Royal Exchange, London

The Royal Exchange stands at the heart of the City of London as a grand testament to the city's commercial history. Founded in fifteen seventy-one by the merchant Sir Thomas Gresham, it served as London's first purpose-built center for trade and stock transactions. Queen Elizabeth the First bestowed the title Royal upon the building, a move that granted the facility an official license to sell both alcohol and luxury goods. This designation helped establish the site as a premier destination for international merchants to gather and conduct business under one roof. Continue