e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Yorkshire, Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
    • Denmark
    • Austria
    • Switzerland
    • Czechia
    • Slovakia
    • Poland
    • Latvia
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Liechtenstein
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Quirky London 7: The London Stone

Posted on 7 February 20102 April 2021 by Rob Ainsley


Where is it? 111 Cannon St, in the heart of London, which means a busy road with anonymous shops and bland modern blocks. But at least there’s a pub called The London Stone just down the road.


What’s quirky about it? It’s said to be the original centre of London in Roman times: the stone to which all distances in Britannia were measured. Things are more modern now, of course: we have a horse’s bum to mark that (see Quirky London 20). It’s been moved around quite a bit over the centuries and nobody’s quite sure how old or original it is, and to be honest one stone looks much like another.

It’s hidden unceremoniously behind a grille with a plaque on top which reads: This is a fragment of the original piece of limestone once securely fixed in the ground now fronting Cannon Street Station. Removed in 1742 to the north side of the stree in 1793 it was built into the south wall of the Church of St Swithin London Stone which stood here until demolished in 1902. Its origin and purpose are unknown but in 1188 there was a refernce to Henry, son of Eylwin de Londenstane, subsequently Lord Mayor of London.

Why bike there? Packed by day and comparatively deserted by night, combining brash modern trophy architecture with the odd historical survivor, the City is a curious place to cycle round, quite different to the rest of London. A bike can whiz you around the sights much more comfortably and quickly than on foot; londontourist.org has some itineraries.


View Larger Map

Previous
←   Quirky London 6: The Roman Bath
Next
Quirky London 8: ‘St Paul’s’ in Vauxhall →

You are here

e2e.bike > Other > Quirky London > Quirky London 7: The London Stone

Recent Posts

  • Germany 9: Kassel to Beverungen 14 September 2025
  • Germany 8: Bad Hersfeld to Kassel 13 September 2025
  • Germany 7: Kothen to Bad Hersfeld 12 September 2025

Random Posts

  • Highest pub to lowest: Tan Hill to Marsden Grotto10 February 2023
    I’ve had various highs and lows in pubs when cycling, but never …
  • North Wales Coast 1: Sunny Prestatyn to Llovely Llandudno15 October 2021
    Britain’s longest car-free cyclable promenade runs 28km / 17 smooth tarmac miles …
  • France 0: Portsmouth7 September 2015
    The obvious way to get to St Malo with a bike is …

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Bluesky • Linked In • Email
© 2025 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme