London

Capital of England

London, England’s capital, set on the River Thames, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.

Area: 1,572 km²

Founded: 43 AD

Local time: Thursday 6:45 AM

Weather: 9°C, Wind N at 13 km/h, 87% Humidity

Getting there: 15 h 25 min flight. View flights

Population: 8.63 million (2015)

Sports teams: Arsenal F.C., Chelsea F.C., West Ham United F.C., more

London is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together.
They are:

• the City of London, know simply as 'the City' which is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It is also known as the Square Mile (2.59 sq km/1 sq mi). It was the original Roman settlement (ancient Londinium), making it the oldest part of London and already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.
  
• the City of Westminster, where Parliament and most of the government offices are located. Also Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal family are located there too.
  

Together they all make up a region known as Greater London.

Facts about London Bridge

• London Bridge does not have towers. Tower Bridge does! (Tower Bridge is the famous one in all the photos.)
• There have been three London Bridges.
  • The first London Bridge was built 1209-1831 It contained houses and shops.
  • The second by John Rennie, built to replace the original, lasted until 1968, when it was sold to an American entrepreneur.
  • The current London Bridge was opened in 1973