For other places with the same name, see London (disambiguation).

London
Greater London

Top: City of London skyline, Middle: Palace of Westminster,

Bottom left: Tower Bridge, Bottom right: Tower of London.

London region shown within the United Kingdom

Coordinates: 51°30′28″N 00°07′41″W

Sovereign state United Kingdom

Constituent country England
Region London
Districts City and 32 boroughs
Settled by Romans as Londinium c. AD 50
Government
- Regional authority Greater London Authority
- Regional assembly London Assembly
- Mayor Boris Johnson (Con)
- HQ City Hall
- UK Parliament 74 constituencies
- London Assembly 14 constituencies
- European Parliament London constituency
Area
- Greater London 609 sq mi (1,577.3 km²)
[1]
Elevation 79 ft (24 m)
[2][3][4][5][6]
Population (2006 est.)
- Greater London 7,355,400
- Density 12,331/sq mi (4,761/km²)
- Urban 8,278,251
- Metro 13 063 441
- Demonym Londoner
- Ethnicity Ethnic groups[show]
(2005 Estimates[7])
Time zone GMT (UTC0)
- Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
Post code Various
Website: www.london.gov.uk

London (pronunciation (help·info); IPA: /ˈlʌndən/) is the capital and largest urban area in
the United Kingdom.[8] An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes
back to its founding by the Romans.[9] Since its settlement, London has been part of many
important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English
Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival.[10] The city's core, the
ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries; but since at least the
19th century the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis that has
developed around it.[11] Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of
England[12] and the Greater London administrative area,[13] with its own elected mayor and
assembly.[14]

London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres,[15] and its
influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all contribute
to its status as a major global city.[16] London boasts four World Heritage Sites: The
Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of
London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[17]
The city is a major tourist destination both for domestic and overseas visitors.[18]

London's diverse population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions,
and over 300 languages are spoken within the city.[19] As of 2006, it has an official
population of 7,512,400 within the boundaries of Greater London[2] and is the most
populous municipality in the European Union.[20] As of 2001, the Greater London Urban
Area has a population of 8,278,251[3] and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a
total population of between 12 and 14 million.[4][5]

London is the capital of Britain, and has something to offer everyone - majestic
stately houses, tranquil green parks and a zoo, engrossing museums and art
galleries and bustling shopping centres with all the major stores, specialist shops and
markets.

The Royal Family have their main residence in London, at Buckingham Palace, but
there are many other interesting houses to visit within London with Royal
connections - Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, and Regents Park, an
ancient Royal hunting park.

The Tower of London has a whole day’s worth of things to see just
in itself - there are the White, Bloody and Martin Towers, where
prisoners were held and often tortured, there are the Crown Jewels,
displayed in a specially built jewel house, and don’t forget the
Ravens, without whom the White Tower would supposedly fall, and
a great disaster befall the Kingdom.

The dome of St Paul's Cathedral is an excellent place from which to

view the rooftops of London. The climb to the top is well worth the
effort - on your way, you pass through the whispering gallery,
where your whisper on one side can be heard at the other of the
dome.

London boasts a large selection of museums and art galleries. The

British Museum, The Science Museum and The Natural History
Museum are all close to each other in South Kensington, but you’ll
need to allow more than a day to see them all! The National Gallery
and the Tate Gallery have splendid art collections, and there are
many more of all size and type all over London.

There’s no shortage of things to entertain in the evening in London

- with the West End for popular shows and musicals, a wide
selection of restaurants of all types, classical music at the
Barbican or The London Coliseum, ballet at Sadler’s Wells or
the cinemas in Leicester Square to choose from.

London has a strong maritime tradition, and the docklands on the Thames
are undergoing a transformation from empty warehouses to smart city offices
and homes. You can learn all about London’s Naval history at The National
Maritime Museum in Greenwich, and aboard the Cutty Sark and HMS Belfast.
Greenwich is also home to the Old Royal Observatory, which lies on the
meridian line that divides the world into East and West, and where Greenwich Mean
Time originates.
There are hundreds of hotels in London - some more conveniently located than
others. Here's a range of hotels in London city centre which are an ideal base for
exploring the city.