Twelve Empty Gherkins?

The current Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has had a sticky time of it of late. He's not the only one, The Times estimates that the City could lose 40,000 jobs as a result of the credit crunch - that's twelve empty Gherkins or so the paper claims.

The Gherkin, or Swiss Re building as it is more commonly called, is one of the highlights on audio downloadable travel guides of the City offered by Walk Talk Tours. Even the name isn't entirely correct as Swiss Re no longer own the building. It's very close to the next commentary point, Lloyd's of London.

Residents of London and visitors alike can learn about the history of Lloyd's of London with the City and the Tower podcast guided tour, or if they feeling fit they can enjoy the best of our Tours, London Two (Ride and Stride) & London Three (The City and the Tower) with the City & Southbank Circular.

Walk Talk Tours' five London podcast guided tours are available in English, French, German and Spanish.

Lloyd's is a marketplace not a single business. The oldest insurance market in the world had humble origins in a coffee house. The propreitor of the coffee house was one Edward Lloyd. Men would meet in his premsises to secure maritime insurance.

Listeners to the City and the Tower mp3 guided tour will learn about some of the developments at Lloyd's down the years. Explorers with a Walk Talk Tour downloadable travel guide will hear about some of the things that Lloyd's have insured in the past - and the one thing they will not insure. The current Lloyd's building at One Lime Street was designed by Richard Rogers and opened in 1986. The building was designed and built in the distinctive 'inside out' or inverted style with the various services like elevators, ducting and staircases clamped magnet like to the outside of the building.

Lesser well known to residents and workers in the City is the history of Ledenhall Market. The earliest recorded reference to a market in Ledenhall Street was made in 1321. It became a place where 'foreigners' or non-Londoners could sell poultry. The market was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Another structure was built. This in turn was replaced by today's market halls which were designed by Horace Jones, the architect responsible for Tower Bridge. You can learn about some of the hairy incidents on London's most famous bridge on The Ride and Stride Tour, Travel guide. To hear an audio sample from The City & Southbank Circular please click here.

To find out more about the route of the City and the Tower iPod travel guide please click here. To hear an audio sample from the tour guide please click here.