London

.
London

London region shown within the United Kingdom

Coordinates: 51°30′28″N
00°07′41″WCoordinates: 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
Greater London
- Regional authority
Authority
- Regional assembly London Assembly
- Mayor Boris Johnson
- Headquarters City Hall
- UK Parliament
74 constituencies
- London Assembly
14 constituencies
- European Parliame
London constituency
nt
Area
- London 614 sq mi (1,590.3 km2)
Elevation [1] 79 ft (24 m)
[2]
Population (2006 est.)
- London 7,355,500
- Density 12,331/sq mi (4,761/km2)
- Urban 8,278,251
- Metro 13,063,441
- Demonym Londoner
- Ethnicity
Ethnic groups[show]
(2005 Estimates)[3]
Time zone GMT (UTC0)
- Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
Post code Various
Website: [Link]
London ( pronunciation (help·info); IPA: /ˈlʌndən/) is the capital and largest
urban area of both England and the United Kingdom. An important settlement
for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans.[4]
Since its foundation, London has been part of
many movements and phenomena throughout
history, including the English Renaissance, the
Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival.
[citation needed]
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.[5] Today the bulk of this
conurbation forms the London region of England[6] and
the Greater London administrative area,[7] with its own
elected mayor and assembly.[8]
London is one of the world's business, financial and
cultural centres[9] and its influence in politics,
education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts
contribute to its status as a major global city.[10][11][12][13] Central London is the
headquarters of more than half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the
FTSE 100) and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. The city is a
major tourist destination both for domestic and overseas visitors, with annual
expenditure by tourists of around £15 billion.
Greater London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; the
historic settlement of Greenwich; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and the
site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St.
Margaret's Church.[14]
London's population draws from a wide range of
peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300
languages are spoken within the city.[15] As of 2006, it
had an official population of 7,512,400 within the
boundaries of Greater London[16] and is the most
populous municipality in the European Union.[17] As
of 2001, the Greater London Urban Area had a population of 8,278,251[2] and
the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of between 12
and 14 million.[citation needed] The public transport network, administered by
Transport for London, is one of the most extensive in the world, and
Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world for international traffic.
History
Main articles: History of London and Etymology of London
See also: Fortifications of London
The etymology of London remains a mystery. The earliest etymological
explanation can be attributed to Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum
Britanniae. The name is described as originating from King Lud, who had
allegedly taken over the city and named it Kaerlud.[18] This was slurred into
Kaerludein and finally London. Many other theories have been advanced over
the centuries, most of them deriving the name from Welsh or British, and
occasionally from Anglo-Saxon or even Hebrew.[19]
Map of London in 1300, showing the medieval boundaries of the City of
London
Although there is evidence of scattered Brythonic settlements in the area, the
first major settlement was founded by the Romans in AD 43 as Londinium,
following the Roman conquest of Britain.[20] This Londinium lasted for just
seventeen years. Around 61, the Iceni tribe led by Queen Boudica stormed
this first London, burning it to the ground.[21] The next, heavily planned
incarnation of the city prospered and superseded Colchester as the capital of
the Roman province of Britannia in 100. At its height in the 2nd century,
Roman London had a population of around 60,000.
By the 600s, the Anglo-Saxons had created a new settlement called
Lundenwic approximately 1,000 yards (0.91 km) upstream from the old
Roman city, around what is now Covent Garden.[22] It is likely that there was a
harbour at the mouth of the River Fleet for fishing and trading, and this
trading grew until the city was overcome by the Vikings and forced to relocate
the city back to the location of the Roman Londinium to use its walls for
protection.[23] Viking attacks continued to increase around the rest of South
East England, until 886 when Alfred the Great recaptured London and made
peace with the Danish leader, Guthrum.[24] The original
Saxon city of Lundenwic became Ealdwic ("old city"), a
name surviving to the present day as Aldwych, which is
in the modern City of Westminster.
In a retaliatory attack, Ethelred's army achieved victory
by pulling down London Bridge with the Danish garrison
on top, and English control was re-established. Canute
took control of the English throne in 1017, controlling the
city and country until 1042, when his death resulted in a
reversion to Saxon control under his pious stepson
Edward the Confessor, who re-founded Westminster
Abbey and the adjacent Palace of Westminster.[25] By this time, London had
become the largest and most prosperous city in England, although the official
seat of government was still at Winchester.
Following a victory at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror, the then
Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England in the newly finished
Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.[26] William granted the citizens of
London special privileges, while building a castle in the south-east corner of
the city to keep them under control. This castle was expanded by later kings
and is now known as the Tower of London, serving first as a royal residence
and later as a prison.[27]
The Great Exhibition
In 1097, William II began the building of Westminster Hall, close by the abbey
of the same name. The hall became the basis of a new Palace of
Westminster, the prime royal residence throughout the Middle Ages.[28][29]
Westminster became the seat of the royal court and government (persisting
until the present day), while its distinct neighbour, the City of London, was a
centre of trade and commerce and flourished under its own unique
administration, the Corporation of London. London grew in wealth and
population during the Middle Ages. In 1100 its population was around 18,000;
by 1300 it had grown to nearly 100,000.[30] King Edward I issued an edict in
1290, expelling all Jews from England.[31] Before the edict, there was an
increasing population of Jews, whereas after this time, the population of Jews
began to drop considerably.[31] Disaster struck during the Black Death in the
mid-14th century, when London lost nearly a third of its population. Apart from
the invasion of London during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381,[32] London
remained relatively untouched by the various civil wars during the Middle
Ages, such as the first and second Barons' Wars and the Wars of the Roses.
[33]

After the successful defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, political stability in
England allowed London to grow further. In 1603, James VI of Scotland came
to the throne of England, essentially uniting the two countries. His enactment
of harsh anti-Catholic laws made him unpopular, and an assassination
attempt was made on 5 November 1605—the well-known Gunpowder Plot.[34]
The Great Fire of London destroyed many parts of the city in 1666
Plague caused extensive problems for London in the early 17th century,
culminating in the Great Plague in 1665–1666. This was the last major
outbreak in England, possibly thanks to the disastrous fire of 1666.[35] The
Great Fire of London broke out in the original City and quickly swept through
London's wooden buildings, destroying large swathes of the city.[35] A first
hand narrative of both plague and fire was provided by Sir Samuel Pepys.[35]
Rebuilding took over ten years, largely under direction of a Commission
appointed by King Charles II and chaired by Sir Christopher Wren.[36][37][38]
Following London's growth in the 18th century, it became the world's largest
city from about 1831 to 1925.[39] Rising traffic congestion on city centre roads
led to the creation of the world's first metro system—the London Underground
—in 1863, driving further expansion and urbanisation.[40] London's local
government system struggled to cope with the rapid growth, especially in
providing the city with adequate infrastructure. Between 1855 and 1889, the
Metropolitan Board of Works oversaw infrastructure expansion. It was then
replaced by the County of London, overseen by the London County Council,
London's first elected city-wide administration.

A London street hit during the Blitz of World War II

The Blitz and other bombing by the German Luftwaffe during World War II
killed over 30,000 Londoners and destroyed large tracts of housing and other
buildings across London. In 1965 London's political boundaries were
expanded to take into account the growth of the urban area outside the
County of London's borders. The expanded area was called Greater London
and was administered by the Greater London Council. An eco revival from the
1980s onwards re-established London's position as a pre-eminent
international centre. However, as the seat of government and the most
important city in the UK, it has been subjected to bouts of terrorism.
Provisional Irish Republican Army bombers sought to pressure the
government into negotiations over Northern Ireland, frequently disrupting city
activities with bomb threats—some of which were carried out—until their 1997
cease-fire.[41] More recently, a series of coordinated bomb attacks were
carried out by Islamic extremist suicide bombers on the public transport
network on 7 July 2005—just 24 hours after London was awarded the 2012
Summer Olympics.[42]
[edit] Governance
See also: List of heads of London government

City Hall at night, home of the Greater London Authority

[edit] Local government
Main articles: Local government in London and History of local government in
London
The administration of London is formed of two tiers—a city-wide, strategic tier
and a local tier. City-wide administration is coordinated by the Greater
London Authority (GLA), while local administration is carried out by 33 smaller
authorities.[43] The GLA consists of two elected parts; the Mayor of London,
who has executive powers, and the London Assembly, who scrutinise the
Mayor's decisions and can accept or reject his budget proposals each year.
The GLA was set up in 2000 to replace the similar Greater London Council
(GLC) which had been abolished in 1986.[44] The headquarters of the GLA
and the Mayor of London is at City Hall; the Mayor is Boris Johnson. The 33
local authorities are the councils of the 32 London boroughs and the City of
London Corporation.[45] They are responsible for local services not overseen
by the GLA, such as local planning, schools, social services, local roads and
refuse collection.
[edit] National government
London is the home of the Government of the United Kingdom which is
located around the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.[46] Many
government departments are located close to Parliament, particularly along
Whitehall, including the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street.[47]
The British Parliament is often referred to as the "Mother of Parliaments"
(although this sobriquet was first applied to England itself by John Bright)[48]
because it has been the model for most other parliamentary systems, and its
Acts have created many other parliaments. London is represented in the
national Parliament by 74 Members of Parliament (MPs) who correspond to
local parliamentary constituencies.[49] Of these 74 MPs, currently 44 are from
the Labour Party, 21 are Conservatives, 8 are Liberal Democrats and one is
from the RESPECT party.
[edit] Geography
Main article: Geography of London
[edit] Scope

West and central London seen from SPOT satellite

London can be geographically defined in a number of ways, although the
situation was once even more ambiguous than it is now and open to periodic
legal debate.[50] At London's core is the small, ancient City of London which is
commonly known as 'the City' or 'the Square Mile'.[51] London's metropolitan
area grew considerably during the Victorian era and again during the Interwar
period, but expansion halted in the 1940s because of World War II and Green
Belt legislation, and the area has been largely static since.[52] The London
region of England, also commonly known as Greater London, is the area
administered by the Greater London Authority.[6] The urban sprawl of the
conurbation—or Greater London Urban Area—covers a roughly similar area,
with a slightly larger population. Beyond this is the vast London commuter
belt.[53]

Map of Central London

Forty percent of Greater London is covered by the London postal district,
within which 'LONDON' forms part of the postal address.[54] The London
telephone area code covers a larger area, similar in size to Greater London,
although some outer districts are omitted and some places just outside are
included. The area within the orbital M25 motorway is sometimes used to
define the "London area"[55] and the Greater London boundary has been
aligned to it in places.[56] Greater London is split for some purposes into Inner
London and Outer London.[57] Informally, the city is split into North, South,
East, West and often also Central London.
The Metropolitan Police District, city-wide local government area and London
transport area have varied over time, but broadly coincide with the Greater
London boundary.[58] The Romans may have marked the centre of Londinium
with the London Stone, still visible on Cannon Street.[59] The coordinates of
the nominal centre of London (traditionally considered to be the original
Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross, near the junction of Trafalgar Square and
Whitehall) are approximately 51°30′29″N 00°07′29″W. Trafalgar Square has
also become a point for celebrations and protests.[60]
[edit] Status
Within London, both the City of London and the City of Westminster have City
status and both the City of London and the remainder of Greater London are
the ceremonial counties.[61] The current area of Greater London was
historically part of the counties of Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Essex and
Hertfordshire.[62] Unlike most capital cities, London's status as the capital of
the UK has never been granted or confirmed officially—by statute or in written
form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention,
making its position as de facto capital a part of the UK's unwritten
constitution. The capital of England was moved to London from Winchester
as the Palace of Westminster developed in the 12th and 13th centuries to
become the permanent location of the royal court, and thus the political
capital of the nation.[63] According to the Collins English Dictionary definition[64]
of 'the seat of government,' London is not the capital of England, as England
does not have its own government. However according to the Oxford English
Reference dictionary definition[65] of 'the most important town...' and many
other authorities,[66][67] London is the capital of England.
[edit] Topography
Greater London covers an area of 609 square miles (1,580 km2).[citation needed] Its
primary geographical feature is the Thames, a navigable river which crosses
the city from the south-west to the east. The Thames Valley is a floodplain
surrounded by gently rolling hills including Parliament Hill, Addington Hills,
and Primrose Hill. The Thames was once a much broader, shallower river
with extensive marshlands; at high tide, its shores reached five times their
present width.[68] Since the Victorian era it has been extensively embanked,
and many of its London tributaries now flow underground. The Thames is a
tidal river, and London is vulnerable to flooding.[69] The threat has increased
over time due to a slow but continuous rise in high water level by the slow
'tilting' of Britain (up in the north and down in the south) caused by post-
glacial rebound.[70] In 1974, a decade of work began on the construction of the
Thames Barrier across the Thames at Woolwich to deal with this threat. While
the barrier is expected to function as designed until roughly 2030, concepts
for its future enlargement or redesign are already being discussed.[71]
[edit] Climate
Climate chart for London
J F M A M J J A S O N D
52 34 42 45 47 53 38 53 57 62 52 54

8 8 11 13 17 20 23 23 19 15 11 9
2 2 4 5 8 11 14 13 11 8 5 3
temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: Met Office[72]
Imperial conversion[show]
J F M A M J J A S O N D

2 [Link].[Link].22.4 2 2.1

46 47 52 56 63 68 73 73 67 59 52 48
36 36 39 41 46 52 56 56 52 46 41 38
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
London has a temperate marine climate, like much of the British Isles, so the
city rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures. Summers are warm with
average high temperatures of 23 °C (73 °F) and lows of 14 °C (57 °F),
however, temperatures could exceed 25 °C (77 °F) on many days.[73] Winters
in London are chilly, but rarely below freezing with daytime temperatures
around 2 - 8 °C (36 - 46 °F), while spring has mild days and cool evenings.[73]
London has regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year, with
average precipitation of 583.6 millimetres (22.98 in) every year. Snow is
relatively uncommon, particularly because heat from the urban area can
make London up to 5 °C (9 °F) hotter than the surrounding areas in winter.
Light snowfall, however, is sometimes, but not always, seen up to a few times
a year. London is in USDA Hardiness zone 9, and AHS Heat Zone 2.[74]
In the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, London
was noted for its dense fogs and smogs. Following the deadly Great Smog of
1952, the Clean Air Act 1956 was passed, leading to the decline of such
severe pollution in the capital.[75]
[edit] Districts
See also: List of places in London, Central London, Inner London, and Outer
London
London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names (e.g.
Bloomsbury, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Whitechapel, Fitzrovia). These are either
informal designations, or reflect the names of superseded villages, parishes
and city wards. Such names have remained in use through tradition, each
referring to a local area with its own distinctive character, but often with no
modern official boundaries. Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into
32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London.[76][77]
The City of London is one of the world's three largest financial centres
(alongside New York and Tokyo) with a dominant role in several international
financial markets, including cross-border bank lending, international bond
issuance and trading, foreign-exchange trading,[78] over-the-counter
derivatives, fund management and foreign equities trading.[79] It also has the
world's largest insurance market, the leading exchange for dealing in non-
precious metals, the largest spot gold and gold lending markets, the largest
ship broking market, and more foreign banks and investment houses than
any other centre.[79] The City has its own governance and boundaries, giving it
a status as the only completely autonomous local authority in London.[80]
London's new financial and commercial hub is the Docklands area to the east
of the City, dominated by the Canary Wharf complex. Other businesses
locate in the City of Westminster, the home of the UK's national government
and the well-known Westminster Abbey.
The West End is London's main entertainment and shopping district, with
locations such as Oxford Street, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and
Piccadilly Circus acting as tourist magnets.[81] The West London area is
known for fashionable and expensive residential areas such as Notting Hill,
Knightsbridge and Chelsea—where properties can sell for tens of millions of
pounds.[82] The average price for all properties in the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea is £894,000 with similar average outlay in most of
Central London.[83]
The eastern region of London contains the East End and East London. The
East End is the area closest to the original Port of London, known for its high
immigrant population, as well as for being one of the poorest areas in
London.[84] The surrounding East London area saw much of London's early
industrial development; now, brownfield sites throughout the area are being
redeveloped as part of the Thames Gateway including the London Riverside
and Lower Lea Valley, which is being developed into the Olympic Park for the
2012 Olympics.[84]
1. City of London
18. Sutton
2. City of Westminster
19. Croydon
3. Kensington and Chelsea
20. Bromley
4. Hammersmith and Fulham
21. Lewisham
5. Wandsworth
22. Greenwich
6. Lambeth
23. Bexley
7. Southwark
24. Havering
8. Tower Hamlets
25. Barking and Dagenham
9. Hackney
26. Redbridge
10. Islington
27. Newham
11. Camden
28. Waltham Forest
12. Brent
29. Haringey
13. Ealing
30. Enfield
14. Hounslow
31. Barnet
15. Richmond
32. Harrow
16. Kingston
33. Hillingdon
17. Merton
[edit] Demography
Main articles: Demography of London and Religion in London
Country of Birth Population (2001)
United Kingdom 5,230,155
India 172,162
Republic of Ireland 157,285
Bangladesh 84,565
Jamaica 80,319
Nigeria 68,907
Pakistan 66,658
Kenya 66,311
Sri Lanka 49,932
Ghana 46,513
Cyprus 45,888
South Africa 45,506
United States 44,622
Australia 41,488
Germany 39,818
Turkey 39,128
Italy 38,694
France 38,130
 Somalia 33,831
Uganda 32,082
New Zealand 27,494
With increasing industrialisation, London's population grew rapidly throughout
the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it was the most populous city in the
world until overtaken by New York in 1925. Its population peaked at
8,615,245 in 1939. There were an estimated 7,512,400 official residents in
Greater London as of mid-2006.[16] However, London's continuous urban area
extends beyond the borders of Greater London and was home to 8,278,251
people in 2001,[2] while its wider metropolitan area has a population of
between 12 and 14 million depending on the definition used.[citation needed]
According to Eurostat, London is the most populous city and metropolitan
area of the European Union and the second most populous in Europe (or
third if Istanbul is included).
The region covers an area of 609 square miles (1,580 km2). The population
density is 12,331 square miles (31,940 km2), more than ten times that of any
other British region.[85] In terms of population, London is the 25th largest city
and the 17th largest metropolitan region in the world. It is also ranked 4th in
the world in number of billionaires (United States Dollars) residing in the city.
[86]
London ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world, alongside
Tokyo and Moscow.[87]
[edit] Ethnic groups
Main article: Ethnic groups in London
According to 2005 estimates,[88] 69.6% of these seven and a half million
people are classed as white, of which the indigenous White British are 58.2%,
White Irish (2.6%) and "Other White" 8.8%, the majority of whom are other
Europeans. 12.9% of people are of South Asian descent, including Indian
(mainly Punjabi, Hindi, Tamil & Gujarati), Pakistani, Bangladeshi (Bengali)
and "Other South Asian" (mostly Sri Lankan and other Southern Asian
ethnicities). 10.8% of people are Black (around 5.5% are Black African, 4.4%
as Black Caribbean, 0.8% as "Other Black"). 3.4% are of mixed race; 1.4%
are Chinese; and 1.9% of people belong to another ethnic group. 21.8% of
inhabitants were born outside the European Union. The Irish born, from both
the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, number approximately 250,000
and are the largest group born outside of Britain.
In January 2005, a survey of London's ethnic and religious diversity claimed
that there were more than 300 languages spoken and more than 50 non-
indigenous communities which have a population of more than 10,000 in
London.[89] Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that, as of
2006, London's foreign-born population is 2,288,000 (31%), up from
1,630,000 in 1997.[90] The 2001 census showed that 27.1% of Greater
London's population were born outside the UK, and a slightly higher
proportion were classed as non-white.[91]
The table to the right shows the 'Country of Birth' of London residents in
2001, the date of the last UK Census. (Top 21).[92] Note that a portion of the
German-born population are likely to be British nationals born to parents
serving in the British armed forces in Germany.[93] As of 2008, 40% of
London's total population is from an ethnic minority group. Across London,
Black and Asian children outnumber White British children by about three to
two.[94]
[edit] Religion
See also: List of churches and cathedrals of London

Westminster Abbey is one of London's oldest and most important buildings

and a World Heritage Site.
The majority of Londoners - 58.2% - identify themselves as Christians.[95] This
is followed by those of no religion (15.8%), Muslims (8.5%), Hindus (4.1%),
Jews (2.1%), Sikhs (1.5%), Buddhists (0.8%) and other (0.5%), though 8.7%
of people did not answer this question in the 2001 Census.[95]
[edit] Christianity
London has traditionally been dominated by Christianity, and has a large
number of churches, particularly in the City of London. The well-known St
Paul's Cathedral in the City and Southwark Cathedral south of the river are
Anglican administrative centres,[96] while the Archbishop of Canterbury,
principal bishop of the Church of England and worldwide Anglican
Communion, has his main residence at Lambeth Palace in the London
Borough of Lambeth.[97]
Important national and royal ceremonies are shared between St Paul's and
Westminster Abbey.[98] The Abbey is not to be confused with nearby
Westminster Cathedral, which is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in
England and Wales.[99] Religious practice is lower in London than any other
part of the UK or Western Europe and is around seven times lower than
American averages.[100] Despite the prevalence of Anglican churches,
observance is very low within the Anglican denomination, although church
attendance, particularly at evangelical Anglican churches in London, has
started to increase.[101]
[edit] Other religions
The Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Neasden
London is also home to sizeable Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish
communities. Many Muslims live in Tower Hamlets and Newham; the most
important Muslim edifice is London Central Mosque on the edge of Regent's
Park.[102] London's large Hindu community is found in the north-western
boroughs of Harrow and Brent, the latter of which is home to one of Europe's
largest Hindu temples, Neasden Temple.[103] Sikh communities are located in
East and West London, which is also home to the largest Sikh temple in the
world, outside India.[104]
The majority of British Jews live in London, with significant Jewish
communities in Stamford Hill, Stanmore, Golders Green, Hendon, and
Edgware in North London.[105] Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue has the
largest membership of any single synagogue in the whole of Europe,
overtaking Ilford synagogue (also in London) in 1998.[106] The community set
up the London Jewish Forum in 2007 in response to the growing significance
of devolved London Government.[107]
[edit] Economy
Further information: Economy of the United Kingdom, Economy of London,
and Media in London

The three tallest skyscrapers as of 2008 in Canary Wharf as viewed from

Cabot Square. It is home to such companies as the HSBC and Clifford
Chance.
London is a major centre for international business and commerce and is one
of three "command centres" for the world economy (along with New York City
and Tokyo).[108] London generates approximately 20% of the UK's GDP[109] (or
$446 billion in 2005); while the economy of the London metropolitan area
generates approximately 30% of the UK's GDP (or an estimated $669 billion
in 2005).[110]
London's success as a service industry and business centre can be attributed
to factors such as English being the native and dominant language of
business, close relationship with the U.S. and various countries in Asia. Other
factors include English law being the most important and most used contract
law in international business and the multi-cultural infrastructure.[111]
Government policies such as low taxes, particularly for foreigners (non-UK
domiciled residents do not get taxed on their foreign earnings), a business
friendly environment, good transport infrastructure and a deregulated
economy with little intervention by the government have all contributed to
London's economy becoming more service based.[111] Over 85% (3.2 million)
of the employed population of Greater London works in service industries.
Another half a million employees resident in Greater London work in
manufacturing and construction, almost equally divided between both.[112]

The City of London is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York.
[109]
It is home to the London Stock Exchange and Lloyds of London.
London's largest industry remains finance, and its financial exports make it a
large contributor to the UK's balance of payments. Over 300,000 people are
employed in financial services in London. London has over 480 overseas
banks, more than any other city in the world. Due to New York's tightening of
market regulations, London stock exchanges had approximately 20% more
initial public offerings in 2006.[113] In the subprime crisis, however, London is
getting hit harder than any other financial center. The City of London
estimates that 70,000 jobs in finance will be cut within barely a year. [114]
Moreover, several foreign banks started to move off employees from London
to their national financial centers. Notably Dresdner Kleinwort, BNP Paribas
and Santander. London is home to banks, brokers, insurers and legal and
accounting firms. A second, smaller financial district is developing at Canary
Wharf to the east of the city which includes the global headquarters of HSBC,
Reuters, Barclays and the Magic Circle, which includes Clifford Chance, the
largest law firm in the world. London handled 31% of global currency
transactions in 2005—an average daily turnover of US$753 billion—with more
US dollars traded in London than New York, and more euros traded than in
every other city in Europe combined.[115][116]
More than half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the FTSE 100) and over
100 of Europe's 500 largest companies are headquartered in central London.
Over 70% of the FTSE 100 are located within London's metropolitan area,
and 75% of Fortune 500 companies have offices in London.[117] Along with
professional services, media companies are concentrated in London (see
Media in London) and the media distribution industry is London's second
most competitive sector (after central banking, the most competitive sector).
[118]
The BBC is a key employer, while other broadcasters also have
headquarters around the city. Many national newspapers are edited in
London, having traditionally been associated with Fleet Street in the city; they
are now primarily based around Canary Wharf.
Tourism is one of London's prime industries and employs the equivalent of
350,000 full-time workers in London in 2003,[119] while annual expenditure by
tourists is around £15 billion.[120] London is the world's most popular city for
international visitors.[121] A study carried out by Euromonitor in October 2007
places London at first place out of 150 of the world's most popular cities,
attracting 15.6 million international tourists in 2006.[122] This puts London far
ahead of 2nd place Bangkok (10.35 million) and 3rd place Paris (just 9.7
million). London attracts 27 million overnight-stay visitors every year.[121]
Formerly the largest port in the world, the Port of London is currently the third-
largest in the United Kingdom, handling 50 million tonnes of cargo each year.
[123]

[edit] Cityscape

A panoramic view of modern London, as seen from

the Golden Gallery of Saint Paul’s Cathedral
[edit] Architecture
See also: Architecture in London and List of tallest
structures in London
London is too diverse to be characterised by any
particular architectural style, having accumulated its
buildings over a long period of time and drawn on a wide range of influences.
It is, however, mainly brick built, most commonly the yellow London stock
brick or a warm orange-red variety, often decorated with carvings and white
plaster mouldings.[124] Many grand houses and public buildings (such as the
National Gallery) are constructed from Portland stone. Some areas of the city,
particularly those just west of the centre, are characterised by white stucco or
whitewashed buildings. Few structures pre-date the Great Fire of 1666,
except for a few trace Roman remains, the Tower of London and a few
scattered Tudor survivors in the City. The disused (but soon to be
rejuvenated) 1939 Battersea Power Station by the river in the south-west is a
local landmark, while some railway termini are excellent examples of
Victorian architecture, most notably St Pancras and Paddington (at least
internally).[125]

The O2, one of the largest dome structures in the world.

The density of London varies, with high employment density in the central
area, high residential densities in inner London and lower densities in the
suburbs. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is achieved with
medium- and high-rise buildings. London's skyscrapers such as the notable
"Gherkin", Tower 42, the Broadgate Tower and One Canada Square are
usually found in the two financial districts, the City of London and Canary
Wharf. Other notable modern buildings include City Hall in Southwark with its
distinctive oval shape,[126] the British Library in Somers Town/Kings Cross,
What was formerly the Millennium Dome, located by the Thames to the east
of Canary Wharf, is now used as an entertainment venue known as The O2.
The development of tall buildings has been encouraged in the London Plan,
which will lead to the erection of many new skyscrapers over the next
decade, particularly in the City of London and Canary Wharf. The 72-storey,
1,017 feet (310 m) "Shard London Bridge" by London Bridge station, the
945 feet (288 m) Bishopsgate Tower and many other skyscrapers over
500 feet (150 m) are either proposed or approved and could transform the
city's skyline. As of July 2008, there are 426 high-rise buildings (between 23
m to 150 m/75 ft to 491 ft) under construction, approved for construction, and
proposed for construction in London.
A great many monuments pay homage to people and events in the city. The
Monument in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area while
commemorating the Great Fire of London, which originated nearby. Marble
Arch and Wellington Arch, at the north and south ends of Park Lane
respectively, have royal connections, as do the Albert Memorial and Royal
Albert Hall in Kensington. Nelson's Column is a nationally recognised
monument in Trafalgar Square, one of the focal points of the centre.
[edit] Parks and gardens
Main articles: Parks and open spaces in London and Royal Parks of London
The largest parks in the central area of London are the Royal Parks of Hyde
Park and its neighbour Kensington Gardens at the western edge of central
London and Regent's Park on the northern edge.[127] This park contains
London Zoo, the world's oldest scientific zoo, and is located near the tourist
attraction of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.[128][129] Closer to central
London are the smaller Royal Parks of Green Park and St. James's Park.[130]
Hyde Park in particular is popular for sports and sometimes hosts open-air
concerts.
A number of large parks lie outside the city centre, including the remaining
Royal Parks of Greenwich Park to the south-east[131] and Bushy Park and
Richmond Park to the south-west,[132][133] as well as Victoria Park, East London
to the east. Primrose Hill to the north of Regent's Park is a popular spot to
view the city skyline. Some more informal, semi-natural open spaces also
exist, including the 791-acre (3.2 km2) Hampstead Heath of North London.
This incorporates Kenwood House, the former stately home and a popular
location in the summer months where classical musical concerts are held by
the lake, attracting thousands of people every weekend to enjoy the music,
scenery and fireworks.[134]
 A panoramic view of East London, as seen from the Greenwich Observatory
[edit] Society and culture
Main article: Culture of London
[edit] Accent
Traditionally the London accent has been given the famous Cockney label,
and was similar to many accents of the South East of England, developing a
unique form of slang known as Cockney Rhyming Slang. The accent of a 21st
century Londoner varies widely; what is becoming more and more common
amongst the under 30s however is some fusion of Cockney, Received
Pronunciation, and a whole array of 'ethnic' accents, in particular Caribbean,
which form an accent labelled Multicultural London English (MLE), with a
large amount of slang in use as well.[135]
[edit] Leisure and entertainment
See also: List of annual events in London and West End theatre

Piccadilly Circus at night

The Trooping the Colour held in 2006 to mark the Queen's 80th birthday.
Within the City of Westminster, the entertainment district of the West End has
its focus around Leicester Square, where London and world film premieres
are held, and Piccadilly Circus, with its giant electronic advertisements.[136]
London's theatre district is here, as are many cinemas, bars, clubs and
restaurants, including the city's Chinatown district, and just to the east is
Covent Garden, an area housing speciality shops. The United Kingdom's
Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet are based in London and perform
at the Royal Opera House, the Coliseum, Sadler's Wells Theatre and the
Royal Albert Hall.[137] Islington's 1 mile (1.6 km) long Upper Street, extending
Northwards from The Angel, has more bars and restaurants than any other
street in the UK.[138] Europe's busiest shopping area is Oxford Street, a
shopping street nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) long—which makes it the longest
shopping street in the world—and home to many shops and department
stores including Selfridges.[139] Knightsbridge—home to the Harrods
department store—lies just to the southwest. London is home to designers
Vivienne Westwood, Galliano, Stella McCartney, Manolo Blahnik, and Jimmy
Choo among others; its renowned art and fashion schools make it an
international centre of fashion alongside Paris, Milan and New York.
London offers a great variety of cuisine as a result of its ethnically diverse
population. Gastronomic centres include the Bangladeshi restaurants of Brick
Lane and the Chinese food restaurants of Chinatown.[140]
There are a variety of regular annual events in the city. The beginning of the
year is celebrated with the relatively new New Year's Day Parade, while
traditional parades include November's Lord Mayor's Show, a centuries-old
event celebrating the annual appointment of a new Lord Mayor of the City of
London with a procession along the streets of the City, and June's Trooping
the Colour, a formal military pageant performed by regiments of the
Commonwealth and British armies to celebrate the Queen's Official Birthday.
[141]

[edit] Literature and film

See also: London in fiction, London in film, List of films set in London, and List
of television shows set in London

Charles Dickens (1812–1870), whose works formed a pervasive image of

Victorian London.
London has been the setting for many works of literature. Two writers closely
associated with the city are the diarist Samuel Pepys, noted for his
eyewitness account of the Great Fire, and Charles Dickens, whose
representation of a foggy, snowy, grimy London of street sweepers and
pickpockets has been a major influence on people's vision of early Victorian
London.[142] The earlier (1722) A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe
is a fictionalisation of the events of the 1665 Great Plague.[142] William
Shakespeare spent a large part of his life living and working in London; his
contemporary Ben Jonson was also based in London, and some of his work
— most notably his play The Alchemist — was set in the city.[142] Later
important depictions of London from the 19th and early 20th centuries are the
afore-mentioned Dickens novels, and Arthur Conan Doyle's illustrious
Sherlock Holmes stories.[142] A modern writer pervasively influenced by the
city is Peter Ackroyd, in works such as London: The Biography, The Lambs of
London and Hawksmoor.
London has played a significant role in the film industry, and has major
studios at Pinewood, Ealing, Shepperton, Elstree and Leavesden, as well as
an important special effects and post-production community centred in Soho
in central London. Working Title Films has its headquarters in London.[143] The
city also hosts a number of performing arts schools, including The Royal
Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the Central School of Speech and Drama
(alumni: Judi Dench and Laurence Olivier) and the London Academy of Music
and Dramatic Art (alumni: Jim Broadbent). The London Film Festival is held
each year in October.
[edit] Museums and Art Galleries
London is home to many museums, galleries, and other institutions which are
major tourist attractions as well as playing a research role. The Natural
History Museum (biology and geology), Science Museum and Victoria and
Albert Museum (fashion and design) are clustered in South Kensington's
"museum quarter", while the British Museum houses historic artefacts from
around the world.[144] The British Library at St Pancras is the UK's national
library, housing 150 million items. The city also houses extensive art
collections, primarily in the National Gallery,[145] Tate Britain[146] and Tate
Modern.[147]
[edit] Music

The Royal Albert Hall hosts a wide range of concerts and musical events.
London is one of the major classical and popular music capitals of the world
and is home to major music corporations, such as EMI and Decca Records,
as well as countless bands, musicians and industry professionals. London is
home to many orchestras and concert halls such as the Barbican Arts Centre
(principal base of the London Symphony Orchestra), Cadogan Hall (Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Promenade
Concerts).[137] London's two main opera houses are the Royal Opera House
and the Coliseum Theatre.[137] The largest entertainment venture of all time,
The Phantom of the Opera, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, premiered at
Her Majesty's Theatre.
London has numerous renowned venues for rock and pop concerts, including
large arenas such as Earls Court, Wembley Arena and the O2 Arena, as well
as numerous mid-size venues, such as Brixton Academy, Hammersmith
Apollo and The London Astoria.[137] London also hosts many music festivals,
including the 02 Wireless Festival and Latitude Festival (held in July).
London is home to the first and original Hard Rock Cafe and the illustrious
Abbey Road Studios where The Beatles created many of their hits. Musicians
such as Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Freddie Mercury have lived in London.
A large number of musical artists originate from or are most strongly
associated with London, including David Bowie, Ian Dury, The Kinks, Adam
Faith, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Madness, The Jam, Blur, Iron Maiden,
Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, Dusty Springfield, The Yardbirds
and The Small Faces.[148][149][150] London was instrumental in the development
of punk music, with figures such as the Sex Pistols, The Clash,[148] and
Vivienne Westwood all based in the city.
More recent artists to emerge from the London music scene include The
Libertines, one of the most influential British rock acts of the 2000s,[151] Bloc
Party, Lily Allen, The Kooks, Razorlight, Laura Marling, Bombay Bicycle Club,
and Leona Lewis.[152]
London is also a centre for Urban music, in particular the genres UK Garage,
Drum and Bass and Grime evolved in the city from the foreign genres of
hiphop and reggae, alongside local rave music. Black music station BBC
1Xtra was set up to support the rise of homegrown urban music both in
London and the rest of the UK.