The City 's population fell rapidly in the 19th century and through most of the 20th century , as people moved outwards in all directions to London 's vast suburbs , and many residential buildings were demolished to make way for office blocks . Like many areas of London and other British cities , the City fell victim to large scale and highly destructive aerial bombing during World War II , especially in the Blitz . Whilst St Paul 's Cathedral survived the onslaught , large swathes of the area did not and the particularly heavy raids of late December 1940 led to a firestorm called the Second Great Fire of London
Second Great Fire of London
Second Great Fire of London
City of London