Best place to travel: London(United Kingdom)

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom.It is the most populous city in the United Kingdom, with a metropolitan area of over 13 million inhabitants. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium.London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1.12-square-mile (2.9 km2) mediaeval boundaries and in 2011 had a resident population of 7,375, making it the smallest city in England. Since at least the 19th century, the term London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core.The bulk of this conurbation forms the Greater London administrative area (coterminous with the London region),governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

River Thames sunset view from under bridge

London is a leading global city,with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.It is one of the world's leading financial centres and has the fifth-or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world depending on measurement.London is a world cultural capital.It is the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic.London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe.In 2012, London became the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times

London financial centre

London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within Greater London.The region had an official population of 8,416,535 in 2013, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union,and accounting for 12.5% of the UK population.London's urban area is the second-largest in the EU with a population of 9,787,426 according to the 2011 census.London's metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with a total population of 13,614,409,while the Greater London Authority puts the population of London metropolitan region at 21 million. London was the world's most populous city from around 1831 to 1925.

People in London

London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory, Greenwich marks the Prime Meridian, 0° longitude, and GMT).Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theatres.The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world.

Attractions in London

Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and has seen service as royal palace, prison, armoury and even a zoo. The ancient stones hold within them dark secrets, as fortified vaults shine with priceless jewels and historic uniformed Beefeaters stroll the grounds. Situated in Central London, just a stone’s throw from the River Thames, the Tower of London is one of the city's premier attractions.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of the most impressive structures and sites in the capital and has stood over the River Thames since 1894. As well as being one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, it is one of the most visited attractions in London and continues to be a working bridge to this day. The Tower Bridge Exhibition lets you discover the history of the Bridge and how it was built, through interactive displays and videos about the landmark its place in the history of the River Thames.

Big Ben

The name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, the clock and the bell but the name was first given to the Great Bell. The Elizabeth Tower, which stands at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, was completed in 1859 and the Great Clock started on 31 May, with the Great Bell's strikes heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September.