The City of London which is not part of London (2016)

Perception of the “Secret City” Framing

• Many commenters reject the “secret” label as tabloid-style hype; the City’s existence and institutions are public and visibly branded.
• Others say “secretive” is more accurate, pointing to obscure, archaic structures and outsized financial influence.
• Some note the factoid is endlessly rediscovered; the novelty is more about public ignorance than deliberate concealment.

Geography, Congestion Charges, and US Comparisons

• Confusion between the tiny “City of London” and “London as a whole” is common, especially in US debates about New York’s congestion pricing.
• Several argue comparisons between London’s schemes and NYC’s proposed plan are misleading: the NYC zone would have affected far more residents and trips.
• Distinctions are made between London’s congestion charge and its expanded ULEZ emissions zone, which some say is often conflated and politically contentious.

Governance, Democracy, and Corporate Influence

• The City has unusual voting rules: business-linked individuals can be registered as voters to represent their organisations.
• One commenter calls “corporations get a vote” an urban myth; another counters that although individuals technically vote, they do so explicitly as corporate nominees, a unique franchise in the UK.
• The City’s electorate is small compared to other boroughs, which some say justifies stronger business influence.

History, Origins, and Financial Role

• The City’s origins predate the Norman Conquest; an 11th‑century charter confirms earlier privileges whose start date is unknown.
• The City has persisted for nearly a millennium, maintaining medieval institutions (e.g., Court of Aldermen, Freeman rights like symbolically driving sheep over the bridge).
• Some link the City’s early financial importance to medieval Jewish moneylending under religious rules that allowed interest to non‑Jews, tying into later antisemitic stereotypes.

Legal Status, Monarchy, and Myths

• Multiple commenters stress that the City is part of England and subject to UK law; comparisons to tax havens like the Channel Islands are called inaccurate.
• The claim that the monarch must ask the Lord Mayor’s permission to enter the City is explicitly labelled a myth; ceremonial sword/cord rituals are symbolic, not legal constraints.
• There is disagreement over the Mayor of London’s authority: one view is that the Mayor has power over the City via the Greater London Authority; another clarifies that borough and City powers come directly from statute, with the Mayor handling region‑wide functions like transport, major roads, fire, and some planning, not “general authority.”

Institutional Oddities and Comparisons

• The City has its own coat of arms, flag, and a distinct police force; municipal arms and police forces are noted as common in the UK, though the City’s enclave status is unusual.
• The City’s police are described as operational, not ceremonial, with a substantial economic crime unit.
• Commenters liken the City/Greater London structure to Brussels (city vs capital region) and to US oddities such as Baltimore City vs County, New York City vs counties, and enclave municipalities like Speedway, Indiana.

Lived Experience and Urban Texture

• Several share anecdotes of living in or near the City: extremely quiet weekends, difficulty finding groceries or lunch, and eerie emptiness during COVID lockdowns.
• The area’s built environment is in constant flux; modern office buildings are said to be designed for short lifespans, leading to perpetual demolition and rebuilding.

Media, Explainers, and Further Reading

• A popular YouTube explainer is widely recommended but described as “a bit of fun,” not rigorous documentary work.
• Some lament low factual standards in many online “documentaries” versus traditional productions with better research and footage.
• A recent financial press exposé and books on tax havens are suggested as deeper sources on the City’s role and governance.