Queen Street, London
Encyclopedia
Queen Street is a street in the City of London
, which runs from Upper Thames Street north to Cheapside
. The thoroughfares of Queen Street and King Street were newly laid out, cutting across more ancient thoroughfares in the City, following the Great Fire of London
of 1666; they were the only notable new streets following the fire's destruction of much of the City.
At the lower (and southern) end of Queen Street is Southwark Bridge
. At the upper, northern end the street effectively crosses over Cheapside and becomes King Street and leads to Gresham Street
and The Guildhall
. This creates a direct route from the Thames
at Southwark Bridge up to Guildhall. Queen Street is intersected by the newer Queen Victoria Street
as well as Cannon Street
.
Two parts of the street are pedestrianised, which together with a pedestrian-priority crossing of Cannon Street, forms a "Central Plaza" area. This was part of an award-winning public realm improvement scheme undertaken in 2006. This pedestrianised part of Queen Street has been used as locations for a number of art events organised by the City of London Festival
and the London Architectural Biennale.
Queen Street and King Street form part of an important route on the London Cycle Network, which continues south over Southwark
Bridge and north to Moorgate
.
Queen Street runs through the wards
of Vintry
and Cordwainer
, and is in the postal code area EC4. King Street is in the ward of Cheap
and in post code EC2.
The marathon
route of the 2012 Summer Olympics
is planned to pass along King Street.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, which runs from Upper Thames Street north to Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
. The thoroughfares of Queen Street and King Street were newly laid out, cutting across more ancient thoroughfares in the City, following the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
of 1666; they were the only notable new streets following the fire's destruction of much of the City.
At the lower (and southern) end of Queen Street is Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge for traffic linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames, in London, England. It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened in 1921...
. At the upper, northern end the street effectively crosses over Cheapside and becomes King Street and leads to Gresham Street
Gresham Street
Gresham Street, in the City of London, is named after Thomas Gresham and runs from St. Martin's Le Grand near St Paul's Cathedral in the west, past Guildhall, to Lothbury in the east...
and The Guildhall
Guildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
. This creates a direct route from the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Southwark Bridge up to Guildhall. Queen Street is intersected by the newer Queen Victoria Street
Queen Victoria Street
Queen Victoria Street may refer to one of the following:*Queen Victoria Street, Fremantle*Queen Victoria Street, Hong Kong*Queen Victoria Street, Leeds*Queen Victoria Street, London*Queen Victoria Street, Reading...
as well as Cannon Street
Cannon Street
Cannon Street is a road in the south of the City of London. It runs roughly parallel with the River Thames, and about 250 metres north of it. It is the site of the ancient London Stone.-Etymology:...
.
Two parts of the street are pedestrianised, which together with a pedestrian-priority crossing of Cannon Street, forms a "Central Plaza" area. This was part of an award-winning public realm improvement scheme undertaken in 2006. This pedestrianised part of Queen Street has been used as locations for a number of art events organised by the City of London Festival
City of London Festival
The City of London Festival is an annual arts festival that takes place in the City of London, England, over two to three weeks in June and July. The Festival is strongly geared towards classical music, but also offers a programme that includes jazz, world music, opera, film screenings, lectures...
and the London Architectural Biennale.
Queen Street and King Street form part of an important route on the London Cycle Network, which continues south over Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
Bridge and north to Moorgate
Moorgate
Moorgate was a postern in the London Wall originally built by the Romans. It was turned into a gate in the 15th century. Though the gate was demolished in 1762, the name survives as a major street in the City of London...
.
Queen Street runs through the wards
Wards of the City of London
The City of London , in the United Kingdom, is constituted of 25 wards. The City is the historic core of the much wider metropolis of London, with an ancient and sui generis form of local government, which avoided the many reforms enacted to local government elsewhere in the country in the 19th and...
of Vintry
Vintry
Vintry is a ward of the City of London, within the boundary formed by Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street, Queenhithe and Cousin Lane....
and Cordwainer
Cordwainer (ward)
Cordwainer is a small ward in the City of London, England. It is named after the Cordwainers, the professional shoemakers who historically lived and worked in this particular area of London; there is a City livery company for the trade — the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers...
, and is in the postal code area EC4. King Street is in the ward of Cheap
Cheap (ward)
Cheap is a small ward of the City of London. It stretches west to east from King End Street, the border with Farringdon Within to Old Jewry, which adjoins Walbrook and north to south from Gresham Street, the border with Aldersgate and Bassishaw to Cheapside, the boundary with Cordwainer.The...
and in post code EC2.
The marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
route of the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
is planned to pass along King Street.