History·21 February 2026·4 min read
The London Stock Exchange — from coffeehouses to the heart of finance
One of the world's oldest stock exchanges was born in the coffeehouses where merchants traded shares.
The London Stock Exchange originates in 17th-century coffeehouses, where merchants bought and sold shares. Over time it organized into one of the most important exchanges in the world.
The heart of capitalism
Stock exchanges let companies raise money by selling shares and let people invest. But they also host bubbles and crashes. An exchange is the faithful mirror of an economy's hopes and fears.
