The Lloyd’s insurance market offers an unrivalled concentration of specialist underwriting expertise. Every day, more than 50 leading insurance companies and over 400 registered brokers bring business to the market, with many of these firms based in and around Lloyd’s HQ in Lime Street, London EC3M 7HA. Additionally, Lloyd’s utilises a global network of over 4,000 local coverholders who operate in and secure business for the market.

The Lloyd's market covers some of the world's largest, most individual and complicated risks. From oil rigs, buildings and bridges to celebrity body parts, from global banks, ships, airlines, space craft and sporting events to millions of people at home and at work.

Lloyd's conducts business in over 200 countries and territories worldwide and is often the first to insure new, unusual or complex risks. Lloyd's and its affiliate companies bring together an outstanding concentration of specialist expertise and talent, backed by excellent financial ratings which cover the whole market. Most of the business written at Lloyd's is still conducted face-to-face in the world-famous Underwriting Room, which welcomes more than 4,000 people, issues more than 10,000 broker tickets, sees £100m+ in premiums come into the market and £80m+ paid out in claims every single day.   

Lloyd's conducts business in over 200 countries and territories worldwide and is often the first to insure new, unusual or complex risks.

The origins of Lloyd's market dates back to the 1690s, when Edward Lloyd kept a Coffee House in Tower Street. He attracted merchants and ship-owners to his premises by posting up the latest shipping information. From which he began publishing Lloyd's News in 1696, therefore establishing London's first daily newspaper.

In 1771 a group of Lloyd's customers formed their own association of underwriters and took rooms at the Royal Exchange. Lloyd's remained at the building for the next 150 years. After a fire in 1838 Lloyd's moved premises to South Sea House near to the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street. In 1871 Lloyd's was incorporated by Parliament for the "promotion of marine insurance and the diffusion of shipping intelligence".

The London insurance market is a distinct, separate part of the UK industry centred on the City of London. Its core activity is the conduct of internationally traded insurance mostly non-life (general) insurance and reinsurance, with an increasing emphasis on high-exposure risks.

Reflecting the City's status as a dominant international financial centre, the London market's character is global, with a large number of foreign or foreign owned underwriting companies.

It is the only market in which all of the world's 20 largest re-insurance groups are represented. The number, diversity and expertise of insurers, brokers, managing agents, underwriters and consultants in the London market is reflected in the dynamic lifestyles, interests and networking of London' insurance professionals.