The City of London’s livery companies

The City of London’s livery companies are more than simply historical institutions: they are at the forefront of innovation and opportunity, writes Caroline Roddis

Heraldry is an integral aspect of the livery companies Above, clockwise from top left: the Apothecaries; the Gunmakers; the Farriers; the Butchers; and the Vintners

The Lord Mayor’s Show, an 800-year-old pageant chronicled by Pepys, painted by Canaletto and the first outdoor event ever to be televised live, is a fixture of English life.