Administratively, it forms the Greater London region of England. It is the second largest city in Europe and the largest in the European Union. Located in the southeast of the island of Great Britain, near North Sea along the banks of the River Thames, 64 km from its mouth. A global city, one of the world's leading financial centers, the main industrial center of the country. River and sea port, six airports, thirteen central railway stations, subway.

Population - 8.2 million people (2011), city area - 1706.8 square meters. km.

London is the seat of government, parliament, and the highest courts of justice in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The city has always been distinguished by active participation in international affairs. Once the capital of the British Empire, it still plays an important role as the center of the Commonwealth.

how Cultural Center London has become famous for its theaters and musical life, museums and art galleries. The city is also famous for its numerous old churches, which store the national shrines of the English people.

The name of the city comes from the Latin word "Londinium". Scientists have not been able to establish reliably what this word meant. Among the many versions, the most popular are:

• origin from the Latin Lond (wild (forest) place),
• from the Celtic Llyn (lake) and Dun (fortification). This is supported by the fact that in the Celtic period the city was called Llyndid.

London is located on the prime meridian, which is often also called the Greenwich meridian (after the area of ​​Greenwich it crosses).

The concept of "city coordinates" is conditional. The nominal center of London is traditionally considered the intersection of Eleanor Cross (English) and Charing Cross near Trafalgar Square. Thus, the coordinates of the city are approximately 51°30′26″ s. sh. 0°07′39″ W d. (G) (O).

Its dimensions are impressive. The growth of the British capital, unlike the cities of continental Europe, has never been held back by a tight ring of fortified walls. Many towns and villages that arose on the Thames in ancient times, gradually growing, merged together, while retaining the features of their own individuality. That is why modern London is very large and very different.

Greater London consists of the City and 32 boroughs (13 of which are in Inner London and 19 in Outer London).

The status of the city - "city" is endowed with the City and Westminster areas. Westminster was formed in the 11th century as a state residence. All organs are located in the Westminster area state power Great Britain. The country's Parliament sits in the famous Parliament building. Nearby, in the area of ​​Whitehall Street, are the Cabinet of Ministers and ministries. In particular, at Downing Street, 10, the residence of the Prime Minister is located. Opposite the Parliament in the building of the Middlesex Guildhall is the Supreme Court of the country.

The city has an area of ​​2.7 km², within the walls built by the Romans. Throughout antiquity and the Middle Ages, it remained a city proper - a place of crafts and trade. At the beginning of the 17th century, the aristocracy left the City, in the 20th century, banks and offices occupied residential premises and shops, turning the City into a purely business district.

Finance is the most important branch of the city's economy. This includes banking services, insurance, and asset management. The headquarters of the largest banks and financial companies, including such as HSBC, Reuters, Barclays, are located in London. The London Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest centers for currency and stock trading.

The City's business district has been the focus of the city's financial life for centuries.

To the west of Westminster, the once aristocratic suburb laid the foundation for the historical part of London called the West End. To the east of the City, workers' settlements around 19th-century docks and factories formed the East End district.

In the City, self-government is carried out by the Corporation of the City of London, which has survived from the Middle Ages, and is headed by the Lord Mayor of London.

District municipalities are independent and not accountable to the administration of Greater London. Municipalities consist of administrations headed by a manager and councils elected for 4 years. They deal with issues of social housing, education, environmental protection, street cleaning, etc.

In the post-war period, according to the project of L. Abercrombie, a “green belt” was created around London on an area of ​​554.7 thousand hectares (for 2011), limiting the further sprawl of urban development.

Of the three ring roads in London, two are located inside the city, and the M25 motorway outside it. Entry into the city center, bounded by the Inner Ring Road, was charged in 2003 with automatic license plate recognition by video cameras. Much of London has been in the "low emission zone" since 2008, which imposes a fee for vehicles that do not meet emission requirements.

Through London from the southwest to the east flows the Thames - a navigable river that flows into the North Sea. Within the city, its length is 68 km. The large left tributaries Brent, Lee, Roding, Colne, Crane, Rum, Ingeborn flow into the Thames within London; and right tributaries Beverly Brook, Wandle, Hogsmill, Ravensbourne, Darent. Small tributaries, including the historic Walbrook, flow underground. 18 automobile, 9 railway and 3 pedestrian bridge, two dozen tunnels for various purposes pass under the river.

London is supplied with water from the Thames, from its northern tributary the River Lee, as well as from the Cretaceous aquifers located south of the Thames. Thanks to the improvement of the sewage treatment system, in last years Thames pollution has been reduced. In 1957, only eels were found in the Thames within London; and many fish species reappeared in the early 1980s.

Now the Thames is one of the cleanest rivers in the world, flowing through the capitals.

• In 1939, London's population reached a historic high of 8.6 million inhabitants.

• The population of London increased most rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, during the period of urbanization.

• London was the most populated city in the world from 1825 to 1925, after which it was overtaken by New York.

• Now it is the second largest city in Europe, The largest city European Union and the 21st city in the world.

• From the 1960s to the first half of the 1980s, the city lost about ¼ of its population.

• The first census took place in 1801.

• For one in three London schoolchildren, their first language is not English.

• 27% of Londoners were born outside the EU.

• Since 2007, London has been operating " Pushkin House"- an unofficial Russian cultural center.

• In 2011, 27,000 Russians lived in the city.

• One of the most famous and popular London traditions among tourists is the changing of the guard at the Royal Buckingham Palace. Every day at 11:30 this ceremony takes place from April to August, at other times of the year - at the same time, but every other day. This tradition is one of the most beautiful in London, although, of course, there is no practical benefit from the changing of the guard.

• Another beautiful tradition is the Key Ceremony, a 700-year-old closing ritual performed at exactly 21:50 every day by its head guardian.

• On special occasions, royal gun salutes are fired. These include the Queen's birthday (April 21), the Queen's accession day (February 6), coronation day (June 2), the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday (June 10). Fireworks are fired the next day if the holiday falls on a Sunday.

• In mid-September, the Thames Festival takes place in the city. It includes a parade torchlight procession, fairs, fireworks and concerts.

• One of the unofficial names of the city: "The Big Smoke" (The Big Smoke). This definition is connected with the famous London smog of the XIX-XX centuries.

• Another unofficial name for the city is The Great Wen. Old English word Wen literally translates to "furuncle", which in this context means "overcrowded city".

• The City of London is often referred to as the "square mile" because the area is just over a square mile.

• If London were a separate country, then it would be among the eight largest powers in Europe.

• London is home to four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), Seaside Greenwich and Kew Gardens.

• London has a fairly convenient public transport system. It is best to purchase an Oyster card, on which you need to put the required amount. A ticket bought on the bus costs twice as much as a card ticket.

• When entering a bus, boat, etc. you just need to lean this card against a special device and a certain amount will be withdrawn from your account. Interestingly, in land and water transport, the payment is fixed, but in the metro, the cost depends on the distance of the trip. Therefore, in the subway (or Tube - a pipe, as the Londoners themselves call it), the card must be scanned at the entrance and at the exit. And it’s better not to forget to do it at the exit, otherwise you will be fined at night by withdrawing a certain amount from your card account.

• The world's first underground was built in London in 1863.

• The official name of the London Underground is the Underground. Londoners call it Tube (pipe). This name comes from the cylindrical shape of the tunnels.

• The subway received its international naming “metro” by the name of the contractor Metropolitan Railway (“City Railways”), although the British themselves do not use it, preferring to call the subway a “pipe”.

• There are several subway lines in London where no one operates the train. The reliable electronic system DLR (Docklands Light Rail) is responsible for everything.

• To get to know the sights of London, it is best to buy the Original Tour, which includes a trip along the Thames. You will be transported around the city by double-decker buses that run every 10 minutes. You need to choose a guide - live or electronic. It is best to stay on the electronic. Why, you ask? Live guides have a strong accent: it is quite possible that you will not understand a word of what he will tell you. But the electronic guide speaks ten languages, including Russian, with absolutely no accent. You can get off one bus, see something better, take photos, and then sit on another. A ticket for such an excursion is valid for a day.

• Cars in the English capital drive on the left side of the street.

• Entrance to some museums in the city is free (Royal Art Gallery, British Museum), and there are museums where there is no fixed cost. Each visitor decides how much he is willing to donate. Sometimes you can buy a complex ticket to several museums at once.

• There are no traffic jams in London. Since the entrance to the city center is paid, everyone travels by public transport.

• All buses in London are double-decker.

• Some Englishmen speak English in such a way that even Americans sometimes do not understand it.

• An amazing incident related to Big Ben - one of the most popular attractions of the capital of Britain - occurred in 1949. One day, a whole flock of starlings landed on the minute hand of Big Ben's clock! The length of the arrow is 4 m 27 cm, but the whole large flock did not fit on it. Because of this flock, the time shown by the clock has slowed down by as much as 5 minutes. It took a lot of effort and time to fix everything.

• There are a lot of city parks in London. All of them are in constant competition with each other for the annual right to be recognized as the best in their area. In this competition, the winning park immediately receives very large subsidies for development. Therefore, in addition to a very comfortable climate, the British capital has a distinct and very pleasant smell of trees and earth. Smell is also an element to fight for.

• As a rule, in London from 20:00 to 08:00 there are thick fogs. At the beginning of the 20th century, sometimes the fogs were so thick that you could not see the house numbers on the front doors. To understand where they were, people felt the convex numbers of house numbers with their hands.

• In many places in the UK capital, sinks have separate taps for hot and cold water. Would you like to bathe in warm water? Plug the sink with a cork and fill it with water of the desired temperature. Separate faucets are a tradition that, like the monarchy, the British cannot discard.

• It was in London in the 19th century that the modern game of tennis originated. At Wimbledon traditional place hosting the world's premier tennis tournament, there is a fascinating museum with exhibits dating back as far as 1555 dedicated to the sport.

• The prime meridian passes through London. Therefore, visiting Greenwich, you will get a unique opportunity to visit both the eastern and western hemispheres at the same time, becoming your feet on different sides meridian.

• There is an interesting place in London where you can drink alcohol only in the form of steam. Bar Alcoholic Architecture opened in 2009. Here, for only 5 pounds, you will be given a special protective suit in which you enter the room where the air filled with gin and tonic fumes awaits you. You will get the full feeling of immersion in this wonderful drink.

• In the capital of England, the first among the megacities of the world, in 2010 a speed limit was introduced for ... pedestrians! The sidewalks here are divided into two lanes. If you want to take your time while admiring the shop windows, then you need to walk along the inner lane so as not to interfere with Londoners rushing to work, who are rushing at a crazy pace along the side adjacent to the roadway.

• An interesting feature of London is the abundance of laundries in all parts of the city. Londoners do not wash their houses, which explains the popularity of these establishments.

Seeing London, I saw as much life as the world can provide.
Samuel Johnson

The city of Charlie Chaplin's subtle humor and Alfred Hitchcock's hoaxes. The city where the subtle style of Anna Wintour and the acting talent of Elizabeth Taylor were born. All this is London in the UK. The capital, which keeps the centuries-old history of the Kingdom and inspires its future creators. Every year, more than 19 million people visit the city of fogs, and everyone finds something special for themselves. Just imagine how many colors and secrets the capital keeps in itself to fascinate so many people.

Panorama of London at night (source - Unsplash)

Who and when founded London

The history of London has more than 2 thousand years. Until the time of the Roman conquests, it was a small settlement. In the 60s of our era, it begins to expand, and after the uprising of local tribes, it burns to the ground. The Romans completely rebuild the city and turn it into the northernmost capital of the empire. It remains so until the 5th century, until the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon rule.

And with the coming to power of King Edward the Confessor, a palace was built here, which marked the new capital of the country. The Vikings also begin to fight for a place well located above the Thames, which is why the city periodically suffers destruction.

In the 11th century, it begins to acquire the architectural sights known today. The Normans, who capture the capital, led by William the Conqueror, are building the Tower and Westminster Hall. Over time, numerous churches and palaces appear in the capital and beyond its borders, from Hampton to Greenwich.

View of the Thames next to St. Paul's Church (source - Unsplash)

In the 15th century, the Tudor era begins, and it is replaced by the Stuart dynasty. Then the city is experiencing one of the greatest catastrophes - the Great Fire, which completely destroyed the wooden buildings and houses. However, he turned out to be a phoenix capable of rising from the ashes. The Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, contributed to the development of the British Empire, and its capital, which a century later became the largest city in the world. The political, cultural and economic center of the Kingdom was concentrated here. Since that time, there have been many difficult periods in the history of London - two world wars and the Great Depression - but it has retained its status as one of the most developed cities in the world.

Life in London and its features

Map of London boroughs

The capital of foggy Albion is divided into 32 boroughs and London City. All the most famous sights are located in it: St. Paul's Cathedral, the Great Fire Monument, the Guild Hall and the Mansion House. Often visited by tourists is also the borough of Westminster, where the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are located. It also houses the districts popular for their entertainment, cafes and restaurants: Soho, Covent Garden, Fitzrovia and Belgravia. But the greenest areas in the city with many parks and gardens are considered to be Hackney and Haringey areas of London.

Soho County in London (source - Unsplash)

Housing and rent

Each area of ​​the city has its own characteristics and zest. If you want to be close to cultural attractions such as theatres, art galleries and museums, then apartments and hotels in Soho, Covent Garden or Mayfair are the place for you. Accommodation here is quite expensive, for a room in a hotel for two you will have to pay close to 120 pounds or more.

For a quiet holiday, it is better to choose accommodation in Fitzrovia or Bloomsbury, among bookstores and quiet streets. The average price per room here is 85-90 pounds.

Kensington enjoys convenient connections to both the city center and Heathrow Airport. And in general, transport in London allows you to conveniently move around the city. Prices for a double room at the hotel range from 90 to 200 pounds, which allows you to choose a place for every taste and budget.

Climate and weather in London

As you know, the weather in London is rainy, the peak is in December, so it's better to plan your visit for some other month. Snow is not a frequent occurrence here, and the temperature in winter rarely drops below zero degrees. If you like to travel in the warm season, then come in July or August. The maximum temperature in this season does not exceed 25 degrees Celsius, which makes summer holidays in London so successful.

View of Cathedral Saint Paul (source - Unsplash)

London transport

The transport system in London is very developed - there is everything for convenient movement: metro, buses, trams, city trains and bicycle rentals. London Underground includes underground and overground lines, as well as trains. It is divided into 9 zones and 11 branches, the central part of the city is included in the first zone. The metro operates from 05:00 to 24:00. The ticket price depends on the distance and payment method. The cheapest contactless payment.

Known double-decker buses travel around the clock. Please note that they do not accept cash. A single trip costs £1.50. For an hour, you can use free travel on other buses.

Double-decker buses in London (source - Unsplash)

Trams- relatively the new kind transport in the capital. They run only in the southern part of the city: Wimbledon, Croydon and Beckenham. By the way, since July 2018, London trams are completely switching to a contactless payment system, only subscription cards and tourist cards will work.

It is this payment system in the city that is the most common. the so-called Visitor Oyster Card can be bought online, at London Underground stations or in specialist shops. It differs from the usual one in that not only residents of the Kingdom can buy it.

Most modes of transport are equipped for the convenient movement of people with disabilities. You can view all travel options by downloading travel guides from the Transport for London website. Here you can also find out which transport is free for people with disabilities, where it is allowed to travel with service animals and how to get to the desired place.

Shopping in London

You will be presented with all the possible options for shopping in London: expensive boutiques, huge malls and markets for hidden treasures. If you want to get into the concentration of luxury and wealth, then welcome to Mayfair. Luxury shopping from Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany is about him.

In Covent Garden you will find your exclusive gift. In the shops on the streets, in the markets, you can buy handmade jewelry, special sweets and exquisite clothes.

Anyone who likes to look for pearls in a noisy sea is advised to go to Camden. In its street markets, you can walk for hours in search of antiques, fashion novelties and little things that will catch your eye while shopping in London.

Camden Lock Market (source - Unsplash)

All sights of London

When you arrive in the capital, be sure to make time to visit the most famous British museums, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Sherlock Museum, as well as historical sites. The most popular among them are the Palace of Westminster, Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge. Here are the top most popular London attractions.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen's residence is a very famous place, so it's best to plan your visit ahead of time. Large halls with paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, as well as a huge royal collection are open to visitors. Every day, a pompous ceremony of changing the guard takes place in the palace, which crowds of tourists gather to watch.

Buckingham Palace in London (source - Unsplash)

"London Eye"

From the Ferris wheel you can see the whole city at a glance. The trip lasts 30 minutes. During this time, you rise to a height of 135 meters and will be able to contemplate all the beauty of the historical part of the capital. And in the evening, the view from the wheel is simply amazing - the dark sky above the city is drowning in the multi-colored lights of the metropolis.

London Eye Ferris wheel (source - Unsplash)

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

14 interactive zones and over 300 figures that embody chic, glamour, and incredible stories. You have the opportunity to walk the red carpet with Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Depp, be in the same gym with David Beckham and Usain Bolt and take pictures with royal family. And all this in the most famous British museum, Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (source - PhotosForClass)

Tower of London

One of the oldest and most famous prisons in the world, where they spent their last days heirs of the royal dynasty. This place is as picturesque as it is mystical. Come here and visit London's first zoo and the Royal Jewels Exhibition, and walk around Tower Bridge nearby.

Tower Bridge near the Palace (source - Unsplash)

somerset house

The luxurious palace in the neo-classical style has become the center of the cultural life of the capital. It hosts open-air concerts, film screenings and exhibitions. contemporary art. In summer, 55 beautiful fountains work here, and in winter a spacious skating rink opens.

Somerset House in London (source - Unsplash)

Where to stay in London

London in the UK is ready to welcome every guest, regardless of their financial status and holiday preferences. The number of hotels, apartments and hostels allows you to choose an option with an ideal price-quality ratio.

London Hotels

A double room in a three-star hotel in the center of London will cost from 80 to 100 pounds, depending on the conditions. However, if you look for accommodation outside the center, you can find room options for the night with breakfast for two and for 60-70 pounds. Most hotels in London have a restaurant or cafe where you can order lunch or dinner. Please note that it is quite difficult to find a place in the city with open access to WiFi: you will need a UK number to register. Therefore, you can use the internet in the hotel. Here visitors are given a password to enter.

Colorful London porches (source - Unsplash)

Aparthotels

The apartments can be ideal for families or couples, as they can cook their own meals or order food, while also providing hotel service. The cheapest options cost around £80 per night. Depending on the proximity to the center of London, the price will be higher. Apartments will cost about 160-170 pounds per day.

Hostels

You are not averse to meeting new people and remembering student years? A hostel is an ideal option for this, especially since you can also save money. The cost of one place per night is 50-60 pounds, however, you can find an overnight stay for 35-40 pounds. It will depend on your preferences: how many neighbors you are willing to share a room with, what location you choose, and so on.

How to get there

The capital of Great Britain is, without exaggeration, the air gate of the country. There are as many as 5 airports here: London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted. Heathrow the busiest of them, it is he who receives the largest number of international flights. How to get from here to the center as soon as possible? You can use the train. The Heathrow Express arrives at Paddington Station in 20-25 minutes. The subway ride will be cheaper, but will take approximately 50 minutes to Piccadilly Circus station. Bus N9 departs from the airport to Trafalgar Square every 20 minutes.

Heathrow Airport in London (source - Unsplash)

City is much closer to the center of London than other airports. You can get there by metro or bus. Laton and stansted are known among travelers with low-costs. From Laton you can get to the station in 10 minutes by bus, and from there by train to the center in another 20 minutes. And from Stansted there is an express train to Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale.

From the airport Gatwick there are express trains and buses. The first ones run every half an hour, and the journey time is 20 minutes. But the bus ride will take a little more than an hour.

There is a railroad in Camden st pancras station , which receives international trains from France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Not sure how to get to London sights like Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Westminster? Use the subway. From the station, it can be reached in any direction of the city.

Hanna Koval

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What country and where is London located? The answer to this question will take no one by surprise. It is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the most Big city which is located in the British Isles. Currently, the capital is considered one of the global cities that have a political, economic and cultural impact on Europe.

The United Kingdom unites Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. What country is the city of London in, other than the UK? It turns out that there is a city with that name in Canada and at present it is one of the ten largest cities in this country. London is located in the south of the country, not far from Toronto.

A bit about the history of Great Britain and its capital

The history of this country is rich in various important periods and events that have influenced our modernity. Conventionally, the history of the country is divided into two periods:

• until 1707 - in this era, all the kingdoms had their own history;
• after 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed, which united Scotland and England, and already in 1800 Ireland joined it.

The official language of the country is English, each kingdom has its own dialects. This unitary state is one of the largest in Europe. In which country is the city whose city begins in 43 AD? Of course, in England. London is one of the oldest European cities.

Initially, it was a small settlement a little more than one and a half kilometers long and less than a kilometer wide. At present, its area is 1706.8 km2. From the very beginning it was the most important port. Starting from 100 A.D. e. Until now, the city of London is the capital of Great Britain, as well as the Kingdom of England.

Transport in the country

You already know in which country London is located, and now let's get acquainted with one of the main symbols - the transport system, which is rightfully considered one of the most developed and best in the world. In the UK, transport networks are located so that the most remote corners of this huge country are in excellent transport accessibility.

Bus service is especially well developed in London. These are the famous double-decker buses that operate around the clock, so you can travel at night without any problems. In addition, the city has the oldest subway. Railway transport is also convenient and accessible, and the railways are the oldest in Europe. The five largest airports are located in the capital. Seventy international seaports have been built in the country to serve passengers and merchant ships.

Unique historical sights

Literally at every step, tourists can meet different sights that bear the imprint of the history of the country of Great Britain. These include the famous Tower of London, where the Queen's jewelry is located, the Cathedral of St. Paul, who for many centuries occupied the main place in the life of the country. Tower Bridge is a famous building Victorian era under which large ships pass on the River Thames. The bridge was built in 1894 and is the main thoroughfare of the capital. Its upper part is pedestrian, it offers a beautiful view of the rooftops of London.

What country is Buckingham Palace in? It is located a little west of the center of the UK capital. This is the official residence of the Queen. In the palace and in the park there is big number works of art, such as the Waterloo vase.

Trafalgar Square is located nearby, on which rises. Nearby you can see the two most recognizable characters countries - Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Westminster Abbey is architectural monument, which was founded in 1065; it is made in the Gothic style. The abbey's two western towers are the epitome of Gothic Revival style and beauty.

What country is London in? There are a huge number of attractions that you can visit for free, such as the British Museum, the Tate (modern art gallery), the Natural History Museum, and the National Gallery. And one and a half hours drive from the capital is the most mysterious monument - Stonehenge in the UK.

Landmarks of Great Britain

The country is rich in interesting places. Below is presented under one main attractions in different cities of the country:

• Edinburgh - behind the royal palace is the beautiful Holyrood Park, in the center of which is an extinct volcano called Arthur's Throne. From its top you have a magnificent view of the whole city.
• Bournemouth - it has one of the best beaches in the country with golden sand.
• Torquay - next to it is the Kent Cave, which is over two million years old. It is included in the list of National Antiquities and is a complex system of caves.

Some interesting facts:

• Currently, rowing races among the teams of Oxford and Cambridge, which take place every year, are very popular.
• Left side traffic first appeared in this country.
• The capital has five international airports. Heathrow is the busiest in the world.
• The UK does not have a single version of the constitution.
• What country is London in? There are several other cities with the same name. They are located in Canada, the USA and other countries.
• Every day, every resident of London appears on about fifty city surveillance cameras and fifteen pictures taken by tourists.
• The London Underground is considered the oldest, it was opened in 1863.
• The UK capital is the first city in history to host the Olympics three times in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
• There is not a single settlement in the country, from which the sea would be more than 119 km away.
• Approximately twenty hidden underground rivers are located on the territory of the capital.
• The first public zoo was opened in the UK.
• The British were the first to use stamps.

Population of the country and capital

Approximately every third resident of the capital was born abroad. About eighty percent of the entire population of Great Britain are English. Fifteen - Scots, Irish, Welsh. The rest are immigrants. Every ten years the UK conducts a population census. Throughout history, relationships among ethnic groups have been quite complex.

The country is located in an honorable third place in Europe in terms of population. London, where the main concentration of immigrants from African and Asian countries is located, has the highest population density in the country (5173 people / km²). It is inhabited by over 8.5 million people. About 60% of them - the white population (of which the British - 45%).

The UK and its capital are visited by millions of people every year. Up to three hundred languages ​​can be heard on the streets of cities.

London is a large modern metropolis, the capital of England, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, located on the banks of major river Thames. This is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe, with a rich history, unique architecture and a special atmosphere.

The main economic branch of the capital of Great Britain is finance, it is here that the headquarters and offices of the world's largest banks and companies are located: Reuters, HSBC, Barclays, Cadbury Schweppes, Unilever, Royal Dutch Shell, etc. The London Stock Exchange is the world's largest center for currency and stock trading. In second place is the information industry, which oversees the largest media corporation in the world - the BBC and such print publications as The Daily Mirror, The Times and The Sun. In addition, the city is home to a major river port and international airport, one of the oldest subways in the world, several UNESCO heritage sites, as well as a huge number of world-famous attractions.

• Former names: Londinium, Augusta, Lundenvik, Lundenburh;
• Area: 1707 km²;
• Timezone: UTC0, summer UTC+1;
• Population: 8,538,700.

A bit of history

The history of London begins in the distant 43 AD, at the behest of the Roman emperor Claudius, who invaded Britain. Gradually, the settlement grows and reaches its peak by the 11th century, having received the status of the capital of England and turning into one of the largest shopping centers in Europe. By the XIV century, the number of inhabitants inhabiting London was about 40 thousand. The second half of the 18th century brought the plague, which claimed the lives of most of the population, and the Great Fire, which destroyed almost the entire city. After these tragic events, the capital of England was restored literally from the ashes. Very quickly, under the guidance of the brilliant architect Christopher Wren, about 50 cathedrals and churches were erected, including the majestic Church of St. Paul. The city grew at a cosmic pace for that time, and by the middle of the 19th century, the number of inhabitants in it had reached 1 million people.

city ​​structure

Currently, the population of London is about 8 million people, and taking into account the suburbs - about 12 million. Traditionally, it is divided into several areas: Westminster, City, East End and West End.

The heart of the city, its financial and business center is the City quarter. In addition to business centers, there are famous old buildings, including the largest church in England - St. Paul's Temple.

The governmental and historical part of London is Westminster. For most of the English monarchs, coronation, wedding and funeral ceremonies took place in Westminster Abbey. Near the abbey is the Palace of Westminster, where meetings of the House of Lords and the House of Commons are held. The famous Clock Tower, Big Ben, is also located here.

The East End was once one of the poorest urban areas, but now it has become a rapidly developing area with an industrial center and modern skyscrapers.

The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London, in which such historical monuments as the official royal residence of Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, the Royal Opera House, etc. are concentrated.

Climatic features

The mild temperate climate of London attracts travelers for sightseeing holidays almost throughout the year. In summer, the air warms up to a temperature of +20…23⁰C, creating comfortable weather, and in winter, the thermometers practically do not fall below zero. Snowfalls and frosts are very rare. Minimum temperature drops to -4⁰C. Precipitation usually falls in the form of rain and fog. Thanks to a large number parks, squares, as well as just green spaces, the city forms its own microclimate, so in the suburbs it is often much colder than in the city. The least tourist activity occurs in the coldest months: January and February.

Transport Features

London is one of the largest transport hubs in Europe with a large international airport, river port, railway tracks and a developed road network. Therefore, you can get to the capital of Great Britain by air, water or land from most major cities in the world. It should be remembered that Russian tourists in order to get to England need to obtain a visa.

The public transport of the city consists of a developed network of bus routes and the subway, which includes 12 branching lines connecting different quarters. There are also taxi services. At the same time, there are professional cabs that will take you quickly, but expensive, and mini-cabs, with more budget travel, however, due to the poor knowledge of the drivers of these vehicles on city streets, the trip can be long and tiring.

Bicycles are popular with locals. Arrange an hourly or daily rental of this vehicle available at any rental point.

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Dublin → London
Milan → London
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Dortmund → London
Bremen → London
Dinard → London
Memmingen → London
Berlin → London
Lyon → London
Toulouse → London
Copenhagen → London
Oslo → London
Gdansk → London
Hamburg → London
Eindhoven → London
Katowice → London
Stockholm → London
Brno → London
Poznan → London
Amsterdam → London
Barcelona → London
Reus → London
Bologna → London
Pisa → London
Vienna → London
Prague → London
Porto → London
Cork → London
Billund → London
Palma de Mallorca → London
Girona → London
Lodz → London
Warsaw → London
Carcassonne → London
Limoges → London
Perpignan → London
Krakow → London
Ancona → London
Aarhus → London
Budapest → London
Lisbon → London
Valencia → London
Nice → London
Madrid → London
Alicante → London
Riga → London
Kaunas → London
Rome → London
Knock → London
Vilnius → London
Naples → London
Almeria → London
Verona → London
Seville → London
Castellon de la Plana → London
Bari → London
Cluj-Napoca → London
Beziers → London
Lviv → London
Debrecen → London
Frankfurt am Main → London
Venice → London
Suceava → London
Geneva → London
Shannon → London
Palanga → London
Belfast → London
Ohrid → London
Karlsruhe → London
Bilbao → London
Inverness → London
Szczecin → London
Bergerac → London
Bucharest → London
La Rochelle → London
Saint Petersburg → London
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Bergen → London
Sofia → London
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London(Eng. London) - the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as England, the largest city in the British Isles. The area of ​​the city is 1579 km2. The population is more than 7 million people. In terms of population, the city ranks 14th in the world, 2nd in Europe (after Moscow), and first in the European Union and Great Britain. London plays a leading role in the political, economic and cultural life of Great Britain. The city has Heathrow International Airport, one of the largest in the world, a river port on the River Thames, many world-famous attractions: Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster complex with a clock tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower Fortress and others.

Flights to London:

London is located on the prime meridian, which is also often called the Greenwich Meridian (after the area it crosses).

Two main areas: City (business center) and Westminster (administrative center).

The climate in London is temperate maritime. Most days of the year are cloudy, although the rainfall is even less than in Rome or Sydney. Snow is rare even in winter. Record high temperature - +38 C (recorded in 2003)

History of London

Founding of the city and the Roman period
London was founded in 43 AD. e., during the invasion of Britain by the Romans, led by Emperor Claudius. There is a theory that by the time of the invasion there was a large settlement in this territory, but nothing of the kind was found during archaeological excavations. However, most of the historical center has not been excavated, and the existence of the settlement before the invasion cannot be completely denied.

At first, London occupied a very small area. In the 19th century, archaeologists found that the length of the city from east to west was about 1 mile (about 1.6 km), and from north to south - about 0.5 miles (about 0.8 km).

Approximately 60 AD. e. the city was attacked by the British queen Boudicca (Boadicea) and a significant part of London was set on fire. The Romans responded by capturing some 80,000 Britons. Shortly thereafter, a battle took place between the Britons and the Romans. According to the established opinion, the battle took place on the site of the modern King's Cross station, and Boudicca, having been defeated, committed suicide by taking poison.

The Romans rebuilt the city in a few years, according to a clear urban plan. Londinium soon became one of the most important settlements Roman Britain. In the 2nd century, it reached its peak - by the year 100, Londinium became the capital of Britain, replacing Colchester, the population was about 60,000 people. The most important administrative buildings were located in the city.

Around the year 200, Britain was divided into two parts - Upper and Lower. Londinium became the capital of Upper Britannia. Around the same time, the so-called Roman Wall was built - a defensive fortification along the perimeter of the city, the remains of which have been preserved in the center of modern London. At the end of the 4th century, Britain was divided anew, and Londinium became the capital of the province of Maximus Caesarensis. In the 5th century, the Romans left Londinium, and the city was gradually settled by the Britons.

Saxon period and Middle Ages
In the middle of the 6th century, Lundenburg ("London Fortification", the Saxon name for Londinium) was incorporated into the East Saxon kingdom. In 604, King Saebert converted to Christianity, and a bishop appeared in the city for the first time. The first bishop of London was called Melitius. At the same time, St. Paul's Cathedral was built. Presumably, initially it was a rather modest chapel. The cathedral was later destroyed by the pagan heirs of Saebert.

At the end of the 7th century, about one and a half kilometers from Lundenburg, the Saxon settlement of Lundevik (that is, the London settlement) was founded. Apparently, in Lundevik there was a harbor for merchant ships and fishing boats.

Since 730, the city came under the rule of Mercia, a large English kingdom. In the 9th century, Lundenburg was attacked by the Vikings. They controlled the city for twenty years, after which King Alfred the Great made peace with the invaders. However, in 1013 Lundenburg was again occupied by the Vikings and was under their rule until 1042.

In 1066, after the victory at Hastings, William the Conqueror became king of England. The coronation took place in the newly completed Westminster Abbey. William gave the people of London certain privileges over the people of other cities. During his reign, a fortification was built in the southeast of the city, now known as the Tower. In 1097 his son William II began the construction of Westminster Hall, which served as the basis for the Palace of Westminster. In 1176, the construction of the famous London Bridge began, which lasted about 600 years.

In May 1216 London was in last time occupied by foreign troops - the city was captured by the French king Louis VIII, putting an end to the reign of John Landless. Later, his own barons rebelled against Louis, and with their help, power in the country again passed into the hands of the British.

The plague that raged in Europe in the 14th century did not bypass London. The Black Death came to England in 1348. The exact number of deaths in London is unknown, but it is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people became victims of the plague.

The epidemic became an indirect cause of the peasant uprising led by Wat Tyler (1381), during which London was plundered and devastated. The peasants stormed the Tower, killed the Lord Chancellor (an important public office in medieval England), the Archbishop of Sudbury Simon and the keeper of the royal treasury. The uprising was eventually crushed by the royal troops, and Tyler himself was sentenced to death.

In the Middle Ages, London was divided into two main parts - the administrative and political Westminster and the commercial city. This division continues to this day. For the Middle Ages, London could be considered a large city - by 1300, approximately 80,000 people lived in it. City self-government was also formed - the Lord Mayor became the head of London.

London in the 16th-18th centuries
With the advent of the Tudor dynasty in England, the era of absolute monarchy began. The centralization of power in the hands of the king led to the fact that the capital began to develop and grow rich even faster than before. The reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI had a favorable effect on the city - the famous London parks Hyde Park and Kensington Garden were founded and several large hospitals were opened.

The reformation that took place in England under Henry VIII did not end, unlike in other countries, in bloodshed: here, church reforms were controlled by the king and were initiated “from above”, and not “from below”, as in most other countries. After the Reformation, about half the area of ​​London was occupied by religious buildings and about a third of the population were monks. The situation changed in 1538-41, after Henry VIII issued a law on the supremacy of the king over the church. After that, a significant part of the church property was confiscated and transferred into the hands of the king and his closest vassals.

London has developed into one of the largest trading centers in Europe. Small businesses flourished in the city, and large English businessmen conducted their trade all over the world - from Russia to America. Giant companies were created, such as the East India Company in 1600. After the Spaniards captured and plundered the large Dutch city of Antwerp in 1572, London became the largest center of trade on the North Sea. The population of the capital rapidly increased - from 50,000 people in 1530 to 225,000 in 1605. Also in the 16th century, the first maps of London appeared. The first public theaters appeared, the most popular of which was the Globe, which played plays by William Shakespeare.

In the 16th century, aristocrats and courtiers began to settle in the West End. Soon the area became one of the most prestigious places in the city. Until now, a house in the West End is a ticket to the high society of London.

During the English civil war London took the side of Parliament. Militia troops were raised and defensive fortifications erected to protect the city from the royalists, who moved closer and closer to the capital - the Battle of Brentford took place just a few miles from London. However, a well-organized defense did not allow the royal troops to take the city, which played a decisive role in the war - the wealth stored in London helped Parliament win.

In London, as in all European cities of that time, there was no sewerage and health care system, in addition, the city was heavily overpopulated, and therefore epidemics regularly broke out there with many hundreds, and sometimes thousands of victims. But the worst happened in mid-seventeenth century, in 1665-1666. In England it is called the Great Plague. In London, about 60,000 people (a fifth of the city) became victims of the epidemic. Samuel Pepys, the city's chronicler, wrote the following on September 4, 1665: “More than 7,400 people died in a week, 6,000 of them from the plague. Day night, almost without interruption, the funeral ringing of church bells is heard from the street.

Immediately after the end of the epidemic, another catastrophe happened - the Great Fire of London in 1666. If the Great Plague mowed down the population of London, then the fire caused serious material damage, destroying 13,200 houses (about 60% of the city) and 87 churches (including the old St. Paul's Cathedral ). Oddly enough, but only eight people died in the fire, but many were left without a home and lost all means of livelihood.

After the restoration, London finally turned into the financial capital of the world. In 1694, the Bank of England opened, allowing the country to further increase its influence on world economy. In 1700, 80% of England's imports and 69% of its exports came from London, and the city's population exceeded 500,000.

In the 18th century, during the Enlightenment, the press and literature became widespread. Since then, Fleet Street has become the center of London's publishing life. In the same century, an increase in crime in the capital was noted, due to which punishments were toughened: even for a minor crime, the death penalty was now threatened.

In 1707, London acquired the status of the capital of Great Britain, a new state created through the union of England and Scotland. In the same 18th century, the new St. Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, symbols of modern London, were built, as well as Westminster Bridge, which became only the second bridge in London over the Thames. By the end of the 18th century, the population of London reached a million people.

London in the 19th century
London of the century before last is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, it was the capital of the largest state in the world - the British Empire, the economic and political center of the world, and on the other - a city where millions of poor people lived in slums, practically without a livelihood.

XIX century - the era of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Europe and North America. In this century, a huge number of new factories and factories were built in London, and the population increased by 6 times. In the XIX century London was the largest city in the world, by 1900 its population was about 6 million people. Entire industrial districts appeared in the capital, and the most famous of them is the East End, which has become the opposite of the fashionable West End. It must be said from the point of view in English this is quite logical: the East End (Eng. East End) is translated as "Eastern Territory", and the West End (English West End) - as "Western Territory", that is, even etymologically, these two districts represent two edges, two sides of the same city.

In the century before last, cardinal changes took place in the appearance of London. In 1836 the first Railway, connecting London Bridge and Greenwich, and in less than 20 years 6 stations were opened. In 1863, the world's first subway appeared in London. In addition, Big Ben, Albert Hall, the Trafalgar Square complex, Tower Bridge were built in the 19th century. For the first time in the history of London, there was sewage.

In the 19th century, the system of city self-government was reformed, since the old system, which had existed since the Middle Ages, clearly did not meet the requirements of an overgrown metropolis. In 1855, the Metropolitan Board of Works was created to oversee urban development and infrastructure. In 1888, this body was liquidated, and administrative functions were for the first time assigned to an elected body - the London District Council (Eng. London County Council).

In the middle of the century, London faced mass immigration for the first time. A particularly large influx of visitors came from Ireland. A large Jewish community also formed in the city.

London in XX - early XXI centuries
The First World War temporarily suspended the development of London. The city was hit by air raids for the first time. Between the two world wars, London continued to grow, but more in area than in population.

In the 1930s, many residents of the city suffered due to the Great Depression: the unemployment rate rose sharply, the standard of living fell. The inability of the authorities to do anything led to the emergence of many radical parties of both left and right directions. Most of them were based in the working East End. The Communists won several seats in the British Parliament, and the British Union of Fascists also enjoyed wide support. The struggle between left and right culminated in the so-called Battle of Cable Street - street fighting between political extremists of both flanks and the police.

In the same 30s to London from Nazi Germany many Jews fled. During the Second World War, the capital of Great Britain was subjected to repeated air bombardments, the heaviest of which occurred in September 1940 and May 1941. Many residents were evacuated from the capital. Subway stations served as bomb shelters. In total, during the war in London, 30,000 civilians became its victims, 50,000 were injured, tens of thousands of houses were destroyed.

In the post-war period, London lost its status as the largest port in the UK, as the equipment of the docks was outdated and the port could not serve large cargo ships. London's water terminals were moved to the nearby towns of Felixstow and Tilbury, and the Docklands area was redeveloped in the 1980s to now house offices and apartment buildings.

In 1952, the Great Smog, an extremely harmful mixture of fog and industrial smoke, descended on London for five days. Soon, the concentration of combustion products in the air became so high that in the following weeks about 4,000 people died from smog in the city, and another 8,000 became victims of the disaster in the next few months. The incident forced the authorities to seriously address this problem, as a result of which a nationwide law "On Clean Air" (1956) was issued, as well as a similar city law (1954)

In the 1960s, thanks to popular musical groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it became one of the world's centers of youth subculture (earning the nickname "Swinging London"). In 1966, the England team won the World Cup in the final at Wembley Stadium.

London became a target for terrorists in the 1970s, when the city was first attacked by the Irish Republican Army. These attacks were regularly repeated until the end of the 20th century, after which the Irish group was replaced by Al-Qaeda, which organized a series of explosions in London public transport on July 7, 2005.

From the middle of the century, despite the influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth countries (especially from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), the city's population began to decline, decreasing from almost 9 to 7 million people in the 1980s, after which it began to slowly grow.

London welcomed the new millennium with the opening of several new buildings, such as the Millennium Dome and the London Eye, the Ferris wheel that has become a new symbol of the city.

At the beginning of the 21st century, London won the right to host Olympic Games 2012. The UK capital will become the first city to host the Olympics three times.

In 2004, a plan for the development of the city was adopted. According to him, by 2016 the population of London should reach 8.1 million people, the number of skyscrapers should increase. The authorities also intend to improve the public transport system.

Administrative division and city self-government
The city government of London has a rather complex structure. It has, as it were, two tiers - the first is city ​​government, the second is local. City administration is carried out by the Great London Authority (GLA for short), local administrations are local administrations of municipal districts. The city administration is responsible for strategic planning, economic development of the city, police, fire service and transport, local - for local planning, schools, social services, etc.

In turn, the Greater London Authority consists of two parts. The first is the mayor of the city, representing the executive branch, the second is the London City Assembly, which limits the powers of the mayor and approves the city's annual budget. The Greater London Administration appeared recently, in 2000, instead of the Greater London Council, which was abolished in 1986 (thus, the city existed for 14 years without a central authority).

Administratively, London is divided into 33 districts, which include 32 municipal districts, designated by the special word borough and the City. Each district has its own administration and district council, which is elected every four years. There is no district administration in the City, but there is a traditional authority in the district - the Corporation of London, which has been preserved almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. In addition, the City has its own police force, independent of the City.

Economy
London is the most important economic and financial center of Great Britain and Europe, one of the world's financial centers. The city's gross regional product in 2004 was $365 billion (17% of UK GDP). The economic importance of the entire London agglomeration is even higher - the regional product in 2004 amounted to $642 billion.

The most important branch of the city's economy is finance, including banking services, insurance, asset management; The headquarters of the largest banks and financial companies, including such as HSBC, Reuters, Barclays, are located in London. One of the world's largest centers of currency and stock trading is the London Stock Exchange. For centuries, the city's business district has been the focus of urban financial life.

The second most important industry in the economy of London is information. The capital is home to the headquarters of the BBC, one of the largest media corporations in the world. The most popular newspapers are published in London, including The Times, published with almost 700,000 copies daily, The Sun, The Daily Mirror and others.

Many British and multinational companies are headquartered in London, including BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, Corus Group, SABMiller, Cadbury Schweppes and others. More than 100 of the top 500 largest European companies are headquartered in the British capital.

London remains one of the largest industrial centers in Britain. The industry of the city and its suburbs is represented by mechanical engineering (automotive industry, electronics, machine tool building, shipbuilding and ship repair, etc.), light, food, oil refining and petrochemical industries, printing, etc. are widely developed.

Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for London. In 2003, this industry provided permanent job 300,000 people. For the year, visitors leave in London 5 billion f. In terms of popularity among tourists, the city is second only to Paris. London hotels are numerous and varied, here you can find both budget and very expensive hotels.

Despite the fact that London was once one of the largest ports in Europe, now even in the UK it is only in third place. The annual cargo turnover is 50 million tons of cargo.

The economic heart of London is the City, and especially the famous Piccadilly Circus.

Transport
London's public transport system is one of the busiest in the world, and therefore it has to constantly increase and thereby complicate. The next round of increasing the city's transport network is timed to coincide with the preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The three main forms of public transport in London are buses, tubes and taxis.

Transport for London is responsible for London's urban transport. In particular, it operates the London underground, buses and trams and licenses city taxis and public water transport.

Buses are used for local transportation. There are 700 routes on which buses carry up to 6 million passengers on weekdays. The famous Routemaster model buses, which have become one of the symbols not only of London, but of the whole of Great Britain, were removed from linear operation in 2005 and now go only on sightseeing routes.

The London Underground is the oldest in the world. It has been in continuous operation since 1863 and carries 3 million passengers daily, which is about 1 billion people a year. The London Underground consists of 12 lines, most of which link the city center with its outskirts. Londoners often refer to the Underground as a "pipe" because of the very small diameter of the deep tunnels.

In addition to the "classic" subway, since 1987, the Docklands Light Railway system has been operating in London, which can be called a light subway. Unlike the "classic" London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway route is laid mainly not in tunnels, but on overpasses. Docklands Light Railway trains run automatically. There are several transfer stations between the London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway.

London used to have an extensive tram system, but this was closed in 1952. Since 2000, Croydon, a suburb of London, has been operating a modern Tramlink tram system. There are plans to build new tram lines closer to the city centre: West London Tram and Cross River Tram (scheduled to open in 2016).

In addition to trams, London also had a trolleybus service, which was discontinued in 1962. However, there are plans to restore the trolleybus service.

There is also public water transport in London. The city's waterway system is known as the London River Services. Some routes are aimed at tourists, while others are more commonly used by Londoners themselves as regular public transport, such as commuting to work. Although London River Services is licensed by Transport for London, it is operated by private firms and bus and tube passes are not valid on London's waterways (although they may offer discounts).

London's famous black taxis look exactly the same as they did seventy years ago, except for the advertising that now covers many of these cars. Now in London, newer models and more modern looking cars are also used as taxis. It is worth noting that, unlike most major cities, in London all taxis are controlled by the city administration, or rather the municipal service Transport for London.

Closer to the outskirts of the city, traffic on the streets is predominantly automobile. There are several high-speed routes in London, the inner ring road. A fee is charged for the entry of private cars into the city center (since 2005 - £8, approx. 400 rubles).

There are five airports in London: Heathrow, the world's busiest airport, another major airport, Gatwick, small Stansted and Luton, and London City, intended mainly for business charter flights.

Education
About 378,000 students study in London, 125,000 of them at the University of London. This university is the largest in the UK and includes 20 colleges and several institutes. Other major higher education institutions: London Metropolitan University, University of East London, University of Westminster, South Bank University, City University, Middlesex University, New London College.

Museums and libraries
The center of London's museums is the South Kensington area, which houses the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum (the world's largest collection of arts and crafts and design). Other notable museums are the British Museum, which has a collection of about 7.5 million pieces; the London National Gallery, one of the world's most respected art museums; the famous Wax Museum Madame Tussauds; Sherlock Holmes Museum. You can call the museum and the current royal residence - Buckingham Palace, part of the premises of which is open to visitors, usually one month a year (August-September). Also sightseeing tours are held in the Houses of Parliament, the Tower, London cathedrals. The National British Library is located in London.

Theaters

Several major commercial theaters specializing in musicals, comedies and dramas are located in the West End. There is even a special term West End theatre, which is used in England to refer to entertainment commercial theaters of the Broadway type. Of the classical theaters, the National Theater in the South Bank area, the new Globe Theater and the Theater at the Royal Court should be noted.

London's classical music theaters are widely known in the world: the famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Royal Albert Hall, the Elizabeth II Theatre.

Famous streets and squares
- Piccadilly (street and square) - the economic center of the city. The walls of the houses on the square are covered with advertisements. In the middle (but not in the geometric center) of Piccadilly Circus is a fountain and the famous sculpture of Anteros, popularly called Eros.
- Trafalgar Square is dedicated to the defeat of the Spanish-French fleet in 1805. In the middle of the square is a monument in honor of Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the English fleet in Trafalgar battle. Trafalgar Square is home to the London National Gallery.
- Oxford Street is a shopping street. There are boutiques and shopping centers here.
- Harley Street - a street in Westminster, famous as a street of doctors - many doctors still practice on this Harley Street.
- Abbey Road is famous for the recording studio of the same name, where many legendary musicians made their recordings: The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Manfred Mann and others. The Beatles released an album in 1969 called Abbey Road.

Entertainment
The most famous shopping spot in London is Oxford Street, but this is not the only shopping street in the city: Bond Street in Mayfair and Knightsbridge, which is home to the famous shopping center Harrod's. Fashion stores can be found in the same Mayfair, on Carnaby Street in Soho and on King's Road in Chelsea.

In London, you can find many restaurants for every taste. The most expensive ones are in Westminster, the more democratic ones are in Soho. Restaurants specializing in the national cuisine of different nations are scattered throughout the city, the most famous of them are Chinese in London's Chinatown and Bangladeshi on Bricklein Street.

One of the most famous places in London is Soho - a small area with bars, restaurants, pubs and shops. Among other things, Soho is known for its macabre establishments, including brothels and nightclubs. Soho also has several gay clubs and pubs.