Facts about City Thameslink, the elusive City of London Station

Luke Chapman

As many regular daily commuters alight at the peculiar station under St Paul’s, many others on the train may not know where exactly they are. The train station is in the beating heart of the City on Fleet Street and is unique for a range of reasons….

City Thameslink is an elusive station that everyone has a question or two about: why is it named like that? Why does only one type of train stop there? So we thought we’d share with you these facts about City Thameslink station and answer some of those burning questions. Or if you’d like, you can check out our video about the station.

The name:

The Square Mile is… well, around one mile square. That’s quite a big place, so why is the station only called “City”? The station was previously named St Paul’s Thameslink due to its proximity to the City’s giant icon, but it was renamed back in 1991, one year after its opening in 1990, to avoid confusion with the Central Line’s St Pauls station. When the Thameslink franchise was taken over back in 2006 they then removed Thameslink from the station name, but public disapproval saw the name reappear due to it being deemed ‘distinctive’ and ‘useful’.

The history:

City Thameslink was originally intended to be the site of the new Ludgate Circus station on the Fleet Line (now the Jubilee Line), but this project was dropped in 1970. It is one of the very few stations within central London that has no interchange with the underground, which is partially why the name was changed from St Pauls. The station finally opened in 1990 and because of its immediate financial success, the station was even developed to have an interchange with the underground which still stands to this day (but sadly was never used). The station underwent a big redevelopment in 2010 to allow for new signalling and larger trains due to high footfall, and in 2014 it was suggested that an underground walkway should be created to link St Pauls on the Central line to both Luton and Gatwick airports.

The Route:

For a small station on Fleet Street, you can go to a LOT of places from City Thameslink. The station is considered a London terminus for ticketing purposes even though it’s through-only. The station is part of the Thameslink route running through London, with this station being used only by Thameslink trains and no other operators. The routes going from City Thameslink span across the country, reaching as far north as Luton, Bedford and Peterborough, or as far south as Brighton on the coast. You can even reach both Luton and Gatwick airports directly from City Thameslink!

Travelling through the station multiple days per week can make it harder to stop and appreciate what is right in front of us, it can be easy to forget that the City hosts many of the country’s greatest transportation wonders such as the much-loved (or not) Bank station, home to the famous Waterloo & City line. Now you know more about this interesting piece of City architecture, make sure to find out what else the City has to offer visitors here.

Gyms, classes and personal trainers – The best fitness spots in the City of London

Luke Chapman


Whether fitness is a new goal or you’re just looking to fill in your lunch breaks and get more from your routine, the Square Mile covers every fitness need you’ll encounter. From classes to personal trainers and luxury gyms to mindfulness moments, you can fulfil all of your fitness needs in the City.


Local List:

The Workout Network

The Workout Network is everything and anything you need it to be. They offer private personal training sessions near Monument in a private gym space. That means you’ll basically have your own gym! With your TWN PT you can shape your fitness journey with the help of a trained expert to help achieve your wildest dreams. Alongside showers and a changing room, you’ll find a quaint little coffee and lunch spot in The Light Centre upstairs to consume all the calories you just burned.

Price: Believe it or not, this luxury experience does not come with a luxury price tag. Starting with a free trial session, it’s just just £75 per session after this — champagne experience, lemonade prices (when do you ever hear that).

You can find out more about TWN’s founder John Pierson on our One City Stories blog here.

Solo60

If you like the idea of having a space for yourself, then Solo60 may be your answer.  We all know the feeling of heading for a quick lunch workout or a 5 pm stress buster session just to find that all the machines are taken, and you’re left standing around waiting instead of making those gains. This is where Solo60 comes in. You can rent their private space, go solo or bring along some friends and all that waiting time is gone. Solo60 lets you focus on your workout and really get stuck in.

Price: Pricing varies per session and location, their City location is just by Bank and prices are advertised as ‘from £10 per session’, well worth checking out.

Third Space

Okay, let’s take it up a notch. If you use your gym experience as an escape, why not splash out and treat yourself. After all, you’re officially part of the City worker club. Introducing Third Space. You’ll find luxury crossed with practicality, alongside serene spa spaces, you can dip your toes into a touch of class after your busy working day. With locations near Moorgate and Fenchurch street station, you’ll come out feeling brand new.

Price: Luxury doesn’t come cheap, but serenity is also priceless so only you can judge what that’s worth to you. Thirdspace offers memberships at their City gym from £240 per month, increasing if you want to access multiple gyms.

Equinox

This one is for the real luxury seekers. With locations across the globe, Equinox is a name you’ve probably come across in your dreams. Equinox Gym is the go-to destination for true luxury seekers looking to take a step outside of the work day and experience real bliss. Their City location features ‘five floors of state of the art fitness equipment’ alongside a spa offering everything you could imagine. If this is for you, we’re truly jealous (and open to guest passes).

Price: Luxury comes at a price, which starts at £340 per month, but will you really be thinking about that when you’re lying on your lounger, cucumbers on your eyes and feeling true peace?

24N Fitness

24N Fitness offers a range of classes combined with an open gym concept and spa memberships. Hosting a specialist range of CrossFit offerings, 24N Fitness is one of the largest CrossFit-affiliated gyms in all of central London. If CrossFit isn’t your thing, you can also join them for Olympic weightlifting classes, HYROX classes, and you can even find fitness x gymnastics!

Price: 24N is flexible with its membership offerings. You can get day passes for £30, health club-only memberships from £109 per month or specialist CrosFit memberships with access to the health club for £269 on a monthly contract.

Cheapside Run Club

How do you fancy a 5k while making friends and taking in the greatest sights across the City? Well, Cheapside host a weekly run club every Wednesday at 6pm where you’ll join the lovely bunch who will take you around the City alongside the very best the City has to offer!

Price: It’s totally free, and on top of that, you can grab a half price drink at Where’s Fred’s to celebrate your run.

1 Rebel

1 Rebel is the place to go if you want to try out some classes. Each location specialises in different types of classes such as Reformer, Ride, Reshape and more. They have various locations across the City meaning you’ve got plenty to choose from. You can even pair this with a regular gym membership to get the most out of your fitness goals

Price: You can get various packages with 1 Rebel. Newbies can bag their first three classes for £49, with each three costing £70 from then on. At around £23 per class, you could really get your money’s worth here.

CrossFit

If you get bored easily when training, the name of this one gives it away! This is a City-based CrossFit specialist gym, hosting the best sessions working on strength, skill and fitness at both Aldgate and Farringdon. Open to all abilities with specialist coaches, limited numbers and comprehensive offerings, CrossFit is the go-to if you want to branch out and find new ways to challenge yourself with guidance from passionate professionals.

Price: CrossFit offers a two week free trial, and monthly memberships start at £135.

The Chains:

The City is also host to your chain gyms. If you’re looking to hit the gym after work, but also near your home at the weekends, then you can take a look at some of the below:

Pure Gym If you’re after a place to let off some steam on a budget, Pure Gym is a good bet. From £38.99 per month in the City, Pure is practical yet effective.

Virgin Active With locations across the City such as London Wall, Cannon Street, Bank and Moorgate. Virgin Active is one of the pricier chain gyms but often comes with a pool and health facilities, and most importantly, a towel with every visit.

Nuffield Health A good middle-of-the-range chain, coming in cheaper than Virgin yet slightly more well-equipped than Pure Gym. There are Nuffield sites at Cannon Street, Moorgate and Barbican. All three chain gyms also accept a Vitality health insurance discount, if you happen to have it.

Whether you want the new year to be the new you, or you just want to get rid of that workday stress with some yoga (or boxing), there’ll always be what you’re after in the Square Mile.

Make sure you’re signed up to our mailing list to keep up to date with the hottest events, latest openings and best spots around the Square Mile, including our giveaways to brighten up your City life!

Introducing The City of London’s Best Pub

Angel Jordan

The Cockpit has long been the site of unique and historic places; although it’s most famously known as one of Shakespeare’s former homes. It also just recently found itself named one of the best pubs in England by The Telegraph and writer Will Hawkes, so you know a visit was in order.

A grade II listed building, The Cockpit was formerly known as “The Cock Pit” (drastically different, we know) and later “The Three Castles”, it can be found hidden in-between the winding back streets on St Andrew’s Hill, next to Ireland Yard. It dates back to the 1800s – anywhere from 1825 to 1860 we’ve seen – although evidence suggests there’s been a pub there since at least the 16th century. And yes, the name is very literal, it was once known for cockfights.

It’s known that Shakespeare had a home in the area, although whether this is the exact location of his home remains questionable, but it was almost certainly within a stone’s throw of the location. The word is he paid a steep £140 for his home, although at just around £50,000 in 2025, that certainly seems like a bargain. And for keen readers of The Bard you may just recognise the pub’s name from Henry V



I would describe The Cockpit as a pub’s pub, you’ll notice we didn’t take photos of the interior and frankly it’s because it just didn’t fit the vibe! We were immediately greeted upon entering the door to the narrow space. It’s intimate and you could tell that this pub has it’s fair share of regulars, and we didn’t want to interrupt their drinks by pulling out a camera.

There’s more beers than food here, which shouldn’t surprise anyone, the head of the pub kindly recommended nearby venues to us when we enquired about what was good to eat. Very much giving that community spirit.

In terms of decoration, it’s relatively simple and tasteful, nothing too distracting in the space, it’s very much about enjoying the banter, the yarns, the tall tales, etc. Red carpets, wood panelling, those beautiful but awkward to open glass doors… we’ve all been somewhere like this. That said, I doubt you’ve been to a pub with quite so many cockerel decorations. And if you happen to be visiting St Paul’s it’s less than five minutes away, perfect to stop by for a quick pint.

Now would we personally call it the best pub in the Square Mile? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a Sunday Roast or the football? Probably not. But if you just want a tall glass and a long conversation, it’s certainly in contention.


The Cockpit
7 St Andrew’s Hill, City of London, London EC4V 5BY

A day in Devonshire Square, Liverpool Street’s Latest Tucked-Away Secret

Luke Chapman

Nestled a few streets behind Liverpool Street is one of the City’s many hidden gems. Devonshire Square is a great locale for a full day of activities for anyone in the City and really offers something for everyone.

We know that the City of London is a cool spot, but did you know it even hosts events for London Fashion Week? Thanks to Devonshire Square, the Square Mile has the attention of the world as all eyes come to witness the beating heart of the City.

As part of the Fashion Week offerings, we were invited down to Devonshire Square to see how you can spend an entire day within the Square…

Events

Devonshire Square hosts a wide range of events spanning all the way from London Fashion Week to charity concerts and wine tastings. The space certainly made for a great place to catch up with all the latest trends live and direct during Fashion Week this September, and that’s shown by the fact it’s the fourth year of hosting Fashion Week events!

The area features an enclosed skyline creating a unique area that centres you right in the middle of any event. Upcoming events in the square include a visual art exhibition, their annual charity live music event, Diwali offerings and more, so you can be sure to fill your days at Devonshire Square.

Food and Drink

If you’re spending a day around Liverpool Street you’ll want to explore the range of options available, and there’s no better place to check out than Devonshire Square. We had the pleasure of dining at Cinnamon Kitchen, a Pan-Asian dining experience offering the finest Indian feast around (and the best bhaji of my life). Our runway views from the Kitchen’s terrace were accompanied by glorious Indian wares, but if Indian isn’t your thing there’s a huge range to choose from. From a steakhouse, fish market and more, you’ll be stuffed whenever you decide to leave.

The terrace at Cinnamon Kitchen

What Else?

Fancy some karaoke? How about joining a run club to kickstart your weekend, maybe some casual cocktails with your pals is more your thing. Devonshire Square has it all for you. At Lucky Voice you can sing your heart out, and you can drink your way to karaoke-confident at Devonshire Terrace after sweating from one of 24N Fitness‘s classes. Make sure to bring a change of clothes so you can hit the restaurants in style, but if you need a haircut, there’s even a barber on site!

A whole day in one Square

We were honoured to have been invited along to check for ourselves whether you really could spend a whole day at Devonshire Square, and we’re happy to report, you certainly can! There are offerings for your pre-work routine, post-work fun, or filling your whole weekend, starting from your morning run club to late-night cocktails, you’ll find some of the best the City has to offer.

You can watch what we got up to at London Fashion Week via our Instagram Reel.

LREF and One City, a Lunch Made in Heaven

Luke Chapman

If you’re heading to LREF on September 23rd you’ll already be at the beating heart of the City of London (and if you’re not, there’s still time to secure your ticket). You’re surrounded by secret gems and exciting spots that can make your lunchtime an adventure. If you’re unsure of where to head or want to discover a new spot in the well-walked City, One City has you covered.

Coffee

Yes… There’s a Pret within 30 seconds of any given point in the City, but let us help you make that much-needed caffeine boost a pleasant experience with our selection of local coffee spots that’ll reimagine your between-meetings flat white.

Rosslyn – Across the City – Touted as one of the best-kept secrets within the City, Rossyln has various locations solely based around the City of London and are keen on arming City visitors with their caffeine. Fun fact, if you drink in, they even have bespoke mugs, so check that out! Find their locations here.

Nkora – London Wall – Nkora pride themselves with focusing on quality, and simplicity. They sound like two great factors for any coffee shop, so if you’re after high quality hand-selected roasts this is your spot. Find out more here.

Cafe Below – Cheapside – Set in the crypt of an old church, this eatery offers great to-go coffee, or the perfect place to catch your breath for five minutes in a unique spot for a regular caffeine fix. Find out more here.

Forbes and Hamilton – London Wall – A great spot for cakes, coffee and sandwiches on the London Wall. Forbes and Hamilton offers the perfect coffee spot brewed with organic Jersey milk for all visitors. Find out more here.

Lunch

Food Trucks

LREF is bringing the best food direct to you. If you head out into the Guildhall yard you’ll find a selection of food trucks available to fuel you for anything that’s thrown your way:

Pizza Pazzi Pizza Pazzi is inspired by the traditional pizzerias of Italy and aims to embark on a journey to bring the essence of genuine stone-baked pizzas to all. Using only the finest, authentic ingredients, each pizza is crafted with love and baked to spread the joy of true Italian pizza.

Calm Indian – Calm Indian is a South Indian street food company based out of Shoreditch, they’ll be bringing their worldly flavours and range of curries to LREF to suit all taste buds.

Souvlaki – Souvlaki specialises in authentic Greek food, offering fresh and flavourful options including souvlaki and salad boxes with traditional Greek sauces. With Souvlaki, you’ll discover the vibrant taste of Greece in every bite!

Local Eateries

If you’re looking to stretch your legs and explore the nearby the City for a quick break, we wanted to share some great spots where you can grab food and digest all the industry-first happenings that LREF never fails to deliver.

Barbie Green – London Wall – Barbie Green has it all, a gorgeous outside terrace with views to accompany, a swanky inside to impress, and a wide-ranging menu for all tastes. If you’re after a sit-down meal this LREF, Barbie Green is your go to spot to please everyone. Reserve a spot and find out more here.

Burrito Joe – Cheapside – Burrito Joe does exactly what you want it to do, if you want to create a unique burrito with fresh ingredients for a reasonable price, this is the place to head (they even add on guac for free!). See the menu and find out more here.

Wrap It Up – London Wall and Fleet Street – You’ll only find Wrap It Up locations in London and across India, so when they say ‘world-inspired food’ you can trust them to deliver a meal of goodness inspired by the flavours of Delhi. You can see more about Wrap It Up here

Beboz – Bank – Beboz runs on the Italian mantra of “Eating is a necessity. Eating intelligently is an art”. This Italian lunch spot offers a range of choices including menu favourites or make-your-own options, you can’t go wrong with a Beboz.

We’re sure that you’ll have had an invigorating day full of discussion and networking. If you’re intrigued by One City’s work and want to find out more about us, you can view our website here, check out our content on Instagram, or reach out to [email protected].

As the go-to cultural guide for all events within the City of London, we get exclusive insider access to the best eats, beats and meets covering food, arts, fitness, culture and more within the square mile. We work with BIDs, property developers and commercial partners to generate interest in business, shape the perception of the City of London, encourage footfall within the square mile, and develop real estate value through various partnerships.

The City is more than you think, we’re here to show the world that.