Bank of England's Hidden Treasures Revealed on Rare Tour

The Bank of England is a fortress that stands guard over £200 billion worth of gold, equivalent to running the entire NHS for more than a year. To enter the inner sanctums of this titanic treasury, one must pass through multiple security checks and gatekeepers.

Boris Anrep's 1930s mosaic floor in the Bank's museum is a work of art that holds a world of symbolism. The two lions and classical column are modelled on those of the Lion Gate in Mycenae, Greece, which also guarded a treasure house. Beneath the stone plinth lies the white trace representing the south coast of England, with the single red tessera indicating the location of Cobham in Kent, home to the modern Bank's architect Sir Herbert Baker.

The Roman mosaics discovered across the site during various phases of expansion offer a glimpse into London's early history. One was removed to the British Museum in the 19th century, while another forms a focal point at the base of a precipitous stairwell. These mosaics once adorned a Roman villa on the banks of the now-buried River Walbrook.