From Gucci and Hermes stores to coffee shops and nail salons, shops and businesses in the heart of the Square Mile, London's financial district, went into a pre-summit lockdown last night. Thousands of anti-G20 protesters are expected to converge today on the City, where they will march on the Bank of England.
Shops were boarded up, banks warned employees to dress down and police responded to reports of a suspicious package at the Bank.
Demonstrators who blame London's bankers for the global financial crisis say they are planning to “reclaim the City”. Many businesses will shut down for the day, while banks and brokerage houses urged employees to avoid provoking the protesters.