London 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.
Whether you’ve lived in London all your life or you’ve just arrived, there is always something new and exciting to discover. As famous 18th century man of life and letters, Samuel Johnson, once said, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is one of the world's leading financial centres and is responsible for 24% of UK’s GDP (Eurostat, 2019). London is a world cultural capital. It is the world's most visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic. London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.
Cultural heritage
London is one of the world’s cultural hubs and well known for its rich history and world-famous landmarks. London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory, Greenwich marks the Prime Meridian, 0° longitude, and GMT). Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard.
London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theatres.
Shopping and Fashion
London has the most famous shopping stores and streets: Harrods, Selfridges, Oxford Street and Regent Street. London is a world-class fashion centre, where you can find the most famous designs in fashion and jewellery.
Food and entertainment
London has a wealth of top-class restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs, and cinemas. London’s restaurants offer a wide variety of food and provide a great choice to suit all tastes. The city hosts a vast number of lively outdoor events, festivals and carnivals and offers a fantastic nightlife.
Transport and travel
London operates an excellent public transport system; this enables you to travel easily in and around the city. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. The underground and national rail networks connect London with the rest of the country. London’s five international airports and international rail terminal provide convenient access to Europe and the rest of the world.
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