European cities

London

London is the capital city of England. It is the most populous city in the United Kingdom, with a metropolitan area of over 13 million inhabitants.

Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium.

The central part of London is full of historical remains. Nearly every building, every bridge, every street, palace, house, and stone — each of them has its own story, its own past. In London past and present are so mixed together that they cannot easily be separated and when you are in London you see the past in the present and the present in the past.

The Best things of London

One of the largest and the most commercially successful cities in the world, London is also regarded as the financial heart of the United Kingdom. The city is made of two ancient cities, the City of Westminster and the City of London. London, capital of United Kingdom, is an exhilarating fusion of unyielding tradition and free-spirited avant-garde. With spellbinding attractions like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and London Eye, it is a perfect tourism magnet.

If royalty fails to entice you, the numerous catacombs of the creepy London Dungeon or the wax images of stars in the Madame Tussaud’s Museum will surely do the trick. Besides, London is second best to none, when it comes to modern pleasures and leisure for the Londoners.

Fun & Interesting Facts About London

  • London stands on the southeast of England and is the capital city of United Kingdom.
  • London is the most densely populated area in Britain and is the ninth largest city in the world.
  • London is formed by two ancient cities - City of London and City of Westminster, both cities forming the region of Greater London.
  • During the time of the Roman Invasion, London was known as Londinium. In Saxon times, it was known as Lundenwic and during the kingdom of Alfred the Great, its name was changed to Lundenburg.
  • Did you know? London presents more live comedy than any other country in the world.
  • Contrary to what many people believe, Big Ben in London is not the name of the clock or the tower, but a 13-ton bell inside the clock. The tower is known as St. Stephen’s Tower.
  • The city of London is home to four World Heritage Sites - the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Botanical Gardens.
  • Thames River in London is the longest river in England. It begins life as a trickle in a Gloucestershire meadow and flows for more than 135 miles, before reaching London.
  • The London Eye or Millennium Wheel of the city is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.
  • Wilton’s Music Hall is the world’s oldest surviving musical hall, which was built in 1743.
  • There are five international airports in London, with the Heathrow airport being the busiest airport in the world.
  • The London Underground, built in 1863, and popularly called ‘Tube’, is the first metro of the world.
  • The Canary Wharf Tower is the tallest building in London.
  • London is one of the three command centers for the world economy, and has the sixth largest city economy in the world after Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Paris.
  • Buckingham Palace, The Queen’s official residence built in 1702, was earlier the site of an infamous brothel.
  • There are more American banks in London than in Manhattan and New York put together!
  • The Great Fire of London in 1666 created widespread devastation, causing major reconstruction work all across the city.
  • London is a multi-ethnic city and domiciles people speaking over 300 languages.
  • Windsor Castle of London is the largest and oldest castle of the world that is still in use.
  • According to rumors, ghosts of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Mad King George, and Charles I still haunt the Windsor Castle.
  • There are more than 100 theaters in London. Moreover, about sixteen percent of the country’s restaurants and food joints are located in London.
  • Do you know Londoners are believed to live longer than their other UK counterparts due to their happy-go-lucky spirits and their bustling lifestyles.
  • London is a multi-ethnic and diverse city; one in three Londoners is a foreign national.