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 …
![London Wall London Wall, empty](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF76021-150x150.jpg)
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 London Wall](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF76041-150x150.jpg)
London Wall follows the line of the old Roman wall, but nowadays is mostly shiny buildings.
![Lothbury Lothbury](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF76061-150x150.jpg)
There are many fine old buildings in the Square Mile, including this example in Lothbury.
![The Pinnacle The Pinnacle](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7607-150x150.jpg)
The City is always growing.
![Lloyds Building Lloyds Building](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7610-150x150.jpg)
The Lloyds building is still an icon, looking great today.
![God and Mammon juxtaposed. God and Mammon juxtaposed.](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7612-150x150.jpg)
The old and the new live together quite comfortably.
![City sculpture City sculpture](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7616-150x150.jpg)
Not sure how many of those who work here will know what this is!
![Two London icons Two London icons](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7617-150x150.jpg)
Two London icons - Brompton and Swiss Re
![The Gherkin The Gherkin](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7613-150x150.jpg)
Reflections in the Swiss Re building
![Tower of London and Shard Tower of London and Shard](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7621-150x150.jpg)
The Tower of London is centuries old, the Shard opened in 2012.
![Tower Bridge Tower Bridge](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7623-150x150.jpg)
Tower Bridge - another London icon, remarkably quiet this morning.
![Canary Wharf Canary Wharf](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7630-150x150.jpg)
the river flows eastwards, towards Canary Wharf
![Reflections in Canary Wharf Reflections in Canary Wharf](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7632-150x150.jpg)
reflections in the HSBC building, Canary Wharf
![Canary Wharf traffic free Canary Wharf traffic free](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7633-150x150.jpg)
Not much traffic in Canary Wharf either today
![Canary Wharf trees Canary Wharf trees](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7634-150x150.jpg)
Trees still dressed in their Christmas lights, Canary Wharf
![Brompton in Greenwich Brompton in Greenwich](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7636-150x150.jpg)
through the Brunel tunnel to Greenwich South of the river
![A Brompton in Greenwich A Brompton in Greenwich](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7638-150x150.jpg)
Brompton and Greenwich Naval College - both made in London
![Canary Wharf across the river Canary Wharf across the river](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7640-150x150.jpg)
Looking from the Cutty Sark pub towards Canary Wharf having used Brunel's tunnel to walk under the water
![Greenwich sun dial Greenwich sun dial](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7641-150x150.jpg)
The big sundial in Greenwich Park provides an accurate time check (at least when GMT applies)
![View from Greenwich Observatory - North East View from Greenwich Observatory - North East](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7642-150x150.jpg)
Looking North East from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
![View from Greenwich Observatory - North View from Greenwich Observatory - North](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7643-150x150.jpg)
Looking North from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
![View from Greenwich Observatory - North West View from Greenwich Observatory - North West](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7644-150x150.jpg)
Looking North West from lunchtime picnic spot by Greenwich Observatory
![River - looking West River - looking West](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF76491-150x150.jpg)
River - looking West, the Shard hoves back into view
![View towards Tower Bridge from South Bank View towards Tower Bridge from South Bank](http://www.jorowe.com/wp-john/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF7650-150x150.jpg)
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