The Burnley-born actor was nominated for the Freedom in recognition of his outstanding contribution to acting and his high-profile campaigning work to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Sir Ian is co-founder of Stonewall, the LGBT campaigning group, and patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, and The Albert Kennedy Trust, which supports homeless and vulnerable LGBT young people, to say nothing of his successful stage career and Hollywood movie career.
The Freedom of the City of London is believed to have begun in 1237 and was key to trading in the City. Today the Freedom is offered to individuals by the City of London Corporation to help celebrate a significant achievement, or to pay tribute to their outstanding contribution to London life or public life. Sir Ian is the latest in that distinguished list.