just perfect today when stopping to take photos; the step-through frame makes it really easy to dismount in order to walk around looking for the next photo opportunity! The small wheels, short length and quick steering make it a very nimble machine, ideal for city streets and dodging around obstacles on the Thames Path which I followed for much of today’s ride. At Greenwich I walked round the old observatory where bikes aren’t allowed, but a folded Brompton was just regarded as an item of luggage and perfectly acceptable