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| <!-- maps and coordinates -->| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the United Kingdom##Location within England##Location within Europe | | <!-- maps and coordinates -->| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the United Kingdom##Location within England##Location within Europe |
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| | pushpin_map = UK#England#Europe#Earth | | | pushpin_map = UK |
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| [[Received Pronunciation]] (RP) is the accent traditionally regarded as the standard for [[British English]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wells|first1=John|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|date=2008|publisher=Longman|isbn=978-1-4058-8118-0|edition=3rd|page=xix, para 2.1}}</ref> It has no specific geographical correlate,<ref>{{Cite web|title=English language - Varieties of English|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> although it is also traditionally defined as the standard speech used in London and south-eastern England.<ref>{{Cite web|title=English language - Characteristics of Modern English|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> It is mainly spoken by [[Upper class|upper-class]] and [[Upper middle class|upper-middle class]] Londoners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pronunciation - Language systems|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/pronunciation|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Received Pronunciation|url=https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/themes/received-pronunciation|access-date=16 April 2021|website=The British Library}}</ref> | | [[Received Pronunciation]] (RP) is the accent traditionally regarded as the standard for [[British English]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wells|first1=John|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|date=2008|publisher=Longman|isbn=978-1-4058-8118-0|edition=3rd|page=xix, para 2.1}}</ref> It has no specific geographical correlate,<ref>{{Cite web|title=English language - Varieties of English|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> although it is also traditionally defined as the standard speech used in London and south-eastern England.<ref>{{Cite web|title=English language - Characteristics of Modern English|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> It is mainly spoken by [[Upper class|upper-class]] and [[Upper middle class|upper-middle class]] Londoners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pronunciation - Language systems|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/pronunciation|access-date=16 April 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Received Pronunciation|url=https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/themes/received-pronunciation|access-date=16 April 2021|website=The British Library}}</ref> |
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| ==Economy==
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| {{main|Economy of London}}
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| London's [[gross regional product]] in 2018 was almost £500 billion, around a quarter of [[Economy of the United Kingdom|UK GDP]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=20 June 2018 |url= https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/regionaleconomicactivitybygrossdomesticproductuk/1998to2018/pdf |title=Regional gross value added (balanced), UK: 1998 to 2018}}</ref> London has five major business districts: the city, Westminster, Canary Wharf, Camden & Islington and Lambeth & Southwark. One way to get an idea of their relative importance is to look at relative amounts of office space: Greater London had 27 million m<sup>2</sup> of office space in 2001, and the City contains the most space, with 8 million m<sup>2</sup> of office space. London has some of the highest real estate prices in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lowe|first=Felix|date=18 February 2008|title=Highgate Trumps Chelsea as Priciest Postcode|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/2784634/Highgate-trumps-Chelsea-as-priciest-postcode.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102203419/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/2784634/Highgate-trumps-Chelsea-as-priciest-postcode.html|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Olson|first=Parmy|date=12 December 2007|title=U.K.'s Most Expensive Postcodes|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/11/postcodes-uk-expensive-forbeslife-cx_po_1212realestate.html?sh=211ae6c76cbe|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325170850/https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/11/postcodes-uk-expensive-forbeslife-cx_po_1212realestate.html?sh=211ae6c76cbe|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> London is the world's most expensive office market for the last three years according to world property journal (2015) report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpropertyjournal.com/real-estate-news/united-kingdom/london-real-estate-news/london-office-rental-rates-2015-most-expensive-office-markets-cushman-wakefield-annual-office-space-across-the-world-global-rankings-george-roberts-james-young-john-siu-8910.php |title=Top 10 Most Expensive Office Markets in the World Revealed |access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> {{As of|2015}} the residential property in London is worth $2.2 trillion—the same value as that of Brazil's annual GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/01/13/real_estate/london-real-estate-brazil/index.html |title=London homes are worth $2 trillion |last=Frater |first=James |publisher=CNN |access-date=27 September 2015 |date=13 January 2015}}</ref> The city has the highest property prices of any European city according to the Office for National Statistics and the European Office of Statistics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/uk-european-cities.html |title=City Mayors: UK and European cities compared |website=citymayors.com}}</ref> On average the price per square metre in central London is €24,252 (April 2014). This is higher than the property prices in other G8 European capital cities; Berlin €3,306, Rome €6,188 and Paris €11,229.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/United-Kingdom/square-meter-prices |title=Price per Square Meter United Kingdom – British Cost per Square Meter |author=Global Property Guide |website=Global Property Guide}}</ref>
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| ===The City of London===
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| London's finance industry is based in the [[City of London]] and [[Canary Wharf]], the two major [[Central business district|business districts]] in London. London is one of the pre-eminent financial centres of the world as the most important location for international finance.<ref name="economist1">{{Cite news|date=29 November 2007|title=The City of London's tumble - After the fall|work=[[The Economist]]|location=London|url=https://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDNDRPTT|url-status=dead|access-date=15 May 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208172611/http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDNDRPTT|archive-date=8 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="economist2">{{Cite news|date=13 September 2007|title=Magnets for Money|work=[[The Economist]]|location=London|url=https://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9753240|url-status=dead|access-date=15 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805052952/http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9753240|archive-date=5 August 2009}}</ref> London took over as a major financial centre shortly after 1795 when the Dutch Republic collapsed before the Napoleonic armies. For many bankers established in Amsterdam (e.g. Hope, Baring), this was only time to move to London. The London financial elite was strengthened by a strong Jewish community from all over Europe capable of mastering the most sophisticated financial tools of the time.<ref name="auto2"/> This unique concentration of talents accelerated the transition from the Commercial Revolution to the Industrial Revolution. By the end of the 19th century, Britain was the wealthiest of all nations, and London a leading [[financial centre]]. Still, {{as of|2016|lc=y}} London tops the world rankings on the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/20/GFCI20_26Sep2016.pdf |title=The Global Financial Centres Index 20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928122804/http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/20/GFCI20_26Sep2016.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> and it ranked second in A.T. Kearney's 2018 Global Cities Index.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hales|first1=Mike|last2=Mendoza Peña|first2=Andrés|last3=Peterson|first3=Erik R.|last4=Dessibourg|first4=Nicole|title=2018 Global Cities Report - Learning from the East: Insights from China's Urban Success|url=https://atkearney.com/2018-global-cities-report|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620232225/https://www.atkearney.com/2018-global-cities-report|archive-date=20 June 2018|access-date=20 June 2018|website=[[A.T. Kearney]]}}</ref>
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| London's largest industry is finance, and its [[financial export]]s make it a large contributor to the UK's [[balance of payments]]. Around 325,000 people were employed in financial services in London until mid-2007. London has over 480 overseas banks, more than any other city in the world. It is also the world's biggest currency trading centre, accounting for some 37 per cent of the $5.1 trillion average daily volume, according to the BIS.<ref>{{cite news|author=Reuters Staff|date=18 September 2016|title=London's core role in euros under spotlight after Brexit vote|work=[[Reuters]]|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-global-markets-bis-britain-idUKKCN11O0C4|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> Over 85 per cent (3.2 million) of the employed population of greater London works in the services industries. Because of its prominent global role, London's economy had been affected by the [[financial crisis of 2007–2008]]. However, by 2010 the city had recovered, put in place new regulatory powers, proceeded to regain lost ground and re-established London's economic dominance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gardiner|first=Beth|date=20 January 2010|title=The London Banking Center Is Beginning to Feel Like Itself Again.|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/global/21rglofinuk.html|url-status=live|access-date=28 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125173353/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/global/21rglofinuk.html|archive-date=25 January 2010}}</ref> Along with [[professional services]] headquarters, the [[City of London]] is home to the [[Bank of England]], [[London Stock Exchange]], and [[Lloyd's of London]] insurance market.
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| Over half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the [[FTSE 100]]) and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies have their headquarters in central London. Over 70 per cent of the FTSE 100 are within London's metropolitan area, and 75 per cent of [[Fortune 500]] companies have offices in London.<ref name="london_113">{{cite web|date=9 June 2009|title=London Stock Exchange|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609022757/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/|archive-date=9 June 2009|access-date=27 April 2008|website=[[London Stock Exchange]]|publisher=}}</ref>
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| ===Media and technology===
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| Media companies are [[Media in London|concentrated in London]] and the media distribution industry is London's second most competitive sector.<ref name="london_114">{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2CAE66FB-2DD5-41A5-B916-8FFC37276059/0/BC_RS_lpuk_0511_FR.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525075622/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2CAE66FB-2DD5-41A5-B916-8FFC37276059/0/BC_RS_lpuk_0511_FR.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2006 |title=London's Place in the UK Economy, 2005–6 |date=November 2005 |website=Oxford Economic Forecasting on behalf of the Corporation of London |page=19 |access-date=19 June 2006 }}</ref> The [[BBC]] is a significant employer, while other broadcasters also have headquarters around the city. Many [[List of newspapers in the United Kingdom|national newspapers]] are edited in London. London is a major retail centre and in 2010 had the highest non-food retail sales of any city in the world, with a total spend of around £64.2 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/uk-retail-major-cities-idUKLNE71G00420110217 |title=London tops world cities spending league |access-date=29 April 2011 |work=Reuters |date=17 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220031529/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/uk-retail-major-cities-idUKLNE71G00420110217 |archive-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=live |first=Mark |last=Potter }}</ref> The [[Port of London]] is the second-largest in the United Kingdom, handling 45 million [[tonne]]s of cargo each year.<ref name="handling"/>
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| A growing number of technology companies are based in London notably in [[East London Tech City]], also known as Silicon Roundabout. In April 2014, the city was among the first to receive a [[geoTLD]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 June 2013|title=London gets go ahead for new '.london' internet domain|url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2013/130610-london-gets-go-ahead-for-new-london-internet-domain|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Hth2Jfcc?url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2013/130610-london-gets-go-ahead-for-new-london-internet-domain|archive-date=6 July 2013|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[London & Partners]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=29 April 2014|title=.london web domain name goes on sale for first time|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-27193725|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mydotlondon.com/domain-availability/ |title=Availability |website=mydotlondon.com |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113544/http://mydotlondon.com/domain-availability/ |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In February 2014 London was ranked as the European City of the Future<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=17 February 2014|title=London named as European City of the Future|url=https://media.londonandpartners.com/news/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316164912/http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2014/london-named-as-european-city-of-the-future|archive-date=16 March 2014|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[London and Partners]]|language=en}}</ref> in the 2014/15 list by [[FDi Magazine]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McReynolds|first=Cathy|date=17 February 2014|title=European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15|work=fDiIntelligence.com|location=London|url=http://www.fdiintelligence.com/Locations/Europe/European-Cities-and-Regions-of-the-Future-2014-15|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
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| The gas and electricity distribution networks that manage and operate the towers, cables and pressure systems that deliver energy to consumers across the city are managed by [[National Grid plc]], [[SGN (company)|SGN]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gas distributors |url=https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/gas/distribution-networks/gb-gas-distribution-network |publisher=Ofgem |access-date=19 January 2016|date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> and [[UK Power Networks]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Electricity distributor |url=http://www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/Our-company/electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/ |publisher=National Grid |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914184550/http://www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/Our-company/electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/ |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| ===Tourism===
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| {{main|Tourism in London}}
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| {{Multiple image
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| |image1=British Museum from NE 2 (cropped).JPG
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| |caption1=The [[British Museum]]
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| |image2=Galería Nacional, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-07, DD 036.JPG|
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| |caption2=The [[National Gallery]]
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| }}
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| London is one of the leading tourist destinations in the world and in 2015 was ranked as the most visited city in the world with over 65 million visits.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 December 2015|title=MasterCard Intelligence {{!}} MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index Report 2015|url=http://www.masterintelligence.com/content/intelligence/en/research/reports/2015/mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-report-2015.html|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207062023/http://www.masterintelligence.com/content/intelligence/en/research/reports/2015/mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-report-2015.html|archive-date=7 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 March 2016|title=Over 65 Million Visits to London Attractions in 2015 London & Partners|url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2016/070316-over-65-million-visits-to-london-attractions-in-2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314010611/http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2016/070316-over-65-million-visits-to-london-attractions-in-2015|archive-date=14 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[London & Partners]]}}</ref> It is also the top city in the world by visitor cross-border spending, estimated at US$20.23 billion in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hedrick-Wong|first1=Dr. Yuwa|last2=Choong|first2=Desmond|date=2015|title=MasterCard - 2015 Global Destination Cities Index|url=https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MasterCard-GDCI-2015-Final-Report1.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195105/https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MasterCard-GDCI-2015-Final-Report1.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> Tourism is one of London's prime industries, employing 700,000 full-time workers in 2016, and contributes £36 billion a year to the economy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017|title=A Tourism Vision for London|url=https://files.londonandpartners.com/l-and-p/assets/london_tourism_vision_aug_2017.pdf|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[London and Partners]]|pages=6–7}}</ref> The city accounts for 54% of all inbound visitor spending in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 April 2015|title=VisitBritain|url=https://www.visitbritain.org/visitor-economy-facts|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806112308/https://www.visitbritain.org/visitor-economy-facts|archive-date=6 August 2015|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> {{As of|2016}} London was the world top city destination as ranked by [[TripAdvisor]] users.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 March 2016|title=London named No.1 city destination on TripAdvisor|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35840394|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>
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| In 2015 the top most-visited attractions in the UK were all in London. The top 10 most visited attractions were: (with visits per venue)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35730578 |title=British Museum tops UK visitor attractions list |date=7 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2017 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
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| # The [[British Museum]]: 6,820,686
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| # The [[National Gallery]]: 5,908,254
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| # The [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] (South Kensington): 5,284,023
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| # The [[Southbank Centre]]: 5,102,883
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| # [[Tate Modern]]: 4,712,581
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| # The [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (South Kensington): 3,432,325
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| # The [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]]: 3,356,212
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| # [[Somerset House]]: 3,235,104
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| # The [[Tower of London]]: 2,785,249
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| # The [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]]: 2,145,486
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| The number of hotel rooms in London in 2015 stood at 138,769, and is expected to grow over the years.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 November 2015|title=London Sees Growth in Hotel Development, as New Properties Open Across Capital for 2016|url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/20151118-london-sees-growth-in-hotel-development-as-new-properties-open-across-capital-for-2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722000653/http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/20151118-london-sees-growth-in-hotel-development-as-new-properties-open-across-capital-for-2016|archive-date=22 July 2017|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[London & Partners]]}}</ref>
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| ==Transport==
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| {{main|Transport in London|Infrastructure in London}}
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| Transport is one of the four main areas of policy administered by the Mayor of London,<ref name=london_121>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ |title=Transport for London |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104235448/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ |archive-date=4 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> however the mayor's financial control does not extend to the longer distance rail network that enters London. In 2007 the Mayor of London assumed responsibility for some local lines, which now form the [[London Overground]] network, adding to the existing responsibility for the London Underground, trams and buses. The public transport network is administered by [[Transport for London]] (TfL).<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=What We Do|url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Transport for London]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>
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| The lines that formed the London Underground, as well as trams and buses, became part of an integrated transport system in 1933 when the [[London Passenger Transport Board]] or ''[[London Transport (brand)|London Transport]]'' was created. Transport for London is now the statutory corporation responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London, and is run by a board and a commissioner appointed by the [[Mayor of London]].<ref name=stat_tfl>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/help/faq.jsp#transport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019055413/http://www.london.gov.uk/help/faq.jsp |archive-date=19 October 2007 |title=How do I find out about transport in London? |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| ===Aviation===
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| {{main|Airports of London}}
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| London is a major international air transport hub with the [[World's busiest city airport systems by passenger traffic|busiest city airspace in the world]]. Eight airports use the word ''London'' in their name, but most traffic passes through six of these. Additionally, [[Airports of London|various other airports]] also serve London, catering primarily to [[general aviation]] flights.
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| * [[London Heathrow Airport]], in [[London Borough of Hillingdon|Hillingdon]], West London, was for many years the [[World's busiest airport|busiest airport in the world]] for international traffic, and is the major hub of the nation's flag carrier, [[British Airways]].<ref name="london_135">{{cite web|date=2020|title=Heathrow Airport Travel Report 2019|url=https://www.heathrow.com/content/dam/heathrow/web/common/documents/company/heathrow-2-0-sustainability/futher-reading/Heathrow-Airport-Travel-Report-2019.pdf|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Heathrow]]|publisher=LHR Airports Limited|page=38}}</ref> In March 2008 its fifth terminal was opened.<ref name=london_137>{{cite web |url=http://www.heathrow-airport-uk.info/heathrow-airport-terminal-5.htm |title=Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 |publisher=TMC Ltd |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430195211/http://www.heathrow-airport-uk.info/heathrow-airport-terminal-5.htm |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai]] gained from Heathrow the leading position in terms of international passenger traffic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Coffey|first=Helen|date=5 February 2018|title=The 10 Busiest Airports in the World|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airports-worlds-busiest-international-passengers-dubai-heathrow-hong-kong-amsterdam-paris-a8194911.html}}</ref>
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| * [[London Gatwick Airport]],<ref name=london_139>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatwickairport.com/ |title=BAA Gatwick: Gatwick Airport |publisher=BAA |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429215757/http://www.gatwickairport.com/ |archive-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> south of London in [[West Sussex]], handles flights to more destinations than any other UK airport<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/company-information/gatwick-by-numbers/ |title=Gatwick by Numbers – Gatwick Airport |website=www.gatwickairport.com |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153659/https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/company-information/gatwick-by-numbers/ |archive-date=16 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and is the main base of [[easyJet]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Easyjet? - We're Proud of What We Have Achieved|url=https://careers.easyjet.com/why-easyjet/where-we-are/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=easyJet Careers}}</ref> the UK's largest airline by number of passengers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airline Data Annual Reports 2017|url=https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airlines/Datasets/UK-Airline-data/2017/Airline-data-annual-reports-2017/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Civil Aviation Authority]]}}</ref>
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| * [[London Stansted Airport]],<ref name=london_140>{{cite book |url=http://www.stanstedairport.com/ |title=BAA Stansted: Stansted Airport |year=2008 |publisher=BAA |access-date=27 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-86039-476-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429151324/http://www.stanstedairport.com/ |archive-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> north-east of London in [[Essex]], has flights that serve the greatest number of European destinations of any UK airport<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stanstedairport.com/about-us/london-stansted-airport-and-mag/facts-and-figures/ |title=Facts and Figures – Stansted Airport |website=www.stanstedairport.com}}</ref> and is the main base of [[Ryanair]],<ref>{{cite web|date=2021|title=History of Ryanair|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/about-us/history-of-ryanair/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Ryanair Group Corporate}}</ref> the world's largest international airline by number of international passengers.<ref>{{cite news|last=R.|first=B.|date=24 June 2014|title=Domestic Bliss|work=[[The Economist]]|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2015/06/worlds-largest-airlines|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>
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| * [[London Luton Airport]], to the north of London in [[Bedfordshire]], is used by several budget airlines for short-haul flights.<ref name=london_141>{{cite book |url=http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/ |title=London Luton Airport |year=1969 |publisher=London Luton Airport |access-date=27 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-11-510256-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501023741/http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
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| * [[London City Airport]], the most central airport and the one with the shortest runway, in [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]], East London, is focused on business travellers, with a mixture of full-service short-haul scheduled flights and considerable [[business jet]] traffic.<ref name=london_142>{{cite web |url=http://www.londoncityairport.com/Default.aspx |title=London City Airport — Corporate Information |publisher=London City Airport Ltd. |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423115236/http://www.londoncityairport.com/Default.aspx |archive-date=23 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| * [[London Southend Airport]], east of London in [[Essex]], is a smaller, regional airport that caters for short-haul flights on a limited, though growing, number of airlines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Londoners love our airport |date=18 May 2018 |first=Adam |last=Cornell |url-status=live |url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16234556.Londoners_love_our_airport/?ref=rss |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.echo-news.co.uk%2Fnews%2F16234556.Londoners_love_our_airport%2F%3Fref%3Drss&date=2018-05-18 |archive-date=18 May 2018 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> In 2017, international passengers made up over 95% of the total at Southend, the highest proportion of any London airport.<ref>{{cite web|date=2017|title=Airport data 2017 – UK Civil Aviation Authority|url=http://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/UK-Airport-data/Airport-data-2017/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226130311/https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/UK-Airport-data/Airport-data-2017/|archive-date=26 February 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Civil Aviation Authority]]}}</ref>
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| ===Rail===
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| ====Underground and DLR====
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| The [[London Underground]], commonly referred to as the Tube, is the oldest<ref name="Metro">{{Cite book |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1604.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502045940/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1604.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 May 2007 |title=London Underground: History |author=Transport for London |access-date=30 December 2012 |isbn=978-0-904711-30-1 |year=1981 }}</ref> and third longest<ref name="citymetric.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.citymetric.com/transport/what-largest-metro-system-world-1361 |title=What is the largest metro system in the world? |date=5 September 2015 |work=City Metric |access-date=12 June 2018 |location=London |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612085224/https://www.citymetric.com/transport/what-largest-metro-system-world-1361 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[rapid transit|metro]] system in the world. The system serves 270 [[metro station|stations]]<ref name="facts">{{cite journal |title=Key facts |publisher=Transport for London |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1608.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529041317/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/londonunderground/1608.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 May 2007 |access-date=15 October 2009 }}</ref> and was formed from several private companies, including the world's first underground electric line, the [[City and South London Railway]].<ref name="UrbanRail">{{cite book |url=http://de.geocities.com/u_london/london.htm |title=London Underground |last=Schwandl |first=Robert |year=2001 |publisher=UrbanRail.net |access-date=24 September 2006 |isbn=978-3-936573-01-5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006013919/http://de.geocities.com/u_london/london.htm |archive-date=6 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It dates from 1863.<ref name=Metro150>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20641351 |title=Oyster card celebrates 150th Tube anniversary |work=BBC News |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=10 January 2013}}</ref>
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| Over four million journeys are made every day on the Underground network, over 1 billion each year.<ref name=london_124>{{cite press release |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7103.html |title=Tube breaks record for passenger numbers |publisher=Transport for London |date=27 December 2007 |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427025251/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7103.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> An investment programme is attempting to reduce congestion and improve reliability, including £6.5 billion (€7.7 billion) spent before the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The London 2012 legacy |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/25869.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018211357/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/25869.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2012 |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> The [[Docklands Light Railway|Docklands Light Railway (DLR)]], which opened in 1987, is a second, more [[medium-capacity rail transport system|local metro system]] using smaller and lighter tram-type vehicles that serve the [[London Docklands|Docklands]], [[Greenwich]] and [[Lewisham]].
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| ====Suburban====
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| There are more than 360 [[railway stations]] in the [[London fare zones|London Travelcard Zones]] on an extensive above-ground suburban railway network. South London, particularly, has a high concentration of railways as it has fewer Underground lines. Most rail lines terminate around the centre of London, running into [[London station group|eighteen terminal stations]], with the exception of the [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]] trains connecting [[Bedford]] in the north and [[Brighton]] in the south via [[London Luton Airport|Luton]] and [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] airports.<ref name="london_127">{{cite web |url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?sEvent=HomePage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130091433/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?sEvent=HomePage |archive-date=30 January 2010 |title=First Capital Connect |publisher=First Capital Connect |access-date=27 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> London has Britain's busiest station by number of passengers—[[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]], with over 184 million people using the interchange station complex (which includes [[London Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]] station) each year.<ref name="National Rail Station Usage">{{cite web |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |title=Rail Station Usage |publisher=Office of Rail Regulation |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705115621/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |archive-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tube exits">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/performance/default.asp?onload=entryexit |title=Tube exits |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514062729/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/performance/default.asp?onload=entryexit |archive-date=14 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{rws|Clapham Junction}} is the busiest station in Europe by the number of trains passing.
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| With the need for more rail capacity in London, [[Crossrail]] is expected to open in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/06/crossrail-line-delayed-autumn-2021 |title=£18bn Crossrail line delayed again to autumn 2021 |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |date=6 January 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref> It will be a new railway line running east to west through London and into the [[Home Counties]] with a branch to [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2021|title=Regional Map|url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/maps/regional-map|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[Crossrail]]|publisher=}}</ref> It is Europe's biggest construction project, with a £15 billion projected cost.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lister|first=Richard|date=2 January 2012|title=Crossrail's giant tunnelling machines unveiled|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16289051|access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Leftly|first=Mark|date=23 October 2011|title=Crossrail delayed to save £1bn|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/crossrail-delayed-to-save-1631bn-2064629.html|access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>
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| ====Inter-city and international====
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| London is the centre of the [[National Rail]] network, with 70 per cent of rail journeys starting or ending in London.<ref>{{cite web|date=2014|title=Rail|url=http://londonfirst.co.uk/our-focus/londons-transport-infrastructure/rail/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083946/http://londonfirst.co.uk/our-focus/londons-transport-infrastructure/rail/|archive-date=7 April 2014|access-date=5 April 2014|website=London First}}</ref> [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross station]] and [[Euston railway station|Euston station]], which are both in London, are the starting points of the [[East Coast Main Line]] and the [[West Coast Main Line]]—the two main raiway lines in Britain—respectively. Like suburban rail services, regional and inter-city trains depart from several termini around the city centre, linking London with the rest of Britain including [[Aberdeen]], [[Birmingham]], [[Blackpool]], [[Bradford]], [[Brighton]], [[Bristol]], [[Cambridge]], [[Cardiff]], [[Carlisle]], [[Chester]], [[Coventry]], [[Crewe]], [[Derby]], [[Doncaster]], [[Dover]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Exeter]], [[Glasgow]], [[Holyhead]] (for [[Dublin]]), [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Leeds]], [[Liverpool]], [[Nottingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Norwich]], [[Oxford]], [[Peterborough]], [[Plymouth]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Sheffield]], [[Southampton]], [[Sunderland]], [[Stevenage]], [[Swansea]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[York]].<ref name="untitled">{{Cite web|last=Smithers|first=Andrew|date=8 December 2020|title=Great Britain National Rail Train Operators|url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/TOCs%20AS%20v46%20Dec%202020.pdf|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[National Rail]]}}</ref>
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| London also has convenient rail connections with [[airports]] out of [[Greater London]]. These airports include [[Birmingham Airport]] (via [[Birmingham International railway station]]), [[East Midlands Airport]] (via [[East Midlands Parkway railway station]]), [[Inverness Airport]] (via [[Inverness railway station]]), [[Leeds Bradford Airport]] (via [[Bradford Interchange]] or [[Leeds railway station]]) and [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] (via [[Liverpool South Parkway railway station]]).<ref name=untitled/>
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| Some international railway services to [[Continental Europe]] were operated during the 20th century as [[boat train]]s, such as the ''[[Admiraal de Ruijter (train)|Admiraal de Ruijter]]'' to [[Amsterdam]] and the ''[[Night Ferry]]'' to Paris and Brussels. The opening of the [[Channel Tunnel]] in 1994 connected London directly to the continental rail network, allowing [[Eurostar]] services to begin. Since 2007, high-speed trains link [[St Pancras railway station|St. Pancras International]] with [[Lille]], [[Calais]], [[Paris]], [[Disneyland Paris]], [[Brussels]], [[Amsterdam]] and other European tourist destinations via the [[High Speed 1]] rail link and the [[Channel Tunnel]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 November 2007|title=Eurostar arrives in Paris on time|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7093761.stm|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The first [[Southeastern (train operating company)|high-speed domestic]] trains started in June 2009 linking [[Kent]] to London.<ref name="Southeastern Highspeed">{{cite web |url=http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/highspeed/ |title=Highspeed |publisher=Southeastern |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501110057/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/highspeed/ |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are plans for a [[High Speed 2|second high speed line]] linking London to the Midlands, North West England, and Yorkshire.
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| ====Freight====
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| Although [[rail freight]] levels are far down compared to their height, significant quantities of cargo are also carried into and out of London by rail; chiefly building materials and [[landfill]] waste. As a major hub of the British railway network, London's tracks also carry large amounts of freight for the other regions, such as [[containerisation|container freight]] from the Channel Tunnel and [[English Channel]] ports, and [[nuclear waste]] for [[nuclear reprocessing|reprocessing]] at [[Sellafield]].<ref name="Freight Plan">August 2007, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529165228/https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/rail-freight-strategy-aug-2007.pdf Rail Freight Strategy], [[London Rail]]</ref>
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| ===Buses, coaches and trams===
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| London's [[London Buses|bus network]] runs 24 hours a day, with about 9,300 vehicles, more than 675 bus routes and around 19,000 bus stops.<ref name="Buses">{{cite web |title=What we do – Buses |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do/buses |website=Transport for London |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=5 April 2014}}</ref> In 2019/20, the network had more than 2 billion commuter trips per year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 October 2020|title=Annual bus statistics: England 2019/20|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/929992/annual-bus-statistics-year-ending-march-2020.pdf|access-date=25 March 2021|website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk|publisher=Department of Transportation|page=2}}</ref> Since 2010 and average of £1.2 billion is taken in revenue each year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 March 2021|title=Government support for the bus industry and concessionary travel (England) (BUS05)|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus05-subsidies-and-concessions|access-date=26 March 2021|website=GOV.UK|language=en|type=BUS0501: Operating revenue for local bus services by revenue type, by metropolitan area status: England (ODS, 34.7KB)}}</ref> London has one of the largest wheelchair-accessible networks in the world<ref name="london_131">{{cite web|date=20 June 2017|title=Most Accessible Cities Around The World|url=https://www.sunrisemedical.com.au/blog/world-accessible-cities|access-date=26 March 2021|website=Sunrise Medical}}</ref> and from the third quarter of 2007, became more accessible to hearing and visually impaired passengers as audio-visual announcements were introduced.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016|title=Leading the way - Travelling with a sensory impairment in London|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/leading_the_way_march_2016.pdf|access-date=26 March 2021|publisher=[[Greater London Authority]]}}</ref>
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| London's coach hub is [[Victoria Coach Station]], an [[Art Deco]] building opened in 1932. The coach station was initially run by a group of coach companies under the name of London Coastal Coaches; however, in 1970 the service and station were included in the nationalisation of the country's coach services, becoming part of the National Bus Company. In 1988, the coach station was purchased by London Transport which then became [[Transport for London]]. Victoria Coach Station has weekly passenger numbers of over 200,000 and provides services across the UK and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Transport for London |title=Victoria Coach Station – Celebrating 75 years of service|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/|access-date=16 August 2020|website=tfl.gov.uk }}</ref>{{fv|date=June 2021}}
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| London has a modern tram network, known as [[Tramlink]], centred on [[Croydon]] in [[South London]]. The network has 39 stops and four routes, and carried 28 million people in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 May 2016|title=Tram-endous boost for travellers - Transport for London|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/news-articles/tram-endous-boost-for-travellers|access-date=26 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513142204/https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/news-articles/tram-endous-boost-for-travellers|archive-date=13 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=22 February 2014|title=Croydon Tramlink - Railway Technology|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/croydon/|access-date=26 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222173800/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/croydon/|archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> Since June 2008, [[Transport for London]] has completely owned and operated Tramlink.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 June 2008|title=Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2008|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/6-Statement-of-Acounts-2008.pdf|access-date=26 March 2021|website=Transport of London|page=67}}</ref>
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| ===Cable car===
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| London's first and to date only cable car is the [[Emirates Air Line (cable car)|Emirates Air Line]], which opened in June 2012. The cable car crosses the [[River Thames]], and links [[Greenwich Peninsula]] and the [[Royal Docks]] in the east of the city. It is integrated with London's Oyster Card ticketing system, although the Emirates Air Line fares are not included in the Oyster daily capping.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Emirates Air Line: Take a flight over London on the Thames Cable Car|url=https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/articles/visitor-oyster-card-thames-cable-car/|access-date=26 March 2021|website=www.visitbritainshop.com|language=en}}</ref> It cost £60 million to build and can carry up to 2,500 passengers per hour in each direction at peak times. Similar to the [[Santander Cycles]] bike hire scheme, the cable car is sponsored in a 10-year deal by the airline [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 October 2011|title=Emirates sponsors Thames cable car|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-15217173|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>
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| ===Cycling===
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| {{main|Cycling in London}}
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| In the Greater London Area, around 670,000 people use a bike every day,<ref>{{cite web|date=2016|title=Travel in London Report 9|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-9.pdf|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Transport for London]]|page=143}}</ref> meaning around 7% of the total population of around 8.8 million use a bike on an average day.<ref>{{cite web|title=United Kingdom: Greater London: Boroughs – Population Statistics, Charts and Map|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/greaterlondon/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Colville-Andersen|first=Mikael|date=2 June 2015|title=The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet|language=en-us|work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/copenhagenize-worlds-most-bike-friendly-cities/|access-date=25 March 2021|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> This relatively low percentage of bicycle users may be due to the poor investments for cycling in London of about £110 million per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/4045/slash-to-cycling-budget-false-says-transport-for-london |title=Slash to cycling budget false, says Transport for London |first=Joe |last=Robinson |date=18 January 2018 |website=www.cyclist.co.uk |access-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180815091003/http://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/4045/slash-to-cycling-budget-false-says-transport-for-london |archive-date=15 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> equating to around £12 per person, which can be compared to £22 in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/05/where-world-most-cycle-friendly-city-amsterdam-copenhagen |title=Where is the most cycle-friendly city in the world? |first=Athlyn |last=Cathcart-Keays |date=5 January 2016 |work=The Guardian |location= London}}</ref>
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| [[Cycling in London|Cycling]] has become an increasingly popular way to get around London. The launch of a [[Bicycle-sharing system|bicycle hire scheme]] in July 2010 was successful and generally well received.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016|title=Travel in London Report 9|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-9.pdf|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Travel in London|pages=146–147}}</ref>
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| ===Port and river boats===
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| The [[Port of London]], once the largest in the world, is now only the second-largest in the United Kingdom, handling 45 million tonnes of cargo each year as of 2009.<ref name="handling">{{cite web|date=10 June 2010|title=Provisional Port Statistics 2009|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/maritime/ports/provportstats2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110203090417/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/maritime/ports/provportstats2009|archive-date=3 February 2011|access-date=26 April 2011|website=[[Department for Transport]]|publisher=}}</ref> Most of this cargo passes through the [[Port of Tilbury]], outside the boundary of Greater London.<ref name="handling" />
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| London has river boat services on the Thames known as [[Thames Clippers]], which offer both commuter and tourist boat services.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Steves|first=Rick|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9K2nDwAAQBAJ&q=London+has+river+boat+services+on+the+Thames+known+as+Thames+Clippers,+which+offers+both+commuter+and+tourist+boat+services&pg=PT53|title=Rick Steves England|date=17 March 2020|publisher=Avalon Publishing|isbn=978-1-64171-237-8|language=en}}</ref> At major piers including [[Canary Wharf Pier|Canary Wharf]], [[London Bridge City Pier|London Bridge City]], [https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/ Battersea Power Station] and [[London Eye Pier|London Eye]] (Waterloo), services depart at least every 20 minutes during commuter times.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Commute Through London - Uber Boat by Thames Clippers|url=https://www.thamesclippers.com/commuters/commute-by-river|access-date=26 March 2021|website=www.thamesclippers.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> The [[Woolwich Ferry]], with 2.5 million passengers every year, is a frequent service linking the [[North Circular Road|North]] and [[South Circular Road, London|South Circular]] Roads.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 April 2013|title=Woolwich Ferries celebrate 50 years of service|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/27762.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922034512/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/27762.aspx|archive-date=22 September 2013|access-date=26 March 2021|website=[[Transport of London]]}}</ref>
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| ===Roads===
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| Although the majority of journeys in central London are made by public transport, car travel is common in the suburbs. The [[London Inner Ring Road|inner ring road]] (around the city centre), the [[A406 road|North]] and [[A205 road|South Circular]] roads (just within the suburbs), and the outer orbital motorway (the [[M25 motorway|M25]], just outside the built-up area in most places) encircle the city and are intersected by a number of busy radial routes—but very few motorways penetrate into [[inner London]]. A plan for a comprehensive network of motorways throughout the city (the [[London Ringways|Ringways Plan]]) was prepared in the 1960s but was mostly cancelled in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/architecture/london-roads-to-nowhere-2207351.html |title=London: Roads to nowhere |date=8 February 2011 |website=The Independent |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> The M25 is the second-longest ring-road motorway in Europe at {{convert|117|mi|km|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Highways Agency |date=25 June 2018 |url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/our-network/key-roads/m25/ |access-date=25 June 2018 |title=M25 |archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/70RoYooMF?url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/our-network/key-roads/m25/ |archive-date= 25 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and [[M1 motorway|M1]] connect London to [[Leeds]], and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] and [[Edinburgh]].
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| London is notorious for its traffic congestion; in 2009, the average speed of a car in the rush hour was recorded at {{convert|10.6|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name=london_147>{{cite web |last1=Mulholland |first1=Hélène |title=Boris Johnson mulls 'intelligent' congestion charge system for London |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/mar/16/boris-johnson-congestion-charge |website=The Guardian |date=16 March 2009}}</ref>
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| In 2003, a [[London congestion charge|congestion charge]] was introduced to reduce traffic volumes in the city centre. With a few exceptions, motorists are required to pay to drive within a defined zone encompassing much of central London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/london-congestion-charge-what-worked-what-didnt-what-next-92478|title=London congestion charge: what worked, what didn't, what next|last=Badstuber|first=Nicole|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Motorists who are residents of the defined zone can buy a greatly reduced season pass.<ref name="london_146">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6735.aspx |title=Residents |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=7 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503211945/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6735.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/congestion/|title=Central London Congestion Charging, England|website=Verdict Traffic|language=en-GB|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> The London government initially expected the Congestion Charge Zone to increase daily peak period Underground and bus users, reduce road traffic, increase traffic speeds, and reduce queues;<ref>Santos, Georgina; Button, Kenneth; Noll, Roger G. "London Congestion Charging/Comments." Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs. 15287084 (2008): 177,177–234.</ref> however, the increase in private for hire vehicles has affected these expectations. Over the course of several years, the average number of cars entering the centre of London on a weekday was reduced from 195,000 to 125,000 cars – a 35-per-cent reduction of vehicles driven per day.<ref>Table 3 in Santos, Georgina; Button, Kenneth; Noll, Roger G. "London Congestion Charging/Comments." Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs.15287084 (2008): 177,177–234.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2019/04/central-london-ulez-ultra-low-emissions-zone-car-congestion-charge/586561/|title=London Puts a High Price on Driving Older, Polluting Cars|last=O'Sullivan|first=Feargus|website=CityLab|language=en|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
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| ==Education== | | ==Education== |