About London, England
The city of London is located in the southeastern portion of the island of Great Britain. It is the capital and largest urban area of England with a population of approximately 7.5 million people, whose varied cultures, religions, and languages contribute to London’s vibrant atmosphere.
London is a city with a rich history that dates back to the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD. Initially established by the Romans as a civilian settlement named Londinium, London experienced periods of rise and decline throughout its early years, during which the city was occupied by various conquering forces including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and the French. Beginning in the 13th century, London grew as a medieval English city of roughly 80,000 inhabitants, but due to poor construction and sanitation methods, the city was constantly a target of fire and disease, including the Black Death of the mid-14th century. It was during the Tudor dynasty of 1485-1603 that London gained world prominence in the areas of culture and religion, trade and commerce. In the next 400 years, the city would see the rise of many cultural movements, such as the English Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, the effects of which would travel overseas like waves.
Today London continues to be a major world city. Together with New York and Tokyo, it is one of the three largest financial centers, leading the world in its international financial market, foreign banks, and investment houses. London’s economy also thrives on insurance and service industries, media, and tourism. A majority of the UK’s top 100 companies, as well as 100 of Europe’s 500 largest companies have their headquarters in London. London’s major business districts are the Square Mile, or historic City of London, and the Canary Wharf complex on the Isle of Dogs in East London.
Aside from business, London is also considered world-class for its fashion and entertainment. Rivaling only Paris, Milan and New York, London’s art and design schools bring the city into the forefront of the fashion industry. Top designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Galliano, Stella McCartney, Manolo Blahnik, and Jimmy Choo all call London their home. Major fashion centers in London are located along Oxford Street, Bond Street, Sloane Street and Kings Road, all in London’s West End. The West End is also London’s entertainment district, containing many of the city’s best cinemas, theaters, clubs, and restaurants.
In addition to its business, fashion, and entertainment, one of the features of London that makes it such an intriguing and truly unique place to live is its historical sites. The city is full of wonderful structures and landmarks that are deeply rooted in London’s history, and yet continue to be integrated parts of the city’s present and future. London is a city of contrasts, with contemporary skyscrapers and office buildings standing next to the centuries-old stone of the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, or Southwark Cathedral. One of the most important historical places in London is the Westminster Abbey, the construction of which took place beginning in 1045, at the hand of King Edward the Confessor. Many of England’s great kings and queens are buried there, as well as scientist Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, writers Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Browning and Charles Dickens, and many more of the world’s significant figures. Westminster Abbey is designated one of London’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with the Tower of London, Greenwich, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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