London
For other places of the same name see London (disambiguation).
London is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and one of the largest cities in Europe. From being the capital of Roman Britannia it rose to become the centre of the British Empire and to contribute today 17% of the GDP of the world's fourth largest economy. London and Londinium has been one of the world's most important centres of commerce and politics for almost two millennia.
Originally a Celtic town, it was settled by the Roman invaders who called it Londinium and used it as a port on the River Thames. The Thames runs right through the city and bisects it, north from south, although it is crossed by a number of bridges and tunnels, the most famous of which is the neo-Gothic Tower Bridge.
Over the years, London has increased dramatically in size, absorbing meadows, woodlands, villages and towns and spreading outwards in every direction. Outward growth has been physically interrupted (though by no means halted) through the definition of a Green Belt. In recent years development has been concentrated in the London Docklands area.
For more detail on the historical development of London see the history of London.
The London that most tourists see is the West End with all its theatres, shops and restaurants. In contrast, the East End has played host to successive waves of immigrants for centuries and contains some of the UK's more deprived areas. The Isle of Dogs is however witnessing unprecedented commercial change and many restaurants, music and comedy clubs are injecting a more varied atmosphere. See also gentrification. The tourist sites in the West End are mainly in South Kensington or the City of Westminster. The East End is centred on the Borough of Tower Hamlets.
There is every likelihood that the Mayor and the Assembly will be in conflict with one or more Boroughs from time to time, they had each enjoyed "unitary status" and a fair degree of autonomy since the Greater London (county) Council was abolished by the Conservative Government led by Margaret Thatcher in 1986.
On census day, 2001, the City and the 32 boroughs (some 1579 km2 or 610 sq miles) had 7,172,036 inhabitants, making London one of the most populous cities in Europe alongside Moscow, Istanbul and Paris.
In the 2001 census 71% of these seven million people classed their ethnic group as white, 10% as Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani, 5% as black African, 5% as black Caribbean, 3% as mixed race and 1% as Chinese. The largest religious groupings are Christian (58.2%) and No Religion (15.8%). 21.8% of inhabitants were born outside the European Union.
The London metropolitan area (6,267 sq miles) had a population of 13,945,000 - larger than the combined populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the largest metropolitan area in Europe, and one of the World's largest 20. (external references: [1], [1])
Other airports, such as London Gatwick Airport, London Luton Airport, and London Stansted Airport, as well as those at Manston and Southend, incorporate "London" in their name, but the towns of Gatwick, Luton and Stansted where they are situated lie in the Home Counties at some distance from London.
Special train stations built at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted help to offset their physical remoteness from the capital and thus spread scheduled airline services in a safe and manageable way across the region.
While Transport for London runs the London Underground, also known as the Tube, the famous red double decker buses are now run by private companies, although it is a requirement that the buses are still painted (mostly) red. Government proposals to place the Underground network under a "public-private partnership" arrangement have encountered widespread opposition. Transport for London introduced a Congestion Charge levied on traffic entering Central London during peak hours in mid-February 2003 in order to alleviate chronic traffic congestion. See also British railway system.
While the Port of London is now only the third largest in the United Kingdom, rather than largest in the world, it still handles 50 million tonnes of cargo each year.
London's economy generates 116,444 million pounds annually, and accounts for 17% of the UK's Gross Domestic Product - see Economy of the United Kingdom. (external link London Development Authority).
Tourism is one of the UK's largest industries, and in 2003 employed the equivalent of 350,000 full time workers in London [1].
History
Contemporary London
Today the Greater London administrative area comprises the City of London and 32 London boroughs including the City of Westminster. The City of London, also known as the "square mile", is predominantly the financial centre, and geographically a very small area. Although bustling during the working week, the City of London is usually much calmer on the weekends.Government
The elected Mayor of London is Ken Livingstone, who was expelled from the Labour Party after standing as an independent. He is regulated to some extent by an Assembly elected by a proportional voting system, which is unusual in the British political context. Improvements in public safety and transport are his key priorities. Population
The citizens of London are, and have been for many centuries, diverse in most respects.Airports
The airfields of London City Airport, Heathrow, Biggin Hill, Kenley Aerodrome and Northolt lie within the London boundary. Public Transport System
The London public transport system is one of the few systems in the world to be a tourist attraction in its own right; its infrastructure, however, is, and historically has been, financially stretched and under-resourced, leading to frequent difficulties and delays in making journeys. Sport
London is home to over ten professional football clubs, most of them named after the district in which they play. Some of the more famous teams in the top division (the Premier League) are Arsenal (who play in Highbury), Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur (commonly known as Spurs), and West Ham United. Less famous and proportionately less successful clubs include Crystal Palace, Millwall, Queen's Park Rangers and Wimbledon, although all these have at one time played in the top flight of English league football. Wimbledon are soon to leave London to play in the town of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire. Other minor clubs in London include Brentford and Leyton Orient.
London is also home to over major sporting venues including Lord's home of MCC (Middlesex County Cricket) and the Oval home Surrey's cricket club. Wimbledon is the home of the The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Twickenham is the home to English Rugby and Wembley, currently being rebuilt, is the home to international Footbal and Rugby League.Culture
London has five professional symphony orchestras; the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.Business
The City of London or "Square Mile" is the financial centre of London, with many banks and financial institutions.Prime London Tourist Attractions
London by night as seen from space. larger version
Former London tourist attractions:
Other historical places:
Prominent Exhibitions
Films and Television shows featuring London
See Also
External Links
