Introduction
The capital of both England and the United Kingdom, London is the biggest city in Western Europe with more than 7 million people. Because of its historical sites and cultural institutions London is a major tourist attraction. People all over the world are familiar with the city's red double-decker buses and black taxicabs. London sits on the banks of the River Thames. The city is quite spread out because there was no plan for the city's growth until the 1950s.
Places of interest
London has many religious, governmental, and scenic places to visit. For example, Westminster Abbey is an ancient church in London's West End. All of England's kings and queens have been crowned in the abbey since 1066 AD. Also, some of England's most famous people are buried there, including the writers Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer and the scientists Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton.
The London government building, the Palace of Westminster, contains both of the Houses of Parliament. The palace covers 8 acres (3.2 hectares) and has 1,200 rooms and about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of passages. The well-known Clock Tower rises 320 feet (98 meters) high over the palace. Although many people believe that Big Ben is the name of the clock in the tower, it is actually the name of the bell inside the clock. This bell weighs 13 tons and is 7 1/2 feet (2.3 meters) tall.
Another well-known London building is Buckingham Palace. This is where the queen of England and some other members of the royal family live. The Tower of London is one of the oldest buildings in London. For centuries the tower was a prison. Several famous prisoners were held there, including the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh and King Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn. Today, visitors are able to see the tower itself as well as the Crown Jewels of England, which are displayed there.
London has many scenic places. For example, Hyde Park is the largest open area in central London. It is joined with Kensington Gardens to make one large park. Trafalgar Square is a popular plaza containing a monument to the famous British naval officer Lord Horatio Nelson. Piccadilly Circus, near the center of London, is a busy intersection where five roads meet. A memorial fountain stands in the middle of the intersection. Famous for its large billboards, there are many theaters and restaurants in this area.
People
Because of its size and the fact that the British Empire used to extend around the world, people of many different cultures live in London. In the second half of the 20th century, many people from Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa moved to London. These groups of people have brought with them their own languages and cultures. As a result, more than 300 different languages are spoken in London, making the city very multicultural.
Culture
London is known for its many museums. One important museum is the British Museum. It is the oldest public museum in the world, containing art and artifacts from such ancient civilizations as those of the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. There are two main art museums in London. The National Gallery, which is on Trafalgar Square, has a fine collection of classical European painting. The Tate Gallery is devoted to British and modern art.
In addition to museums, London is also home to arts such as theater and music. The Globe Theater, which is modeled after a theater that was popular in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, holds performances of William Shakespeare's plays. Many types of productions can also be seen at the National Theatre and in the West End, which is the area near Piccadilly Circus. Music can be enjoyed at the Royal Opera House and the Royal Festival Hall, among other places.
Economy
London is an important center for international banking. Because of this, there are many banks in the city. London is also a center for investing. The city's insurance companies, especially for ocean and air travel, are some of the largest in the world. The tourist industry is also an important part of London's economy. More than 200,000 people in London work at jobs that are related to tourism.
History
Early history
London has had a long and eventful history. The first people to build a city near the mouth of the Thames River were not from England; they were from Rome. In the 1st century AD this Roman city was called Londinium (the name was eventually shortened to London). About 400 years later, the Romans left England, and a Germanic people, the Saxons settled in the area of London. Around the same time, Vikings began attacking the city. They continued to attack it on and off for about the next 200 years.
William I and the plague
By the time William the Conqueror (William I) of Normandy arrived in London in 1066, London was England's largest town. William the Conqueror was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. He also created the Tower of London for protection. During the next five hundred years, London continued to grow rapidly. It was rich, but it was also dirty and full of diseases. From the 14th to the 17th centuries, London suffered from outbreaks of a deadly disease known as the bubonic plague. The Great Plague of 1665 killed some 70,000 people.
The Great Fire and rebuilding
In 1666, London had another disaster—the Great Fire. Although this fire destroyed the city, London was rebuilt. One of the architects that helped rebuild many of the ancient churches was Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723). The most important church he worked on was St. Paul's Cathedral. London continued growing rapidly for the next 150 years. The Industrial Revolution and the growth of the British empire in the 19th century brought even more people to the city.
The 20th century and beyond
London faced some difficult challenges in the 20th century. During World War II (1939–45), London was heavily bombed by Nazi Germany. In the rebuilding that followed the war, high-rise buildings were added to London's skyline. Also, some of the areas affected by World War II, such as the docks, were redeveloped. London continues to thrive today, as is evidenced by the thousands of tourists who flock there each year. Population (1998 estimate), 7,187,300.
