Bharatpedia

London: Difference between revisions

Article Talk

London (edit)

Revision as of 19:41, 9 July 2021

100,814 bytes removed ,  9 July 2021
Trim
(Created page with "{{Short description|Capital and largest city of the United Kingdom}} {{About|the UK capital city|other uses|London (disambiguation)}} {{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use British...")
 
(Trim)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Capital and largest city of the United Kingdom}}
{{Short description|Capital and largest city of the United Kingdom}}
{{About|the UK capital city|other uses|London (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the UK capital city|other uses|London (disambiguation)}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = London
| name                            = London
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT add or change images without consensus. -->| image_skyline                  = <div style="display:inline-block;"><imagemap>
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT add or change images without consensus. -->| image_skyline                  =  
File:London Montage L.jpg|275px|center|alt=London montage. Clicking on an image in the picture causes the browser to load the appropriate article.
rect 217 123 282 330 [[Heron Tower]]
rect 322 123 380 330 [[Tower 42]]
rect 441 154 498 330 [[30 St Mary Axe]]
rect 505 87 572 330 [[Leadenhall Building]]
rect 638 208 699 251 [[Willis Building (London)|Willis Building]]
rect 596 251 715 332 [[Lloyds Building]]
rect 740 217 851 275 [[Canary Wharf]]
rect 888 168 940 330 [[20 Fenchurch Street]]
rect 0 330 1200 450 [[City of London]]
rect 0 460 330 1420 [[London Underground]]
rect 330 460 622 1420 [[Elizabeth Tower]]
rect 632 460 1200 951 [[Trafalgar Square]]
rect 632 961 1200 1420 [[London Eye]]
rect 0 1429 1200 1765 [[Tower Bridge]]
rect 0 1765 1200 1809 [[River Thames]]
</imagemap></div>
| settlement_type                = [[Capital city]]
| settlement_type                = [[Capital city]]
| image_caption                  = Clockwise from top: [[City of London]] in the foreground with [[Canary Wharf]] in the far background, [[Trafalgar Square]], [[London Eye]], [[Tower Bridge]] and a [[London Underground]] roundel in front of [[Big Ben|Elizabeth Tower]]
| image_caption                  = Clockwise from top: [[City of London]] in the foreground with [[Canary Wharf]] in the far background, [[Trafalgar Square]], [[London Eye]], [[Tower Bridge]] and a [[London Underground]] roundel in front of [[Big Ben|Elizabeth Tower]]
Line 76: Line 58:
| blank3_info                    = 0.965<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sub-national HDI |title=Area Database – Global Data Lab |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org}}</ref> – <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
| blank3_info                    = 0.965<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sub-national HDI |title=Area Database – Global Data Lab |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org}}</ref> – <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
| postal_code_type                = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code_type                = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code                    = {{collapsible list
| postal_code                    =  
  | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
| area_codes                      =  
  | title =  22 areas
  | {{postcode|E}}, {{postcode|EC}}, {{postcode|N}}, {{postcode|NW}}, {{postcode|SE}}, {{postcode|SW}}, {{postcode|W}}, {{postcode|WC}}, {{postcode|BR}},  {{postcode|CR}}, {{postcode|DA}}, {{postcode|EN}}, {{postcode|HA}}, {{postcode|IG}}, {{postcode|KT}}, {{postcode|RM}}, {{postcode|SM}},  {{postcode|TW}}, {{postcode|UB}}, {{postcode|WD}}
  | ({{postcode|CM}}, {{postcode|TN}}; ''partially'')
}}
| area_codes                      = {{collapsible list
  | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  | title = [[List of telephone exchanges in London|9 area codes]]
  | 020, 01322, 01689, 01708, 01737, 01895, 01923, 01959, 01992
}}
| leader_title                    = London&nbsp;Assembly
| leader_title                    = London&nbsp;Assembly
| leader_name                    = [[London Assembly constituencies|14 constituencies]]
| leader_name                    = [[London Assembly constituencies|14 constituencies]]
Line 107: Line 80:
| blank6_name_sec2                = [[GeoTLD]]
| blank6_name_sec2                = [[GeoTLD]]
| blank6_info_sec2                = [[.london]]
| blank6_info_sec2                = [[.london]]
| website                        = {{Official URL}}
| website                        =  
}}
}}
<!-- Please do not make significant changes to the lead without discussing them first on the article's talk page.-->
<!-- Please do not make significant changes to the lead without discussing them first on the article's talk page.-->
Line 121: Line 94:


==Toponymy==
==Toponymy==
{{main|Etymology of London}}
''London'' is an ancient name, already attested in the first century AD, usually in the [[Latinisation of names|Latinised]] form {{lang|la|[[Londinium]]}};<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=Anthony David|title=A Dictionary of London Place Names|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2001|isbn=9780192801067|pages=139|oclc=45406491}}</ref> for example, handwritten Roman tablets recovered in the city originating from AD 65/70–80 include the word {{lang|la|Londinio}} ('in London').<ref name=NameTablets>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36415563 |title=UK's oldest hand-written document 'at Roman London dig' |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>
''London'' is an ancient name, already attested in the first century AD, usually in the [[Latinisation of names|Latinised]] form {{lang|la|[[Londinium]]}};<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=Anthony David|title=A Dictionary of London Place Names|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2001|isbn=9780192801067|pages=139|oclc=45406491}}</ref> for example, handwritten Roman tablets recovered in the city originating from AD 65/70–80 include the word {{lang|la|Londinio}} ('in London').<ref name=NameTablets>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36415563 |title=UK's oldest hand-written document 'at Roman London dig' |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>


Line 133: Line 105:


In writing, "London" is, on occasion, [[colloquial]]ly [[contraction (grammar)|contracted]] to "LDN".<ref>{{cite web |title=LDN Flood Week 2017 |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/london-prepared/ldn-flood-week-2017 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022230/https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/london-prepared/ldn-flood-week-2017 |archive-date=12 September 2018 |url-status=live |date=9 November 2017}}</ref>{{clarify|date=February 2020}} Such usage originated in [[SMS language]], and is often found, on a [[social media]] [[user profile]], [[suffix]]ing an [[pseudonym|alias]] or handle.
In writing, "London" is, on occasion, [[colloquial]]ly [[contraction (grammar)|contracted]] to "LDN".<ref>{{cite web |title=LDN Flood Week 2017 |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/london-prepared/ldn-flood-week-2017 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022230/https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/london-prepared/ldn-flood-week-2017 |archive-date=12 September 2018 |url-status=live |date=9 November 2017}}</ref>{{clarify|date=February 2020}} Such usage originated in [[SMS language]], and is often found, on a [[social media]] [[user profile]], [[suffix]]ing an [[pseudonym|alias]] or handle.
==History==
{{main|History of London|Timeline of London}}
===Prehistory===
In 1993, the remains of a [[Bronze Age]] bridge were found on the south foreshore, upstream of [[Vauxhall Bridge]].<ref name="Denison">{{cite journal |last=Denison |first=Simon |title=First 'London Bridge' in River Thames at Vauxhall |journal=British Archaeology |date=July 1999 |issue=46 |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba46/ba46news.html |access-date=15 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427021948/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba46/ba46news.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> This bridge either crossed the Thames or reached a now lost island in it. Two of those timbers were [[Radiocarbon dating|radiocarbon dated]] to between 1750 BC and 1285 BC.<ref name="Denison"/>
In 2010, the foundations of a large timber structure, dated to between 4800 BC and 4500 BC,<ref>{{cite web |title=London's Oldest Prehistoric Structure |url=http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/londons-oldest-prehistoric-structure/ |publisher=BAJR |access-date=19 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707053946/http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/londons-oldest-prehistoric-structure/ |archive-date=7 July 2018 |url-status=live  |date=3 April 2015 }}</ref> were found on the Thames's south foreshore, downstream of Vauxhall Bridge.<ref name="Milne">{{cite web |last=Milne |first=Gustav |title=London's Oldest Foreshore Structure! |url=http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/frog-blog/london-s-oldest-find-discovered-at-vauxhall |website=Frog Blog |publisher=Thames Discovery Programme |access-date=15 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430002236/http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/frog-blog/london-s-oldest-find-discovered-at-vauxhall |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The function of the mesolithic structure is not known. Both structures are on the south bank of the Thames where the now-underground [[River Effra]] flows into the Thames.<ref name="Milne"/>
===Roman London===
{{main|Londinium}}
[[File:Map of London, 1300.svg|thumb|In 1300, the [[City of London|City]] was still confined within the [[London Wall|Roman walls]].]]
Although there is evidence of scattered [[Britons (historical)|Brythonic]] settlements in the area, the first major settlement was founded by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] about four years<ref name="auto1"/> after the invasion of AD 43.<ref name="roman">{{Cite book |title=Roman London |last=Perring |first=Dominic |year=1991 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0-203-23133-3 |page=1 }}</ref> This lasted only until around AD 61, when the [[Iceni]] tribe led by [[Boudica|Queen Boudica]] stormed it, burning the settlement to the ground.<ref name="london_010">{{cite web|title=British History Timeline - Roman Britain|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/romanbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/romanbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml|archive-date=30 April 2011|access-date=7 June 2008|website=[[BBC]]|publisher=}}</ref> The next, heavily planned, incarnation of [[Londinium]] prospered, and it superseded [[Colchester]] as the capital of the [[Roman Britain|Roman province]] of [[Britannia]] in 100. At its height in the 2nd century, Roman London had a population of around 60,000.<ref>{{cite book |title=London Civic Theatre: City Drama and Pageantry from Roman Times to 1558 |first=Anne |last=Lancashire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QajvxgbH59QC&pg=PA19 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2002 |page=19 |isbn=978-0-521-63278-2}}</ref>
===Anglo-Saxon and Viking period London===
With the collapse of Roman rule in the early 5th century, London ceased to be a capital, and the walled city of [[Londinium]] was effectively abandoned, although Roman civilisation continued in the area of [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]] until around 450.<ref>{{cite web|title=The last days of Londinium|url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Londinium.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108092449/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Londinium.htm|archive-date=8 January 2009|access-date=31 March 2013|website=[[Museum of London]]|publisher=}}</ref> From around 500, an [[Anglo-Saxon]] settlement known as [[Anglo-Saxon London|Lundenwic]] developed slightly west of the old Roman city.<ref name=london_011>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Lundenwic.htm |title=The early years of Lundenwic |publisher=The [[Museum of London]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610043903/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Lundenwic.htm |archive-date=10 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By about 680, the city had regrown into a major port, although there is little evidence of large-scale production. From the 820s repeated [[Viking]] assaults brought decline. Three are recorded; those in 851 and 886 succeeded, while the last, in 994, was rebuffed.<ref name="Viking Attacks">{{cite web |url=https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/viking_attacklist.html?showall=1 |title=Viking Attacks |access-date=19 January 2016 |last1=Wheeler |first1=Kip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101055729/https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/viking_attacklist.html?showall=1 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Siege of London (MS 1168).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] siege of London in 1471 is attacked by a [[House of York|Yorkist]] sally.]]
The [[Vikings]] established [[Danelaw]] over much of eastern and northern England; its boundary stretched roughly from London to [[Chester]]. It was an area of political and geographical control imposed by the Viking incursions which was formally agreed by the [[Danes|Danish]] [[warlord]], [[Guthrum]] and the [[Kingdom of the West Saxons|West Saxon]] king [[Alfred the Great]] in 886. The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' recorded that Alfred "refounded" London in 886. Archaeological research shows that this involved abandonment of Lundenwic and a revival of life and trade within the old Roman walls. London then grew slowly until about 950, after which activity increased dramatically.<ref name="blackwell">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Vince |first=Alan |year=2001 |title=London |editor=Lapidge, Michael |editor2=Blair, John |editor3=Keynes, Simon |editor4=Scragg, Donald |encyclopedia=The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England |publisher=Blackwell |isbn=978-0-631-22492-1}}</ref>
By the 11th century, London was beyond all comparison the largest town in England. [[Westminster Abbey]], rebuilt in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style by King [[Edward the Confessor]], was one of the grandest churches in Europe. [[Winchester]] had previously been the capital of Anglo-Saxon England, but from this time on, London became the main forum for foreign traders and the base for defence in time of war. In the view of [[Frank Stenton]]: "It had the resources, and it was rapidly developing the dignity and the political self-consciousness appropriate to a national capital."<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Frank Stenton |last=Stenton |first=Frank |year=1971 |title=Anglo-Saxon England |pages=538–539 |publisher=Oxford University Press |edition=3rd |isbn=978-0-19-280139-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Blair |first=John |year=2001 |title=Westminster |editor=Lapidge, Michael |editor2=Blair, John |editor3=Keynes, Simon |editor4=Scragg, Donald |encyclopedia=The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England |publisher=Blackwell |isbn=978-0-631-22492-1}}</ref>
===Middle Ages===
[[File:Westminster Abbey by Canaletto, 1749.jpg|thumb|left|[[Westminster Abbey]], as seen in this painting (by [[Canaletto]], 1749), is a [[World Heritage Site]] and one of London's oldest and most important buildings.]]
After winning the [[Battle of Hastings]], [[William the Conqueror|William, Duke of Normandy]] was crowned [[King of England]] in the newly completed Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.<ref name="london_015">{{cite web|last=Ibeji|first=Dr Mike|date=17 February 2011|title=History&nbsp;– 1066&nbsp;– King William|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/1066_06.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922053048/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/1066_06.shtml|archive-date=22 September 2009|access-date=29 March 2021|website=[[BBC]]|publisher=}}</ref> William constructed the [[Tower of London]], the first of the many Norman castles in England to be rebuilt in stone, in the southeastern corner of the city, to intimidate the native inhabitants.<ref name=london_016>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_02.shtml |title=A History of British Architecture&nbsp;— White Tower |last=Tinniswood |first=Adrian |author-link=Adrian Tinniswood |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213124332/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_02.shtml |archive-date=13 February 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1097, [[William II of England|William II]] began the building of [[Westminster Hall]], close by the abbey of the same name. The hall became the basis of a new [[Palace of Westminster]].<ref name=london_017>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/building.cfm |title=UK Parliament&nbsp;— Parliament: The building |date=9 November 2007 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311032051/http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/building.cfm |archive-date=11 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=london_018>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/parliament/guide/palace.htm |title=Palace of Westminster |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404171249/http://www.parliament.uk/parliament/guide/palace.htm |archive-date=4 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the 12th century, the institutions of central government, which had hitherto accompanied the royal English court as it moved around the country, grew in size and sophistication and became increasingly fixed in one place. For most purposes this was Westminster, although the royal treasury, having been moved from Winchester, came to rest in the Tower. While the [[Westminster|City of Westminster]] developed into a true capital in governmental terms, its distinct neighbour, the City of London, remained England's largest city and principal commercial centre, and it flourished under its own unique administration, the [[City of London Corporation|Corporation of London]]. In 1100, its population was around 18,000; by 1300 it had grown to nearly 100,000.<ref name=london_019>{{Cite book |last1=Schofield |first1=John |last2=Vince |first2=Alan|author2-link=Alan Vince |title=Medieval Towns: The Archaeology of British Towns in Their European Setting |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-8264-6002-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qu7QLC7g7VgC&pg=PA26 |page=26 }}</ref> Disaster struck in the form of the [[Black Death]] in the mid-14th century, when London lost nearly a third of its population.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ibeji|first=Dr. Mike|date=10 March 2011|title=BBC - History - British History in depth: Black Death|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191039/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.shtml|archive-date=30 April 2011|access-date=3 November 2008|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> London was the focus of the [[Peasants' Revolt]] in 1381.<ref name=london_020>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/richard_ii_king.shtml |title=Richard II (1367–1400) |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191132/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/richard_ii_king.shtml |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
London was also a centre of England's [[History of the Jews in England (1066–1290)|Jewish population]] before their [[Edict of Expulsion|expulsion]] by [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] in 1290. Violence against Jews took place in 1190, after it was rumoured that the new king had ordered their massacre after they had presented themselves at his coronation.<ref name="Jacobs">{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Joseph|year=1906|title=England|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5764-england|website=[[Jewish Encyclopedia]]|publisher=}}</ref> In 1264 during the [[Second Barons' War]], [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]]'s rebels killed 500 Jews while attempting to seize records of debts.<ref name=Mundill2010>{{Citation |publisher = Continuum |ol = 24816680M |isbn = 978-1-84725-186-2 |location = London |title = The King's Jews |url = https://archive.org/details/kingsjewsmoneyma00mund |first = Robin R. |last = Mundill |lccn = 2010282921  |oclc = 466343661 |date = 2010|pages=88–99}}</ref>
===Early modern===
[[File:London - John Norden's map of 1593.jpg|thumb|Map of London in 1593. There is only one bridge across the Thames, but parts of Southwark on the south bank of the river have been developed.]]
During the [[Tudor period]] the [[English Reformation|Reformation]] produced a gradual shift to Protestantism, and much of London property passed from church to private ownership, which accelerated trade and business in the city.<ref name="pevsner">{{Cite book|last=Pevsner|first=Nikolaus|title=London - The Cities of London and Westminster|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|edition=2nd|volume=1|publication-date=1 January 1962|pages=48|asin=B0000CLHU5}}</ref> In 1475, the [[Hanseatic League]] set up its main trading base (''[[kontor]]'') of England in London, called the ''Stalhof'' or ''[[Steelyard]]''. It existed until 1853, when the Hanseatic cities of [[Lübeck]], [[Bremen]] and [[Hamburg]] sold the property to [[South Eastern Railway, UK|South Eastern Railway]].<ref name=EB>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Steelyard, Merchants of the}}</ref> [[Woollen]] cloth was shipped undyed and undressed from 14th/15th century London to the nearby shores of the [[Low Countries]], where it was considered indispensable.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pounds|first=Normal J. G.|title=An Historical Geography of Europe 450 B.C.–A.D. 1330|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=1973|isbn=9781139163552|pages=430|doi=10.1017/CBO9781139163552}}</ref>
But the reach of English maritime enterprise hardly extended beyond the seas of north-west Europe. The commercial route to Italy and the [[Mediterranean]] Sea normally lay through [[Antwerp]] and over the [[Alps]]; any ships passing through the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] to or from England were likely to be Italian or [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusan]]. Upon the re-opening of the Netherlands to English shipping in January 1565, there ensued a strong outburst of commercial activity.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ramsay|first=George Daniel|title=The Queen's Merchants and the Revolt of the Netherlands (The End of the Antwerp Mart, Vol 2)|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|year=1986|isbn=9780719018497|pages=1 & 62–63}}</ref> The [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] was founded.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Burgon|first=John William|title=The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Gresham, Founder of the Royal Exchange: Including Notices of Many of His Contemporaries. With Illustrations, Volume 2|publisher=R. Jennings|year=1839|isbn=978-1277223903|location=London|pages=80–81}}</ref> [[Mercantilism]] grew, and monopoly trading companies such as the [[East India Company]] were established, with trade expanding to the [[New World]]. London became the principal [[North Sea]] port, with migrants arriving from England and abroad. The population rose from an estimated 50,000 in 1530 to about 225,000 in 1605.<ref name=pevsner/>
In the 16th century [[William Shakespeare]] and his contemporaries lived in London at a time of hostility to the development of the [[Elizabethan theatre|theatre]]. By the end of the Tudor period in 1603, London was still very compact. There was an assassination attempt on [[James I of England|James I]] in Westminster, in the [[Gunpowder Plot]] on 5 November 1605.<ref name=london_023>{{Cite book |title=James I |last=Durston |first=Christopher |year=1993 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0-415-07779-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/jamesi0000durs/page/59 59] |url=https://archive.org/details/jamesi0000durs/page/59 }}</ref>
In 1637, the government of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] attempted to reform administration in the area of London. The plan called for the Corporation of the city to extend its jurisdiction and administration over expanding areas around the city. Fearing an attempt by the Crown to diminish the [[Liberties of London]], a lack of interest in administering these additional areas, or concern by city guilds of having to share power, the Corporation refused. Later called "The Great Refusal", this decision largely continues to account for the unique governmental status of the [[City of London|City]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Doolittle | first1 = Ian | year = 2014 | title = 'The Great Refusal': Why Does the City of London Corporation Only Govern the Square Mile? | journal = The London Journal | volume = 39 | issue = 1| pages = 21–36 | doi = 10.1179/0305803413Z.00000000038 | s2cid = 159791907 }}</ref>
[[File:Vertue's 1738 plan of the London Lines of Communication.jpg|thumb|left|Vertue's 1738 plan of the [[Lines of Communication (London)|Lines of Communication]], built during the [[English Civil War]]]]
In the [[English Civil War]] the majority of Londoners supported the [[Roundhead|Parliamentary]] cause. After an initial advance by the [[Cavaliers|Royalists]] in 1642, culminating in the battles of [[Battle of Brentford (1642)|Brentford]] and [[Battle of Turnham Green|Turnham Green]], London was surrounded by a defensive perimeter wall known as the [[Lines of Communication (London)|Lines of Communication]]. The lines were built by up to 20,000 people, and were completed in under two months.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flintham|first=David|title=London|url=http://www.fortified-places.com/london/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116190923/http://www.fortified-places.com/london/|archive-date=16 January 2009|access-date=28 March 2021|website=Fortified Places}}</ref>
The fortifications failed their only test when the [[New Model Army]] entered London in 1647,<ref>Harrington, Peter (2003). ''English Civil War Fortifications 1642–51'', Volume 9 of Fortress, 9, Osprey Publishing, {{ISBN|1-84176-604-6}}. [https://books.google.com/books?id=dKwKIiqAnlkC&pg=PA57 p. 57]</ref> and they were levelled by Parliament the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flintham|first=David|title=London|url=http://www.fortified-places.com/london/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116190923/http://www.fortified-places.com/london/|archive-date=16 January 2009|access-date=28 March 2021|website=Fortified Places}}{{Cite book|title=The English Civil War: A contemporary account (v. 1)|publisher=Caliban Books|others=Wencelaus Hollar (Illustrator), Christopher Hill (Introduction)|isbn=978-1850660316|editor-last=Razzell|editor-first=Peter|publication-date=1 January 1996|editor-last2=Razzell|editor-first2=Edward}}{{Cite book|last=Gardiner|first=Samuel R.|title=History of the Great Civil War, 1642-1649|date=18 December 2016|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=978-1334658464|volume=3|publication-date=16 July 2017|pages=218}}</ref>
London was [[Bubonic plague|plagued]] by disease in the early 17th century,<ref name=london_024>{{cite web |url=http://urbanrim.org.uk/plague%20list.htm |title=A List of National Epidemics of Plague in England 1348–1665 |publisher=Urban Rim |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=3 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508010316/http://urbanrim.org.uk/plague%20list.htm |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> culminating in the [[Great Plague of London|Great Plague]] of 1665–1666, which killed up to 100,000 people, or a fifth of the population.<ref name="london_025">{{cite web|title=Story of the plague|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/plague/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513041728/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/plague/story.html|archive-date=13 May 2011|publisher=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref>
[[File:Great Fire London.jpg|thumb|The [[Great Fire of London]] destroyed many parts of the city in 1666.]]
The [[Great Fire of London]] broke out in 1666 in Pudding Lane in the city and quickly swept through the wooden buildings.<ref name="Samuel Pepys' Diary">{{Cite book |last=Pepys |first=Samuel |author-link=Samuel Pepys |title=The Diary of Samuel Pepys |volume=45: August/September 1666 |date=2 September 1666 |orig-year=1893 |editor=[[Mynors Bright]] (decipherer) |editor2=[[Henry B. Wheatley]] |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4167/pg4167.html |isbn=978-0-520-22167-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813025236/http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4167/pg4167.html |archive-date=13 August 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Rebuilding took over ten years and was supervised by [[Robert Hooke]]<ref name="london_026">{{Cite web|last=Schofield|first=Dr. John|date=17 February 2011|title=BBC - History - British History in depth: London After the Great Fire|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/after_fire_01.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410000142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/after_fire_02.shtml|archive-date=10 April 2009|access-date=29 March 2021|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="london_027">{{cite web|title=Rebuilding after the fire|url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/Themes/1405/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201204641/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/Themes/1405/|archive-date=1 February 2008|access-date=27 April 2008|publisher=[[Museum of London]]}}</ref><ref name="london_028">{{cite journal|last=Reddaway|first=Thomas Fiddian|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-229X.1940.tb00765.x|title=The Rebuilding of London After the Great Fire|journal=History|publisher=Jonathan Cape|year=1940|volume=25|issue=98|pages=97–112|doi=10.1111/j.1468-229X.1940.tb00765.x|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> as Surveyor of London.<ref name="london_029">{{Cite book|last=Jardine|first=Lisa|title=The Curious Life of Robert Hooke: The Man Who Measured London|date=18 January 2005|publisher=[[Harper Perennial]]|isbn=978-0060538989|publication-date=18 January 2005}}</ref> In 1708 [[Christopher Wren]]'s masterpiece, [[St Paul's Cathedral]] was completed. During the [[Georgian era]], new districts such as [[Mayfair]] were formed in the west; new bridges over the Thames encouraged development in [[South London]]. In the east, the [[Port of London]] expanded downstream. London's development as an international [[financial centre]] matured for much of the 1700s.
In 1762, [[George III of Great Britain|George III]] acquired [[Buckingham Palace|Buckingham House]] and it was enlarged over the next 75 years. During the 18th century, London was dogged by crime, and the [[Bow Street Runners]] were established in 1750 as a professional police force.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2001|title=PBS - Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street|url=https://www.pbs.org/kqed/demonbarber/madding/thieftaker.html|access-date=28 March 2021|website=www.pbs.org}}</ref> In total, more than 200 offences were punishable by death,<ref>{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Peter|date=3 August 2009|title=Rough justice – Victorian style|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8181192.stm|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> including petty theft.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 March 1960|title=National Affairs: Capital Punishment: A Fading Practice|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|location=New York|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894775,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=13 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927163316/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894775,00.html|archive-date=27 September 2009}}</ref> Most children born in the city died before reaching their third birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Rhian|date=5 October 2012|title=History - The Foundling Hospital|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/foundling_01.shtml|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[BBC]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:Fotografi av Royal Exchange. London, England - Hallwylska museet - 105857.tif|thumb|left|View to the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] in the City of London in 1886]]
The [[coffeehouse]] became a popular place to debate ideas, with growing [[literacy]] and the development of the [[printing press]] making news widely available; and [[Fleet Street]] became the centre of the British press. Following the invasion of Amsterdam by Napoleonic armies, many financiers relocated to London and the first London international issue was arranged in 1817. Around the same time, the [[Royal Navy]] became the world leading war fleet, acting as a serious deterrent to potential economic adversaries of the United Kingdom. The repeal of the [[Corn Laws]] in 1846 was specifically aimed at weakening Dutch economic power. London then overtook Amsterdam as the leading international financial centre.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yor4DAAAQBAJ |title=Finance Masters: A Brief History of International Financial Centers in the Last Millennium |last=Coispeau |first=Olivier |date=2016 |publisher=World Scientific |isbn=978-981-310-884-4 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Carlos|first1=Ann M.|last2=Neal|first2=Larry|date=11 February 2011|title=Amsterdam and London as Financial Centers in the Eighteenth Century|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/financial-history-review/article/abs/amsterdam-and-london-as-financial-centers-in-the-eighteenth-century1/8B23F8D271B1BCD05594064523600E85|journal=Financial History Review|language=en|volume=18|issue=1|pages=21–46|doi=10.1017/S0968565010000338|s2cid=153626377|issn=1474-0052}}</ref>
According to Samuel Johnson:
{{quote|You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.|[[Samuel Johnson]], 1777<ref name=london_022>{{cite web |url=http://www.samueljohnson.com/tiredlon.html |title=When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life: Samuel Johnson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427035831/http://www.samueljohnson.com/tiredlon.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>}}
===Late modern and contemporary===
London was the world's [[List of largest cities throughout history|largest city]] from {{circa}}1831 to 1925,<ref name="london_030">{{Cite web|title=London: The greatest city|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/i-m/london4.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419104109/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/i-m/london4.html|archive-date=19 April 2009|access-date=25 March 2021|publisher=Channel4.com}}</ref> with a population density of 325 people per hectare.<ref name="Bertaud">{{Cite book|last=Bertaud|first=Alain|title=Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities|publisher=[[The MIT Press]]|year=2018|isbn=978-0262038768}}</ref> London's overcrowded conditions led to [[cholera]] epidemics,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/publichealth/cholera.aspx |title=Hidden extras: cholera comes to Victorian London |publisher=The Science Museum |location=London |access-date=13 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213064834/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/publichealth/cholera.aspx |archive-date=13 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> claiming 14,000 lives in 1848, and 6,000 in 1866.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brown, Robert W. |url=http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/london_19c.html |title=London in the Nineteenth Century |publisher=University of North Carolina at Pembroke |access-date=13 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230164544/http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/london_19c.html |archive-date=30 December 2011 }}</ref> Rising [[traffic congestion]] led to the creation of the world's first local urban rail network. The [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] oversaw infrastructure expansion in the capital and some of the surrounding counties; it was abolished in 1889 when the [[London County Council]] was created out of those areas of the counties surrounding the capital.
{{multiple image | direction = vertical |align = right | width = 220
| image1 = British recruits August 1914 Q53234.jpg
| caption1 = British volunteer recruits in London, August 1914, during [[World War I]]
| image2 = LondonBombedWWII full.jpg
| caption2 = A bombed-out London street during [[the Blitz]], [[World War II]]
}}
{{anchor|German air attacks}}London was [[German strategic bombing during World War I|bombed by the Germans]] during the [[First World War]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Goebel |first1=Stefan |last2=White |first2=Jerry |year=2016 |title=London and the First World War |journal=London Journal |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.1080/03058034.2016.1216758|s2cid=159584322 |url=http://kar.kent.ac.uk/56579/3/LJ_Introduction%20%2528final%20version%20for%20Kent%20repository%2529.pdf |doi-access=free }}</ref> and during the [[World War II|Second World War]], [[the Blitz]] and other bombings by the German ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' killed over 30,000 Londoners, destroying large tracts of housing and other buildings across the city.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 May 2016|title=Bomb-Damage Maps Reveal London's World War II Devastation|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/bomb-damage-maps-reveal-londons-world-war-ii-devastation.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430155359/http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/bomb-damage-maps-reveal-londons-world-war-ii-devastation.aspx|archive-date=30 April 2017|access-date=18 June 2017|website=nationalgeographic.com.au}}</ref>
The [[1948 Summer Olympics]] were held at the original [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], at a time when London was still recovering from the war.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ronk|first=Liz|date=27 July 2013|title=LIFE at the 1948 London Olympics|website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://time.com/3877686/1948-london-summer-olympics-life-photos/|url-status=dead|access-date=18 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530005852/http://time.com/3877686/1948-london-summer-olympics-life-photos/|archive-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> From the 1940s onwards, London became home to many immigrants, primarily from [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries such as Jamaica, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan,<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Hibbert|first=Christopher|title=The London Encyclopaedia|last2=Weinreb|first2=Ben|last3=Keay|first3=Julia|last4=Keay|first4=John|publisher=[[Pan Macmillan]]|others=Photographs by Matthew Weinreb|year=2010|isbn=9781405049252|edition=3rd|page=428}}</ref> making London one of the most diverse cities worldwide. In 1951, the [[Festival of Britain]] was held on the [[South Bank]].<ref>{{cite news|date=2008|title=1951: King George opens Festival of Britain|website=news.bbc.co.uk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/3/newsid_2481000/2481099.stm|access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> The [[Great Smog]] of 1952 led to the [[Clean Air Act 1956]], which ended the "[[pea soup fog]]s" for which London had been notorious.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/opinion/sunday/the-return-of-londons-fog.html |title=The Return of London's Fog |last=CORTON |first=CHRISTINE L. |date=6 November 2015 |website=The New York Times |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref>
Primarily starting in the mid-1960s, London became a centre for the worldwide [[youth culture]], exemplified by the [[Swinging London]] subculture<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9288411/The-Diamond-Decades-The-1960s.html |title=The Diamond Decades: The 1960s |last=Brown |first=Mick |date=29 May 2012 |website=telegraph.co.uk |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> associated with the [[King's Road]], [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/708357/swinging-sixties-walk-down-chelseas-kings-road-60s |title=Swinging Sixties: Take a walk down Chelsea's King's Road in the '60s |last=Robson |first=David |date=8 September 2016 |website=express.co.uk |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> and [[Carnaby Street]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/737751/Magical-memory-tour-of-London.html |title=Magical memory tour of London |date=15 July 2007 |website=telegraph.co.uk |access-date=18 June 2017|last1=MacLean |first1=Rory}}</ref> The role of trendsetter was revived during the [[punk rock|punk]] era.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Bracken|first=Gregory B.|title=Walking Tour London: Sketches of the city's architectural treasures... Journey Through London's Urban Landscapes|publisher=Marshall Cavendish International|year=2011|isbn=9789814435369|page=10}}</ref> In 1965 London's political boundaries were expanded to take into account the growth of the urban area and a new [[Greater London Council]] was created.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-35716693 |title=The rise and fall of the GLC |last=Webber |first=Esther |date=31 March 2016 |website=bbc.com/news |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> During [[The Troubles]] in Northern Ireland, London was subjected to bombing attacks by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-security-bombings-idUKTRE74F31Q20110516 |title=Timeline – Worst IRA bomb attacks on mainland Britain |last=Cutler |first=David |date=16 May 2011 |work=Reuters |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> for two decades, starting with the [[Old Bailey bombing]] in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowe|first=Josh|date=24 March 2017|title=London Isn't Burning: How Britain's History With the IRA Made it Resilient in the Face of Attack|url=http://www.newsweek.com/london-attack-ira-terror-threat-severe-bomb-terrorism-573629|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Godoy|first=Maria|date=7 July 2005|title=Timeline: London's Explosive History|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4734400|access-date=25 March 2021|website=NPR.org}}</ref> Racial inequality was highlighted by the [[1981 Brixton riot]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4854556.stm |title=The legacy of the Brixton riots |last=John |first=Cindi |date=5 April 2006 |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref>
Greater London's population declined steadily in the decades after the Second World War, from an estimated peak of 8.6&nbsp;million in 1939 to around 6.8&nbsp;million in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-31082941 |title=London's population hits 8.6m record high |work=BBC News |date=2 February 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> The principal ports for London moved downstream to [[Port of Felixstowe|Felixstowe]] and [[Port of Tilbury|Tilbury]], with the [[London Docklands]] area becoming a focus for regeneration, including the [[Canary Wharf]] development. This was borne out of London's ever-increasing role as a major international financial centre during the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/28/canary-wharf-timeline-london-building-docklands-thatcher |title=Canary Wharf timeline: from the Thatcher years to Qatari control |last=Zolfagharifard |first=Ellie |date=14 February 2014 |website=Guardian |access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> The [[Thames Barrier]] was completed in the 1980s to protect London against tidal surges from the [[North Sea]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/10646439/The-Thames-Barrier-has-saved-London-but-is-it-time-for-TB2.html |title=The Thames Barrier has saved London – but is it time for TB2? |last=Hanlon |first=Michael |date=18 February 2014 |website=telegraph.co.uk |access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>
The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986, which left London without a central administration until 2000 when London-wide government was restored, with the creation of the [[Greater London Authority]].<ref>{{cite news|date=2008|title=1986: Greater London Council abolished|website=news.bbc.co.uk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/31/newsid_2530000/2530803.stm|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> To celebrate the start of the 21st century, the [[Millennium Dome]], [[London Eye]] and [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]] were constructed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.building.co.uk/millennium-projects-10-years-of-good-luck/5001637.article |title=Millennium projects: 10 years of good luck |last=Ijeh |first=Ike |date=25 June 2010 |website=www.building.co.uk |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> On 6 July 2005 London was awarded the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], making London the first city to stage the [[Olympic Games]] three times.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/4655555.stm |title=London beats Paris to 2012 Games |work=BBC Sport |date=6 July 2005 |access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> On 7 July 2005, three [[London Underground]] trains and a [[double-decker bus]] were bombed in a [[7 July 2005 London bombings|series of terrorist attacks]].<ref name=london_031>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/what_happened/html/default.stm |title=7 July Bombings: Overview |work=BBC News |location=London |access-date=28 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061225041921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/what_happened/html/default.stm |archive-date=25 December 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2008, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named London alongside [[New York City]] and [[Hong Kong]] as [[Nylonkong]], hailing it as the world's three most influential [[global cities]].<ref>{{cite book|title=International Handbook of Globalization and World Cities|publisher=[[Edward Elgar Publishing]]|year=2015|isbn=9781785360688|editor-last=Derudder|editor-first=Ben|page=422|editor-last2=Hoyler|editor-first2=Michael|editor-last3=Taylor|editor-first3=Peter J.|editor-last4=Witlox|editor-first4=Frank}}</ref> In January 2015, Greater London's population was estimated to be 8.63&nbsp;million, the highest level since 1939.<ref name="gla-pop-2015">{{cite web |title=Population Growth in London, 1939–2015 |url=http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/population-change-1939-2015/resource/0a026346-960e-49e6-b968-a386d2cfe55f |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219160246/http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/population-change-1939-2015/resource/0a026346-960e-49e6-b968-a386d2cfe55f |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=dead |website=London Datastore |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=7 July 2015 }} [https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/dataset/population-change-1939-2015/historical%20population%201939-2015.pdf Alt URL]</ref> During the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Brexit referendum]] in 2016, the UK as a whole decided to leave the European Union, but a majority of London constituencies voted to remain in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chandler|first=Mark|date=24 June 2016|title='Wouldn't you prefer to be President Sadiq?' Thousands call on Sadiq Khan to declare London's independence and join EU|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/wouldnt-you-prefer-to-be-president-sadiq-thousands-back-campaign-for-sadiq-khan-to-declare-londons-a3280141.html|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[Evening Standard]]}}</ref>
==Administration==
{{Politics of London}}
===Local government===
{{main|Local government in London|History of local government in London|List of heads of London government}}
The administration of London is formed of two tiers: a citywide, strategic tier and a local tier. Citywide administration is coordinated by the [[Greater London Authority]] (GLA), while local administration is carried out by 33 smaller authorities.<ref name="london_032">{{cite web|title=Who runs London - Find Out Who Runs London and How|url=http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/who-runs-london|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[London Councils]]|publisher=}}</ref> The GLA consists of two elected components: the [[mayor of London]], who has [[executive powers]], and the [[London Assembly]], which scrutinises the mayor's decisions and can accept or reject the mayor's budget proposals each year.
The headquarters of the GLA is [[City Hall (London)|City Hall]], [[Southwark]]. The mayor since 2016 has been [[Sadiq Khan]], the first [[Muslim]] mayor of a major Western capital.<ref>{{cite news |last1=James |first1=William |last2=Piper |first2=Elizabeth |title=Labour's Khan becomes first Muslim mayor of London after bitter campaign |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-politics-election-london-idUKKCN0XX1W4 |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=Reuters |date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=London Elections 2016: Results|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2016/london/results|access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref> The mayor's [[statutory planning]] strategy is published as the [[London Plan]], which was most recently revised in 2011.<ref name="london_plan">{{cite web|title=The London Plan|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508220051/http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan|archive-date=8 May 2012|access-date=25 May 2012|website=[[Greater London Authority]]|publisher=}}</ref> The local authorities are the councils of the 32 [[London borough]]s and the [[City of London Corporation]].<ref name="london_035">{{cite web|title=London Government Directory - London Borough Councils|url=http://directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/|access-date=29 March 2017|website=[[London Councils]]|publisher=}}</ref> They are responsible for most local services, such as local planning, schools, [[social work|social services]], local roads and refuse collection. Certain functions, such as [[Waste disposal authorities in London|waste management]], are provided through joint arrangements. In 2009–2010 the combined revenue expenditure by London councils and the GLA amounted to just over £22&nbsp;billion (£14.7&nbsp;billion for the boroughs and £7.4&nbsp;billion for the GLA).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Local Government Financial Statistics England No.21 (2011)|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7462/1911067.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428000713/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7462/1911067.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=28 April 2018}}</ref>
The [[London Fire Brigade]] is the [[statute|statutory]] [[Fire service in the UK|fire and rescue service]] for Greater London. It is run by the [[London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority]] and is the third largest fire service in the world.<ref name="LFB">{{cite web |url=http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/WhoWeAre.asp |title=Who we are |publisher=London Fire Brigade |access-date=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429034538/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/WhoWeAre.asp |archive-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[National Health Service]] [[Emergency medical services|ambulance services]] are provided by the [[London Ambulance Service|London Ambulance Service (LAS) NHS Trust]], the largest free-at-the-point-of-use emergency ambulance service in the world.<ref name="LAS">{{cite web |url=http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/about_us.aspx |title=About us |publisher=London Ambulance Service NHS Trust |access-date=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427031902/http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/about_us.aspx |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[London Air Ambulance]] charity operates in conjunction with the LAS where required. [[Her Majesty's Coastguard]] and the [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] operate on the [[River Thames]],<ref name="Coastguard">{{cite web|date=2010|title=Station list - HM Coastguard Stations|url=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/aboutus/mcga-online/mcga-sailing-cg66/dops_-_all-cg66-stationlist.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108134307/http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/aboutus/mcga-online/mcga-sailing-cg66/dops_-_all-cg66-stationlist.htm|archive-date=8 November 2010|access-date=25 August 2009|website=[[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="Lifeboat">{{cite news|date=2 January 2002|title=Thames lifeboat service launched|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1739401.stm|url-status=live|access-date=25 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040526015753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1739401.stm|archive-date=26 May 2004}}</ref> which is under the jurisdiction of the [[Port of London Authority]] from [[Teddington Lock]] to the sea.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Port of London Act 1968 (as amended)|url=http://www.pla.co.uk/Port-of-London-Act-1968|access-date=29 March 2021|website=[[Port of London Authority]]}}</ref>
===National government===
London is the seat of the [[Government of the United Kingdom]]. Many government departments, as well as the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister's]] residence at [[10 Downing Street]], are based close to the [[Palace of Westminster]], particularly along [[Whitehall]].<ref name="london_036">{{cite web|title=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street|access-date=25 March 2021|website=uk.gov}}</ref> There are 73 members of Parliament (MPs) from London, elected from local parliamentary [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London|constituencies]] in the national [[British House of Commons|Parliament]]. {{as of|2019|December}}, 49 are from the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], 21 are [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], and three are [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]].<ref>{{cite news|date=2019|title=Constituencies A-Z – Election 2019|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies|url-status=dead|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216195058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies|archive-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> The ministerial post of [[minister for London]] was created in 1994. The current Minister for London is [[Paul Scully]] MP.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister for London |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-for-london |website=www.gov.uk |publisher=UK Government |access-date=30 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
===Policing and crime===
{{main|Crime in London}}
Policing in Greater London, with the exception of the [[City of London]], is provided by the [[Metropolitan Police]], overseen by the mayor through the [[Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime]] (MOPAC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/policing-crime/about-mopac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411075040/http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/policing-crime/about-mopac |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=About MOPAC |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=4 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://policeauthority.org/Metropolitan/ |title=MPA: Metropolitan Police Authority |publisher=Metropolitan Police Authority |date=22 May 2012 |access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> The City of London has its own police force&nbsp;– the [[City of London Police]].<ref name="Policing">{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/policing.jsp |title=Policing |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121173357/http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/policing.jsp |archive-date=21 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[British Transport Police]] are responsible for police services on [[National Rail]], [[London Underground]], [[Docklands Light Railway]] and [[Tramlink]] services.<ref name="BTP">{{cite web|date=2021|title=About Us|url=https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/about-us/about-us/|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[British Transport Police]]}}</ref>
The [[Ministry of Defence Police]] is a special police force in London, which does not generally become involved with policing the general public.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017|title=Ministry of Defence - Our Purpose|url=http://www.mod.police.uk/index.html|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[Ministry of Defence Police]]}}</ref>
Crime rates vary widely across different areas of London. Crime figures are made available nationally at [[Local authority#England|Local Authority]] and [[Ward (England)|Ward]] level.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 March 2021|title=Recorded Crime: Geographic Breakdown – Metropolitan Police Service|url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/recorded_crime_summary|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[Greater London Authority]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2015, there were 118 homicides, a 25.5% increase over 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/london/2016-01-24/london-murder-rate-up-14-over-the-past-year/ |title=London murder rate up 14% over the past year |publisher=ITV News |date=24 January 2016 |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> The Metropolitan Police have made detailed crime figures, broken down by category at borough and ward level, available on their website since 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.met.police.uk/tables.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418160434/http://maps.met.police.uk/tables.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2009 |title=Metropolitan Police Crime Mapping Data Tables |publisher=Maps.met.police.uk |access-date=13 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats and data|url=https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/|access-date=28 March 2021|website=[[Metropolitan Police]]|language=en-gb}}</ref>
Recorded crime has been rising in London, notably violent crime and murder by stabbing and other means have risen. There were 50 murders from the start of 2018 to mid April 2018. Funding cuts to police in London are likely to have contributed to this, though other factors are also involved.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Crerar|first1=Pippa|last2=Gayle|first2=Damien|date=10 April 2018|title=Sadiq Khan Holds City Hall Summit on How To Tackle Violent Crime|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/10/sadiq-khan-holds-city-hall-summit-on-how-to-tackle-violent|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref>
==Geography==
{{main|Geography of London}}
===Scope===
[[File:London by Sentinel-2.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Satellite view of London in June 2018]]
[[Greater London|London]], also referred to as Greater London, is one of nine [[regions of England]] and the top-level subdivision covering most of the city's metropolis.<ref group="note">London is not a city in the sense that the word applies in the United Kingdom, that of having [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] granted by the Crown.</ref> The small ancient [[City of London]] at its core once comprised the whole settlement, but as its urban area grew, the [[City of London Corporation|Corporation of London]] resisted attempts to amalgamate the city with its [[suburbs]] , causing "London" to be defined in a number of ways for different purposes.<ref name="chancery">{{Cite journal |last1=Beavan |first1=Charles |last2=Bickersteth |first2=Harry |title=Reports of Cases in Chancery, Argued and Determined in the Rolls Court |publisher=Saunders and Benning |year=1865 |url=https://archive.org/details/reportscasesinc14romigoog }}</ref>
Forty per cent of Greater London is covered by the [[London postal district|London post town]], within which 'LONDON' forms part of postal addresses.<ref name=london_042>{{Cite book |last=Stationery Office |title=The Inner London Letter Post |publisher=H.M.S.O |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-10-251580-0 |page=128 }}</ref><ref name=map_post>{{Cite book |title=London Postcode and Administrative Boundaries |publisher=Geographers' A-Z Map Company |author=Geographers' A-Z Map Company |year=2008 |edition=6 |isbn=978-1-84348-592-6 }}</ref> The London telephone [[area code]] (020) covers a larger area, similar in size to Greater London, although some outer districts are excluded and some places just outside are included. The Greater London boundary has been [[List of Greater London boundary changes|aligned to the M25 motorway]] in places.<ref name=london_044>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19930441_en_1.htm |title=The Essex, Greater London and Hertfordshire (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order |year=1993 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107231348/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19930441_en_1.htm |archive-date=7 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Outward urban expansion is now prevented by the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]],<ref name=london_040>{{Cite book |last=Dilys |first=M Hill |title=Urban Policy and Politics in Britain |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-312-22745-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/urbanpolicypolit0000hill/page/268 268] |url=https://archive.org/details/urbanpolicypolit0000hill/page/268 }}</ref> although the built-up area extends beyond the boundary in places, resulting in a separately defined [[Greater London Urban Area]]. Beyond this is the vast [[London commuter belt]].<ref name=london_041>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/london_regional_200104.pdf |title=London in its Regional Setting |publisher=London Assembly |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527193714/http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/london_regional_200104.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Greater London is split for some purposes into [[Inner London]] and [[Outer London]].<ref name=london_045>{{cite book |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |title=London Government Act 1963 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 May 2008 |isbn=978-0-16-053895-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817142118/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |archive-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The city is split by the River Thames into [[North London|North]] and [[South London|South]], with an informal [[central London]] area in its interior. The coordinates of the nominal centre of London, traditionally considered to be the original [[Eleanor Cross]] at [[Charing Cross]] near the junction of [[Trafalgar Square]] and [[Whitehall]], are about {{Coord|51|30|26|N|00|07|39|W|type:city(7,000,000)_region:GB}}.<ref name=london_039>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |title=London&nbsp;— Features&nbsp;— Where is the Centre of London? |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817141948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |archive-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> However the geographical centre of London, on one definition, is in the [[London Borough of Lambeth]], just 0.1 miles to the northeast of [[Lambeth North tube station]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://londonist.com/2014/04/where-is-the-centre-of-london-an-update |title=Where Is The Centre of London? An Update |author=M@ |date=30 April 2014 |website=Londonist |access-date=6 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530092718/http://londonist.com/2014/04/where-is-the-centre-of-london-an-update |archive-date=30 May 2016}}</ref>
===Status===
Within London, both the [[City of London]] and the [[City of Westminster]] have [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] and both the City of London and the remainder of Greater London are [[Ceremonial counties of England|counties for the purposes of lieutenancies]].<ref name=london_049>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970023_en_1 |title=Lieutenancies Act 1997 |publisher=OPSI |access-date=7 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522210452/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970023_en_1 |archive-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The area of [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England#Greater London|Greater London]] includes areas that are part of the [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[Middlesex]], Kent, [[Surrey]], Essex and [[Hertfordshire]].<ref name="london_050">{{cite book|last=Barlow|first=I.M.|title=Metropolitan Government|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=1991|isbn=9780415020992|location=London|page=346}}</ref> London's status as the capital of England, and later the United Kingdom, has never been granted or confirmed officially—by statute or in written form.{{refn|According to the ''Collins English Dictionary'' definition of 'the seat of government',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sinclair |first1=J.M. |title=Collins English dictionary. |date=1994 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |location=Glasgow |isbn=978-0004706788 |edition=3rd updated}}</ref> London is not the capital of England, as England does not have its own government. According to the ''Oxford English Reference Dictionary<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Pearsall |editor1-first=Judy |editor2-last=Trumble |editor2-first=Bill |title=The Oxford English Reference Dictionary |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford, England |isbn=978-0198606529 |edition=2nd, rev}}</ref>'' definition of 'the most important town' and many other authorities.<ref>{{cite web |title=PFI: The New Headquarters for the Home Office - Eighteenth Report of Session 2003–04 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubacc/501/501.pdf |website=publications.parliament.uk |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>|group=note}}
Its position was formed through [[constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]], making its status as ''de facto'' capital a part of the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|UK's uncodified constitution]]. The capital of England was moved to London from [[Winchester]] as the [[Palace of Westminster]] developed in the 12th and 13th centuries to become the permanent location of the [[Noble court|royal court]], and thus the political capital of the nation.<ref name=london_060>{{Cite journal |last=Schofield |first=John |title=When London became a European capital |date=June 1999 |journal=British Archaeology |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |issue=45 |issn=1357-4442 |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba45/ba45regs.html |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425074539/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba45/ba45regs.html |archive-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> More recently, Greater London has been defined as a [[Regions of England|region of England]] and in this context is known as ''London''.<ref name=region/>
===Topography===
[[File:London from Primrose Hill May 2013.jpg|thumb|London from [[Primrose Hill]]]]
Greater London encompasses a total area of {{convert|1583|km2|sqmi}}, an area which had a population of 7,172,036 in 2001 and a population density of {{convert|4542|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}. The extended area known as the London Metropolitan Region or the London Metropolitan Agglomeration, comprises a total area of {{convert|8382|km2|sqmi}} has a population of 13,709,000 and a population density of {{convert|1510|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dgcl.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/lu_pour_vous/les_grandes_metropol/downloadFile/attachedFile/metropolislondres.pdf?nocache=1254397828.63 |title=Metropolis: 027 London, World Association of the Major Metropolises |access-date=3 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427084411/http://www.dgcl.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/lu_pour_vous/les_grandes_metropol/downloadFile/attachedFile/metropolislondres.pdf?nocache=1254397828.63 |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref> Modern London stands on the [[River Thames|Thames]], its primary geographical feature, a [[Navigability|navigable]] river which crosses the city from the south-west to the east. The [[Thames Valley]] is a [[floodplain]] surrounded by gently rolling hills including [[Parliament Hill, London|Parliament Hill]], [[Addington Hills]], and [[Primrose Hill]]. Historically London grew up at the [[lowest bridging point]] on the Thames. The Thames was once a much broader, shallower river with extensive [[marsh]]lands; at high tide, its shores reached five times their present width.<ref name=london_065>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9qvtYYhRtAC&pg=PR11 |title=London: A History |first=Francis |last=Sheppard |page=10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-19-285369-1 |access-date=6 June 2008}}</ref>
Since the [[Victorian era]] the Thames has been extensively [[Thames Embankment|embanked]], and many of its London [[Tributaries of the River Thames|tributaries]] now flow [[Subterranean rivers of London|underground]]. The Thames is a tidal river, and London is vulnerable to flooding.<ref name=london_066>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/flooding/?version=1&lang=_e |title=Flooding |publisher=UK [[Environment Agency]] |access-date=19 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215080725/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/flooding/?version=1&lang=_e |archive-date=15 February 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The threat has increased over time because of a slow but continuous rise in [[Tide|high water]] level by the slow 'tilting' of the British Isles (up in Scotland and Northern Ireland and down in southern parts of [[England]], [[Wales]] and Ireland) caused by [[post-glacial rebound]].<ref name=london_067>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/sealevels/?version=1&lang=_e |title="Sea Levels"&nbsp;– UK Environment Agency |publisher=[[Environment Agency]] |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523225152/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/sealevels/?version=1&lang=_e |archive-date=23 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=8805 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822014958/https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=8805 |title=New coastland map could help strengthen sea defences |date=7 October 2009 |publisher=[[Durham University]] |archive-date=22 August 2018 |access-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1974 a decade of work began on the construction of the [[Thames Barrier]] across the Thames at [[Woolwich]] to deal with this threat. While the barrier is expected to function as designed until roughly 2070, concepts for its future enlargement or redesign are already being discussed.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Adam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/mar/31/thames-flood-barrier-london |title=Thames Barrier gets extra time as London's main flood defence |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=31 March 2009 |access-date=7 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140001/http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/31/thames-flood-barrier-london |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Climate===
{{main|Climate of London}}
{{climate chart
| [[London, United Kingdom]]
|2.3|8.1|55.2
|2.1|8.4|40.9
|3.9|11.3|41.6
|5.5|14.2|43.7
|8.7|17.9|49.4
|11.7|22.4|45.1
|13.9|23.5|44.5
|13.7|23.2|49.5
|11.4|19.9|49.1
|8.4|15.5|68.5
|4.9|11.1|59.0
|2.7|8.3|55.2
|float=right
|clear=none
}}
London has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb ''). Rainfall records have been kept in the city since at least 1697, when records began at [[Kew]]. At Kew, the most rainfall in one month is {{Convert|189|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in November 1755 and the least is {{Convert|0|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in both December 1788 and July 1800. Mile End also had {{Convert|0|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in April 1893.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trevorharley.com/weather-april.html|title=Weather April|website=www.trevorharley.com}}</ref> The wettest year on record is 1903, with a total fall of {{Convert|969|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} and the driest is 1921, with a total fall of {{Convert|308|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.wetterzentrale.de/klima/pkewgar.html |title=Niederschlagsmonatssummen KEW GARDENS 1697- 1987|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> The average annual precipitation amounts to about 600&nbsp;mm, lower than cities such as [[Rome]], [[Lisbon]], [[New York City]] and [[Sydney]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Average Annual Precipitation by City in the US - Current Results|url=https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-precipitation-by-city.php|access-date=25 March 2021|website=www.currentresults.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Average Yearly Precipitation for Cities in Europe - Current Results|url=https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Europe/Cities/precipitation-annual-average.php|access-date=25 March 2021|website=www.currentresults.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sydney climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Sydney water temperature - Climate-Data.org|url=https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/australia/new-south-wales/sydney-24/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref> Nevertheless, despite its relatively low annual precipitation, London still receives 109.6 rainy days on the 1.0&nbsp;mm threshold annually—higher than, or at least very similar to, the aforementioned cities.
Temperature extremes in London range from {{convert|38.1|°C|°F|1}} at Kew on 10 August 2003 <ref>{{cite journal |title=August 2003 weather |doi=10.1256/wea.10.04B |volume=59 |issue=9 |journal=Weather |pages=239–246|year = 2004|last1 = Burt|first1 = Stephen|last2=Eden |first2=Philip |bibcode=2004Wthr...59..239B }}</ref> down to {{convert|-16.1|°C|°F}} at Northolt on 1 January 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trevorharley.com/1962.html|title=1962|publisher=[[Trevor Harley]] |access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search |title=Search &#124; Climate Data Online (CDO) &#124; National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729134639/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Records for [[atmospheric pressure]] have been kept at London since 1692. The highest pressure ever reported is {{convert|1049.8|mbar|inHg}} on 20 January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51180211 |title=London breaks a high-pressure record |date=20 January 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>
Summers are generally warm, sometimes hot. London's average July high is 23.5&nbsp;°C (74.3&nbsp;°F). On average each year, London experiences 31 days above {{convert|25|°C|°F|1}} and 4.2 days above {{convert|30.0|°C|°F|1}}. During the [[2003 European heat wave]] prolonged heat led to hundreds of heat-related deaths.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The impact of the 2003 heat wave on daily mortality in England and Wales and the use of rapid weekly mortality estimates |journal=Eurosurveillance |volume=10 |issue=7 |date=1 July 2005 |first1=H |last1=Johnson |first2=RS |last2=Kovats |first3=G |last3=McGregor |first4=J |last4=Stedman |first5=M |last5=Gibbs |first6=H |last6=Walton6 |pages=15–16 |doi=10.2807/esm.10.07.00558-en |pmid=16088043 |url=http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=558|doi-access=free }}</ref> There was also a previous spell of 15 consecutive days above {{convert|32.2|°C|°F|1}} in England in 1976 which also caused many heat related deaths.<ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Brian|date=2002|title=1976. The Incredible Heatwave.|url=https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=libgen&id=1432|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712080114/https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=libgen&id=1432|archive-date=12 July 2008|access-date=25 March 2021|website=TheWeatherOutlook}}</ref> The previous record high was {{convert|37.8|°C|°F}} in August 1911 at the Greenwich station.<ref name="metoffice.gov.uk">{{Cite web|date=1911|title=Monthly Weather Report of the Meteorological Office|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/i/7/aug1911.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113123406/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/i/7/aug1911.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2017|access-date=25 March 2021|publisher=Wyman and Sons, Ltd.}}</ref> Droughts can also, occasionally, be a problem, especially in summer. Most recently in Summer 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-weather-summer_uk_5b505a31e4b0b15aba8bdd19|title=This Summer Is The Driest in 57 Years, Met Office Confirms|date=19 July 2018|website=HuffPost UK|access-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720112217/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-weather-summer_uk_5b505a31e4b0b15aba8bdd19|archive-date=20 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and with much drier than average conditions prevailing from May to December.<ref>{{cite web|date=2018|title=UK Droughts: SPI|url=https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/droughts/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology]]}}</ref> However, the most consecutive days without rain was 73 days in the spring of 1893.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/philip-eden/Longest-drought-for-2-years.htm|title=Philip Eden: Longest drought for 2 years – weatheronline.co.uk|website=www.weatheronline.co.uk|access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref>
Winters are generally cool with little temperature variation. Heavy snow is rare but snow usually falls at least once each winter. Spring and autumn can be pleasant. As a large city, London has a considerable [[urban heat island]] effect,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/docs/UHI_summary_report.pdf |title=London's Urban Heat Island: A Summary for Decision Makers |publisher=Greater London Authority |date=October 2006 |access-date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015955/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/docs/UHI_summary_report.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2012}}</ref> making the centre of London at times {{convert|5|C-change|0}} warmer than the suburbs and outskirts. This can be seen below when comparing London Heathrow, {{convert|15|mi}} west of London, with the London Weather Centre.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eden|first=Philip|date=9 June 2004|title=Ever Warmer as Temperatures Rival France|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463994/Ever-warmer-as-temperatures-rival-France.html|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326104750/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463994/Ever-warmer-as-temperatures-rival-France.html|archive-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>
{{London weatherbox}}
===Districts===
{{main|List of districts of London|London boroughs}}
Places within London's vast urban area are identified using district names, such as [[Mayfair]], [[Southwark]], [[Wembley]] and [[Whitechapel]]. These are either informal designations, reflect the names of villages that have been absorbed by sprawl, or are superseded administrative units such as parishes or [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|former boroughs]].
Such names have remained in use through tradition, each referring to a local area with its own distinctive character, but without official boundaries. Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into 32 [[London borough]]s in addition to the ancient City of London.<ref name=london_071>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/city-government/boroughs.jsp |title=London boroughs&nbsp;— London Life, GLA |publisher=London Government |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213025156/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/city-government/boroughs.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=london_072>{{Cite book |last1=Dogan |first1=Mattei |first2=John D. |last2=Kasarda |title=The Metropolis Era |publisher=Sage |year=1988 |page=99 |isbn=978-0-8039-2603-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_GFPAAAAMAAJ&q=1965,+32+boroughs+of+london }}</ref> The City of London is the main financial district,<ref name=london_073>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/business-and-jobs/financial-centre.jsp |title=London as a financial centre |publisher=Mayor of London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106051217/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/business-and-jobs/financial-centre.jsp |archive-date=6 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Canary Wharf]] has recently developed into a new financial and commercial hub in the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] to the east.
The [[West End of London|West End]] is London's main entertainment and shopping district, attracting tourists.<ref name=london_075>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1608619.stm |title=West End still drawing crowds |work=BBC News |access-date=6 June 2008 |date=22 October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511121403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1608619.stm |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[West (London sub region)|West London]] includes expensive residential areas where properties can sell for tens of millions of pounds.<ref name=london_076>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/apr/17/tax.g2 |title=Super Rich |date=17 April 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=7 June 2008 |location=London |first=James |last=Meek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501134745/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/apr/17/tax.g2 |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The average price for properties in [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea|Kensington and Chelsea]] is over £2&nbsp;million with a similarly high outlay in most of central London.<ref name="London's Properties">{{cite web |url=https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation/planningpolicy/idoc.ashx?docid=bf56bda1-575c-435b-92ac-9a71625c1746&version=-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010131732/https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation/planningpolicy/idoc.ashx?docid=bf56bda1-575c-435b-92ac-9a71625c1746&version=-1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 October 2016 |title=Information on latest house prices in the Royal Borough |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea}}</ref><ref name=GuardAug14>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/aug/08/housing-london-jump-19-per-cent-year |title=Average house prices in London jump 19 percent in a year |first=Rupert |last=Jones |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref>
The [[East End of London|East End]] is the area closest to the original [[Port of London]], known for its high immigrant population, as well as for being one of the poorest areas in London.<ref name="East End">{{cite news |url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8487518/site/newsweek/ |date=6 July 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829024354/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8487518/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=29 August 2006 |title=Tomorrow's East End |work=Newsweek |author=Flynn, Emily |location=New York |url-status=dead }}</ref> The surrounding [[North East (London sub region)|East London]] area saw much of London's early industrial development; now, [[brownfield land|brownfield]] sites throughout the area are being redeveloped as part of the [[Thames Gateway]] including the [[London Riverside]] and [[Lower Lea Valley]], which was developed into the [[Olympic Park, London|Olympic Park]] for the [[London 2012 Olympic bid|2012 Olympics and Paralympics]].<ref name="East End"/>
===Architecture===
{{main|Architecture of London|List of tallest buildings and structures in London|List of demolished buildings and structures in London}}
[[File:Aerial Tower of London.jpg|thumb|The [[Tower of London]], a medieval castle, dating in part to 1078|alt=|left]]
[[File:Trafalgar Square by Christian Reimer.jpg|thumb|Trafalgar Square and its fountains, with Nelson's Column on the right|alt=|left]]
London's buildings are too diverse to be characterised by any particular architectural style, partly because of their varying ages. Many grand houses and public buildings, such as the [[National Gallery]], are constructed from [[Portland stone]]. Some areas of the city, particularly those just west of the centre, are characterised by white [[stucco]] or whitewashed buildings. Few structures in central London pre-date the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]] of 1666, these being a few trace [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] remains, the [[Tower of London]] and a few scattered [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]] survivors in the city. Further out is, for example, the [[Tudor period|Tudor-period]] [[Hampton Court Palace]], England's oldest surviving Tudor palace, built by Cardinal [[Thomas Wolsey]] {{circa}}1515.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/hampton_court_01.shtml |title=Hampton Court: The Lost Palace |magazine=BBC History |date=29 March 2011 |author=Foyle, Jonathan |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/hampton_court_01.shtml |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Part of the varied architectural heritage are the 17th-century churches by [[Christopher Wren|Wren]], neoclassical financial institutions such as the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] and the [[Bank of England]], to the early 20th century [[Old Bailey]] and the 1960s [[Barbican Estate]].
The disused—but soon{{when|date=March 2021}} to be rejuvenated—1939 [[Battersea Power Station]] by the river in the south-west is a local landmark, while some railway termini are excellent examples of [[Victorian architecture]], most notably [[St Pancras railway station|St. Pancras]] and [[Paddington railway station|Paddington]].<ref name=london_078>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paddington_Station.html |title=Paddington Station |publisher=Great Buildings |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525164017/http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paddington_Station.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The density of London varies, with high employment density in the [[Central London|central area]] and [[Canary Wharf]], high residential densities in [[inner London]], and lower densities in [[Outer London]].
[[File:30 St Mary Axe from Leadenhall Street.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Modern styles juxtaposed with historic styles; [[30 St Mary Axe]], also known as "The Gherkin", towers over [[St Andrew Undershaft]].|alt=|right]]
[[The Monument]] in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area while commemorating the [[Great Fire of London]], which originated nearby. [[Marble Arch]] and [[Wellington Arch]], at the north and south ends of [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]], respectively, have royal connections, as do the [[Albert Memorial]] and [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[Kensington]]. [[Nelson's Column]] is a nationally recognised monument in [[Trafalgar Square]], one of the focal points of central London. Older buildings are mainly brick built, most commonly the yellow [[London stock brick]] or a warm orange-red variety, often decorated with carvings and white plaster [[moulding (decorative)|mouldings]].<ref name=london_077>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1&xml=/property/2008/03/27/lpgreen127.xml |title=Eco homes: Wooden it be lovely... ? |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=12 October 2008 |location=London |first=Sarah |last=Lonsdale |date=27 March 2008 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20130308205754/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/3360810/Eco-homes-Wooden-it-be-lovely...-.html |archive-date=8 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- [[File:Buckingham Palace from gardens, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|left|thumb|[[Buckingham Palace]] is the official residence of the British monarch]] -->
In the dense areas, most of the concentration is via medium- and high-rise buildings. London's skyscrapers, such as [[30 St Mary Axe]], [[Tower 42]], the [[Broadgate Tower]] and [[One Canada Square]], are mostly in the two financial districts, the [[City of London]] and [[Canary Wharf]]. High-rise development is restricted at certain sites if it would obstruct protected views of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] and other historic buildings. Nevertheless, there are a number of tall skyscrapers in central London (see [[Tall buildings in London]]), including the 95-storey [[Shard London Bridge]], the [[List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom|tallest building in the United Kingdom]].
Other notable modern buildings include [[City Hall (London)|City Hall]] in [[Southwark]] with its distinctive oval shape,<ref name=london_079>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2129199.stm |title=Inside London's new 'glass egg' |date=16 July 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528025840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2129199.stm |archive-date=28 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Art Deco]] [[BBC Broadcasting House]] plus the [[Postmodernism|Postmodernist]] [[British Library]] in [[Somers Town, London|Somers Town]]/[[Kings Cross, London|Kings Cross]] and [[No 1 Poultry]] by [[James Stirling (architect)|James Stirling]]. What was formerly the [[Millennium Dome]], by the Thames to the east of Canary Wharf, is now an entertainment venue called the [[The O2 (London)|O2 Arena]].
=== Cityscape ===
{{Wide image|Palace of Westminster from the dome on Methodist Central Hall (cropped).jpg|1000px|The [[Houses of Parliament]] and [[Elizabeth Tower]] (Big Ben) on the right foreground, the [[London Eye]] on the left foreground and [[The Shard]] with [[Canary Wharf]] in the background; seen in September 2014}}
===Natural history===
The [[London Natural History Society]] suggests that London is "one of the World's Greenest Cities" with more than 40 per cent green space or open water. They indicate that 2000 species of flowering plant have been found growing there and that the [[Tideway|tidal Thames]] supports 120 species of fish.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212143739/http://www.lnhs.org.uk/Index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2007 |title=Wildlife in London, England: LNHS Home page |website=lnhs.org.uk }}</ref> They also state that over 60 species of bird nest in [[central London]] and that their members have recorded 47 species of butterfly, 1173 moths and more than 270 kinds of spider around London. London's [[wetland]] areas support nationally important populations of many water birds. London has 38 [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London|Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs), two [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]]s and 76 [[List of local nature reserves in Greater London|local nature reserve]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Natural History Society - Home|url=https://lnhs.org.uk/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=lnhs.org.uk}}</ref>
[[Amphibians]] are common in the capital, including [[smooth newt]]s living by the [[Tate Modern]], and [[common frog]]s, [[common toad]]s, [[palmate newt]]s and [[great crested newt]]s. On the other hand, native reptiles such as [[slowworm]]s, [[common lizard]]s, [[barred grass snake]]s and [[Vipera berus|adders]], are mostly only seen in [[Outer London]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tuffrey|first=Laurie|date=27 July 2012|title=London's Amphibians and Reptile Populations Mapped|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/27/london-amphibian-reptile-map|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102204944/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/27/london-amphibian-reptile-map|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Flickr - Duncan~ - Fox Trot.jpg|thumb|left|A fox on Ayres Street, [[Southwark]], [[South London]] ]]
Among other inhabitants of London are 10,000 [[red fox]]es, so that there are now 16 foxes for every square mile (2.6 square kilometres) of London. These urban foxes are noticeably bolder than their country cousins, sharing the pavement with pedestrians and raising cubs in people's backyards. Foxes have even sneaked into the [[Houses of Parliament]], where one was found asleep on a filing cabinet. Another broke into the grounds of [[Buckingham Palace]], reportedly killing some of Queen Elizabeth II's prized [[pink flamingo]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 February 1996|title=Fox Kills Queen's Pet Flamingos|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/feb/03/fox-kills-queens-pet-flamingos/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325210722/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/feb/03/fox-kills-queens-pet-flamingos/|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> Generally, however, foxes and city folk appear to get along. A survey in 2001 by the London-based [[Mammal Society]] found that 80 per cent of 3,779 respondents who volunteered to keep a diary of garden mammal visits liked having them around. This sample cannot be taken to represent Londoners as a whole.<ref name=mammalreport>{{cite web |title=The Garden Mammal Survey Report 2001 |url=http://www.mammal.org.uk/sites/default/files/Summary%20Report%20to%20participants%20August%202001.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202114736/http://www.mammal.org.uk/sites/default/files/Summary%20Report%20to%20participants%20August%202001.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2013 |website=The Mammal Society |publisher=The Mammal Society |access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Owen|first=James|date=15 May 2006|title=10,000 Foxes Roam London|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/foxes-london_2.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114091926/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/foxes-london.html|archive-date=14 November 2006|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[National Geographic]]}}</ref>
Other mammals found in [[Greater London]] are [[European hedgehog|hedgehog]], [[brown rat]], [[mice]], [[European rabbit|rabbit]], [[shrew]], [[vole]], and [[grey squirrel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mammals|url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/mammals|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307135419/https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/mammals|archive-date=7 March 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Royal Parks]]}}</ref> In wilder areas of Outer London, such as [[Epping Forest]], a wide variety of mammals are found, including [[European hare]], [[European badger|badger]], [[field vole|field]], [[bank vole|bank]] and [[European water vole|water vole]], [[wood mouse]], [[yellow-necked mouse]], [[European mole|mole]], shrew, and [[least weasel|weasel]], in addition to red fox, grey squirrel and hedgehog. A dead [[Eurasian otter|otter]] was found at The Highway, in [[Wapping]], about a mile from the [[Tower Bridge]], which would suggest that they have begun to move back after being absent a hundred years from the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/946018.londons_first_wild_otter_found/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401110428/http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/946018.londons_first_wild_otter_found/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 April 2010 |title=London's first wild otter found |first=Peter |last=Law |website=This Is Local London}}</ref> Ten of England's eighteen species of [[bat]]s have been recorded in Epping Forest: [[soprano pipistrelle|soprano]], [[nathusius' pipistrelle|Nathusius']] and [[common pipistrelle]]s, [[common noctule]], [[serotine]], [[barbastelle]], [[Daubenton's bat|Daubenton's]], [[brown long-eared bat|brown long-eared]], [[Natterer's bat|Natterer's]] and [[Leisler's bat|Leisler's]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/wildlife-and-nature/Pages/Mammals.aspx |title=Mammals |website=cityoflondon.gov.uk |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318070552/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/wildlife-and-nature/Pages/Mammals.aspx |archive-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Among the strange sights seen in London have been a whale in the Thames,<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Liam|date=24 March 2013|title=Dead Whale Found Floating in the Thames Estuary 'Will Be Examined'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dead-whale-found-floating-thames-estuary-will-be-examined-8547350.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225170849/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dead-whale-found-floating-thames-estuary-will-be-examined-8547350.html|archive-date=25 February 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=[[The Independent on Sunday]]|language=en}}</ref> while the BBC Two programme "Natural World: Unnatural History of London" shows [[feral pigeon]]s using the [[London Underground]] to get around the city, a [[Pinniped|seal]] that takes fish from [[fishmonger]]s outside [[Billingsgate Fish Market]], and foxes that will "sit" if given sausages.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aviss|first1=Ben|last2=Taylor|first2=Anna-Louise|date=18 June 2012|title=BBC Nature – A Question of Nature: How hidden is the UK's wild side?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18428378?print=true|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705113215/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18428378?print=true|archive-date=5 July 2015|access-date=25 March 2021|website=BBC Nature}}</ref>
Herds of [[Red deer|red]] and [[fallow deer]] also roam freely within much of [[Richmond Park|Richmond]] and [[Bushy Park]]. A cull takes place each November and February to ensure numbers can be sustained.<ref name="Deer cull begins">{{cite news|author=Bishop|first=Rachael|date=5 November 2012|title=Richmond Park Deer Cull Begins|work=Sutton & Croydon Guardian|location=London|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/10026864.Richmond_Park_deer_cull_begins/|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307135458/https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10026864.richmond-park-deer-cull-begins/|archive-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> Epping Forest is also known for its [[fallow deer]], which can frequently be seen in herds to the north of the Forest. A rare population of [[melanistic]], black fallow deer is also maintained at the Deer Sanctuary near [[Theydon Bois]]. [[Reeve's muntjac|Muntjac deer]], which escaped from deer parks at the turn of the twentieth century, are also found in the forest. While Londoners are accustomed to wildlife such as birds and foxes sharing the city, more recently urban deer have started becoming a regular feature, and whole herds of fallow deer come into residential areas at night to take advantage of London's green spaces.<ref>{{cite news|date=25 February 2014|title=In Pictures: London's Urban Deer|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/in-pictures-londons-urban-deer-9149902.html|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301073242/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/in-pictures-london-s-urban-deer-9149902.html|archive-date=1 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Innes|first=Emma|date=14 June 2012|title=Photographer Snaps Muntjac Deer in Mill Hill Garden|work=Edgware & Mill Hill Times|location=London|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9761337.Photographer_snaps_Muntjac_deer_in_Mill_Hill_garden/|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032340/http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9761337.Photographer_snaps_Muntjac_deer_in_Mill_Hill_garden/|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>


==Demography==
==Demography==
{{main|Demography of London}}
{{main|Demography of London}}
{{Table London top 10 birth countries}}
{{Table London top 10 birth countries}}
[[File:Greater London population density map, 2011 census.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Population density map]]


The 2011 census recorded that 2,998,264 people or 36.7% of London's population are [[Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom|foreign-born]] making London the city with the [[foreign born#Cities with largest foreign born populations|second largest immigrant population]], behind New York City, in terms of absolute numbers. About 69% of children born in London in 2015 had at least one parent who was born abroad.<ref>"[https://www.ft.com/content/41b5b302-b7e5-11e6-ba85-95d1533d9a62 Most London babies have foreign-born parent] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161100/https://www.ft.com/content/41b5b302-b7e5-11e6-ba85-95d1533d9a62 |date=25 June 2018}}". ''[[Financial Times]]''. 1 December 2016.</ref> The table to the right shows the most common countries of birth of London residents. Note that some of the German-born population, in 18th position, are British citizens from birth born to parents serving in the [[British Armed Forces]] in [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Beyond Black and White: Mapping New Immigrant Communities |last=Kyambi |first=Sarah |location=London |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-86030-284-8}}</ref>
The 2011 census recorded that 2,998,264 people or 36.7% of London's population are [[Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom|foreign-born]] making London the city with the [[foreign born#Cities with largest foreign born populations|second largest immigrant population]], behind New York City, in terms of absolute numbers. About 69% of children born in London in 2015 had at least one parent who was born abroad.<ref>"[https://www.ft.com/content/41b5b302-b7e5-11e6-ba85-95d1533d9a62 Most London babies have foreign-born parent] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161100/https://www.ft.com/content/41b5b302-b7e5-11e6-ba85-95d1533d9a62 |date=25 June 2018}}". ''[[Financial Times]]''. 1 December 2016.</ref> The table to the right shows the most common countries of birth of London residents. Note that some of the German-born population, in 18th position, are British citizens from birth born to parents serving in the [[British Armed Forces]] in [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Beyond Black and White: Mapping New Immigrant Communities |last=Kyambi |first=Sarah |location=London |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-86030-284-8}}</ref>
Line 430: Line 200:
==Economy==
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of London}}
{{main|Economy of London}}
[[File:City of London skyline from London City Hall - Sept 2015 - Crop Aligned.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The City of London, one of the largest financial centres in the world<ref>[http://www.cityam.com/224938/london-top-world "London tops 2015 global financial centre rankings and knocks New York into second place"]. Cityam.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015</ref>]]


London's [[gross regional product]] in 2018 was almost £500&nbsp;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&nbsp;million m<sup>2</sup> of office space in 2001, and the City contains the most space, with 8&nbsp;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&nbsp;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>
London's [[gross regional product]] in 2018 was almost £500&nbsp;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&nbsp;million m<sup>2</sup> of office space in 2001, and the City contains the most space, with 8&nbsp;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&nbsp;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>


===The City of London===
===The City of London===
[[File:Paternoster Square.jpg|thumb|The [[London Stock Exchange]] at [[Paternoster Square]] and [[Temple Bar, London|Temple Bar]]]]
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>
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>


[[File:Westminster Pier 2018.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A view from [[Westminster Millennium Pier]] on the River Thames, December 2018]]
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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.
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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.


Line 477: Line 244:
==Transport==
==Transport==
{{main|Transport in London|Infrastructure in London}}
{{main|Transport in London|Infrastructure in London}}
[[File:Transport in London.png|thumb|Journeys in Greater London by mode from 1997 to 2018<ref>{{cite web|date=2019|title=Travel in London Report 12|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-12.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313040915/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-12.pdf|archive-date=13 March 2021|access-date=13 March 2021|website=[[Transport for London]]|page=33}}</ref>]]
[[File:London - panoramio (206).jpg|thumb|[[Hackney carriage|Black London taxis]]]]
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>
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>


Line 485: Line 250:
===Aviation===
===Aviation===
{{main|Airports of London}}
{{main|Airports of London}}
[[File:Heathrow Terminal 5C Iwelumo-1.jpg|thumb|[[London Heathrow Airport]] is the busiest airport in Europe as well as the second busiest in the world for international passenger traffic. ([[London Heathrow Terminal 5|Terminal 5]]C is pictured.)]]
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.
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.
* [[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>
* [[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>
Line 497: Line 261:


====Underground and DLR====
====Underground and DLR====
[[File:Baker Street tube station MMB 19 S Stock.jpg|thumb|The [[London Underground]] is the world's oldest and third-longest [[rapid transit]] system.]]
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>
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>


Line 508: Line 271:


====Inter-city and international====
====Inter-city and international====
[[File:St Pancras Railway Station 2012-06-23.jpg|thumb|[[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras International]] is the main terminal for high-speed [[Eurostar]] and [[High Speed 1]] services, as well as commuter suburban [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]] and inter-city [[East Midlands Railway]] services.]]


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>
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>
Line 520: Line 282:


===Buses, coaches and trams===
===Buses, coaches and trams===
[[File:LT 480 (LTZ 1480) Go-Ahead London New Routemaster (20929161801).jpg|thumb|A [[London buses|red double-decker bus]]]]


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>
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>
Line 533: Line 294:
===Cycling===
===Cycling===
{{main|Cycling in London}}
{{main|Cycling in London}}
[[File:Belgrave Road, Victoria, London - Boris Bikes - Santander Cycles by Elliott Brown.jpg|thumb|Santander Cycle Hire near Victoria in Central London]]


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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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>
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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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>
Line 555: Line 315:


===Tertiary education===
===Tertiary education===
[[File:Main entrance, Imperial College, London (geograph 5751173).jpg|thumb|[[Imperial College London]], a technical research university in [[South Kensington]]]]
{{See also|List of universities and higher education colleges in London}}
{{See also|List of universities and higher education colleges in London}}


London is a major global centre of higher education teaching and research and has the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe.<ref name="london2" /> According to the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, London has the greatest concentration of top class universities in the world<ref>{{cite web|date=11 September 2015|title=QS World University Rankings® 2015/16|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2015#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914234029/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2015#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=|archive-date=14 September 2015|access-date=27 March 2021|website=Top Universities}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/15092015-qs-world-university-rankings-201516|title=Mayor of London says city is 'education capital of the world'|website=www.londonandpartners.com|access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref> and its international student population of around 110,000 is larger than any other city in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malthouse|first=Kit|date=1 January 1990|title=Capital offer|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking/analysis/capital-offer|access-date=27 March 2021|website=timeshighereducation.com}}</ref> A 2014 [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] report termed London the global capital of higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pdf.pwc.co.uk/cities-of-opportunity-2014-london.pdf|title=Pricewaterhousecoopers|access-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143014/http://pdf.pwc.co.uk/cities-of-opportunity-2014-london.pdf|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
London is a major global centre of higher education teaching and research and has the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe.<ref name="london2" /> According to the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, London has the greatest concentration of top class universities in the world<ref>{{cite web|date=11 September 2015|title=QS World University Rankings® 2015/16|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2015#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914234029/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2015#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=|archive-date=14 September 2015|access-date=27 March 2021|website=Top Universities}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/15092015-qs-world-university-rankings-201516|title=Mayor of London says city is 'education capital of the world'|website=www.londonandpartners.com|access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref> and its international student population of around 110,000 is larger than any other city in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malthouse|first=Kit|date=1 January 1990|title=Capital offer|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking/analysis/capital-offer|access-date=27 March 2021|website=timeshighereducation.com}}</ref> A 2014 [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] report termed London the global capital of higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pdf.pwc.co.uk/cities-of-opportunity-2014-london.pdf|title=Pricewaterhousecoopers|access-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143014/http://pdf.pwc.co.uk/cities-of-opportunity-2014-london.pdf|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>


[[File:KCL embankment facade.jpg|thumb|[[King's College London]], established by Royal Charter in 1829, is one of the founding colleges of the [[University of London]].]]
A number of world-leading education institutions are based in London. In the 2021 ''[[QS World University Rankings]]'', [[Imperial College London]] is ranked #8 in the world, [[University College London]] (UCL) is ranked 10th, and [[King's College London]] (KCL) is ranked 31st.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=QS World University Rankings 2021|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021|access-date=27 March 2021|website=topuniversities.com}}</ref> The [[London School of Economics]] has been described as the world's leading social science institution for both teaching and research.<ref name="london_156">{{cite news|last=Hipwell|first=Deirdre|date=23 September 2007|title=London School of Economics and Political Science|work=Times Online|location=London|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2496158.ece|url-status=dead|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202225123/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2496158.ece|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref> The [[London Business School]] is considered one of the world's leading business schools and in 2015 its MBA programme was ranked second-best in the world by the ''[[Financial Times]]''.<ref name="ft">{{cite news |url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings |title=FT Global MBA Rankings |work=Financial Times |access-date=25 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504135153/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings |archive-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=live |location=London}}</ref> The city is also home to three of the world's top ten performing arts schools (as ranked by the 2020 QS World University Rankings<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/performing-arts|title=Performing Arts|date=25 February 2020|website=Top Universities}}</ref>): the [[Royal College of Music]] (ranking 2nd in the world), the [[Royal Academy of Music]] (ranking 4th) and the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] (ranking 6th).
A number of world-leading education institutions are based in London. In the 2021 ''[[QS World University Rankings]]'', [[Imperial College London]] is ranked #8 in the world, [[University College London]] (UCL) is ranked 10th, and [[King's College London]] (KCL) is ranked 31st.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=QS World University Rankings 2021|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021|access-date=27 March 2021|website=topuniversities.com}}</ref> The [[London School of Economics]] has been described as the world's leading social science institution for both teaching and research.<ref name="london_156">{{cite news|last=Hipwell|first=Deirdre|date=23 September 2007|title=London School of Economics and Political Science|work=Times Online|location=London|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2496158.ece|url-status=dead|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202225123/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2496158.ece|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref> The [[London Business School]] is considered one of the world's leading business schools and in 2015 its MBA programme was ranked second-best in the world by the ''[[Financial Times]]''.<ref name="ft">{{cite news |url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings |title=FT Global MBA Rankings |work=Financial Times |access-date=25 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504135153/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings |archive-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=live |location=London}}</ref> The city is also home to three of the world's top ten performing arts schools (as ranked by the 2020 QS World University Rankings<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/performing-arts|title=Performing Arts|date=25 February 2020|website=Top Universities}}</ref>): the [[Royal College of Music]] (ranking 2nd in the world), the [[Royal Academy of Music]] (ranking 4th) and the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] (ranking 6th).


Line 568: Line 325:
A number of universities in London are outside the University of London system, including [[Brunel University]], [[Imperial College London]],{{refn|Imperial College London was a constituent college of the University of London between 1908 and 2007. Degrees during this time were awarded by the federal university; however, the college now issues its own degrees.|group=note}} [[Kingston University]], [[London Metropolitan University]],<ref name="london_157">{{Cite web|date=August 2008|title=Performing Arts - Discover where to study with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020: Performing Arts|url=http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/o90402_3.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143209/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/o90402_3.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2009|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[London Metropolitan University]]}}</ref> [[University of East London]], [[University of West London]], [[University of Westminster]], [[London South Bank University]], [[Middlesex University]], and [[University of the Arts London]] (the largest university of art, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts in Europe).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/may/01/universityguide.highereducation42|title=University of the Arts London|date=1 May 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501135123/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/may/01/universityguide.highereducation42|archive-date=1 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> In addition there are three international universities in London&nbsp;– [[Regent's College|Regent's University London]], [[Richmond, The American International University in London]] and [[Schiller International University]].
A number of universities in London are outside the University of London system, including [[Brunel University]], [[Imperial College London]],{{refn|Imperial College London was a constituent college of the University of London between 1908 and 2007. Degrees during this time were awarded by the federal university; however, the college now issues its own degrees.|group=note}} [[Kingston University]], [[London Metropolitan University]],<ref name="london_157">{{Cite web|date=August 2008|title=Performing Arts - Discover where to study with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020: Performing Arts|url=http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/o90402_3.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143209/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/o90402_3.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2009|access-date=27 March 2021|website=[[London Metropolitan University]]}}</ref> [[University of East London]], [[University of West London]], [[University of Westminster]], [[London South Bank University]], [[Middlesex University]], and [[University of the Arts London]] (the largest university of art, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts in Europe).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/may/01/universityguide.highereducation42|title=University of the Arts London|date=1 May 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501135123/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/may/01/universityguide.highereducation42|archive-date=1 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> In addition there are three international universities in London&nbsp;– [[Regent's College|Regent's University London]], [[Richmond, The American International University in London]] and [[Schiller International University]].


[[File:Royal College of Music - April 2007.jpg|thumb|The front façade of the [[Royal College of Music]]]]
London is home to [[United Hospitals|five major medical schools]]&nbsp;– [[Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry]] (part of [[Queen Mary, University of London|Queen Mary]]), [[King's College London School of Medicine]] (the largest medical school in Europe), [[Imperial College School of Medicine]], [[UCL Medical School]] and [[St George's, University of London]]&nbsp;– and has many affiliated teaching hospitals. It is also a major centre for biomedical research, and three of the UK's eight [[academic health science centre]]s are based in the city&nbsp;– [[Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust|Imperial College Healthcare]], [[King's Health Partners]] and [[UCL Partners]] (the largest such centre in Europe).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/aug/07/health.highereducation|title=NHS hospitals to forge £2bn research link-up with university|last=Carvel|first=John|date=7 August 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140334/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/07/health.highereducation|archive-date=1 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> Additionally, many biomedical and biotechnology spin out companies from these research institutions are based around the city, most prominently in [[White City, London|White City]].There are a number of business schools in London, including the [[London School of Business and Finance]], [[Cass Business School]] (part of [[City University London]]), [[Hult International Business School]], [[ESCP Europe]], [[European Business School London]], [[Imperial College Business School]], the [[London Business School]] and the [[UCL School of Management]]. London is also home to many specialist arts education institutions, including the [[Academy of Live and Recorded Arts]], [[Central School of Ballet]], [[London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art|LAMDA]], [[London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA)]], [[London Contemporary Dance School]], [[The Circus Space|National Centre for Circus Arts]], [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art|RADA]], [[Rambert Dance Company|Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance]], the [[Royal College of Art]] and [[Trinity Laban]].
London is home to [[United Hospitals|five major medical schools]]&nbsp;– [[Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry]] (part of [[Queen Mary, University of London|Queen Mary]]), [[King's College London School of Medicine]] (the largest medical school in Europe), [[Imperial College School of Medicine]], [[UCL Medical School]] and [[St George's, University of London]]&nbsp;– and has many affiliated teaching hospitals. It is also a major centre for biomedical research, and three of the UK's eight [[academic health science centre]]s are based in the city&nbsp;– [[Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust|Imperial College Healthcare]], [[King's Health Partners]] and [[UCL Partners]] (the largest such centre in Europe).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/aug/07/health.highereducation|title=NHS hospitals to forge £2bn research link-up with university|last=Carvel|first=John|date=7 August 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140334/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/07/health.highereducation|archive-date=1 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> Additionally, many biomedical and biotechnology spin out companies from these research institutions are based around the city, most prominently in [[White City, London|White City]].There are a number of business schools in London, including the [[London School of Business and Finance]], [[Cass Business School]] (part of [[City University London]]), [[Hult International Business School]], [[ESCP Europe]], [[European Business School London]], [[Imperial College Business School]], the [[London Business School]] and the [[UCL School of Management]]. London is also home to many specialist arts education institutions, including the [[Academy of Live and Recorded Arts]], [[Central School of Ballet]], [[London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art|LAMDA]], [[London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA)]], [[London Contemporary Dance School]], [[The Circus Space|National Centre for Circus Arts]], [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art|RADA]], [[Rambert Dance Company|Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance]], the [[Royal College of Art]] and [[Trinity Laban]].


===Primary and secondary education===
===Primary and secondary education===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Harrow School aerial.jpg|thumb|left|[[Harrow School]], a prestigious all-boys boarding school]] -->
The majority of primary and secondary schools and further-education colleges in London are controlled by the [[London boroughs]] or otherwise state-funded; leading examples include [[Ashbourne College]], [[Bethnal Green Academy]], [[Brampton Manor Academy]], [[City and Islington College]], [[City of Westminster College]], [[David Game College]], [[Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College]], [[Leyton Sixth Form College]], [[London Academy of Excellence]], [[Tower Hamlets College]], and [[Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre]]. There are also a number of private schools and colleges in London, some old and famous, such as [[City of London School]], [[Harrow School|Harrow]], [[St Paul's School (London)|St Paul's School]], [[Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School]], [[University College School]], [[The John Lyon School]], [[Highgate School]] and [[Westminster School]].
The majority of primary and secondary schools and further-education colleges in London are controlled by the [[London boroughs]] or otherwise state-funded; leading examples include [[Ashbourne College]], [[Bethnal Green Academy]], [[Brampton Manor Academy]], [[City and Islington College]], [[City of Westminster College]], [[David Game College]], [[Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College]], [[Leyton Sixth Form College]], [[London Academy of Excellence]], [[Tower Hamlets College]], and [[Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre]]. There are also a number of private schools and colleges in London, some old and famous, such as [[City of London School]], [[Harrow School|Harrow]], [[St Paul's School (London)|St Paul's School]], [[Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School]], [[University College School]], [[The John Lyon School]], [[Highgate School]] and [[Westminster School]].


Line 580: Line 335:
===Leisure and entertainment===
===Leisure and entertainment===
{{see also|List of annual events in London|West End theatre}}
{{see also|List of annual events in London|West End theatre}}
[[File:Open Happiness Piccadilly Circus Blue-Pink Hour 120917-1126-jikatu.jpg|thumb|upright= 0.9|left|[[Piccadilly Circus]]]]


Leisure is a major part of the London economy. A 2003 report attributed a quarter of the entire UK leisure economy to London<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of London – Spending Time: Londons Leisure Economy |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economic_unit/spending_time.jsp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031219084151/http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economic_unit/spending_time.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2003 |website=www.london.gov.uk |access-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> at 25.6 events per 1000 people.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chadha |first1=Aayush |title=UK Event Data – In Review |url=https://www.tickx.co.uk/article/772 |website=www.tickx.co.uk |access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> Globally the city is one of the big four [[fashion capital]]s of the world, and according to official statistics, it is the world's third-busiest film production centre, presents more live comedy than any other city,<ref>{{cite web |title=20 facts about London's culture {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/promoting-arts-culture/20-facts-about-london-s-culture |website=www.london.gov.uk |access-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151001092404/https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/promoting-arts-culture/20-facts-about-london-s-culture |archive-date=1 October 2015}}</ref> and has the biggest theatre audience of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title= Study puts London ahead of New York as centre for theatre |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/54e31212-17f1-11e4-b842-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3nFXDe4Lp |work=Financial Times |location= London |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=30 September 2015 |first=James |last=Pickford}}</ref>
Leisure is a major part of the London economy. A 2003 report attributed a quarter of the entire UK leisure economy to London<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of London – Spending Time: Londons Leisure Economy |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economic_unit/spending_time.jsp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031219084151/http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economic_unit/spending_time.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2003 |website=www.london.gov.uk |access-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> at 25.6 events per 1000 people.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chadha |first1=Aayush |title=UK Event Data – In Review |url=https://www.tickx.co.uk/article/772 |website=www.tickx.co.uk |access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> Globally the city is one of the big four [[fashion capital]]s of the world, and according to official statistics, it is the world's third-busiest film production centre, presents more live comedy than any other city,<ref>{{cite web |title=20 facts about London's culture {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/promoting-arts-culture/20-facts-about-london-s-culture |website=www.london.gov.uk |access-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151001092404/https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/promoting-arts-culture/20-facts-about-london-s-culture |archive-date=1 October 2015}}</ref> and has the biggest theatre audience of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title= Study puts London ahead of New York as centre for theatre |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/54e31212-17f1-11e4-b842-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3nFXDe4Lp |work=Financial Times |location= London |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=30 September 2015 |first=James |last=Pickford}}</ref>


[[File:Harrods at Night, London - Nov 2012.jpg|thumb|upright= 0.7|[[Harrods]] in [[Knightsbridge]]]]
Within the [[City of Westminster]] in London, the entertainment district of the [[West End of London|West End]] has its focus around [[Leicester Square]], where London and world film [[premiere]]s are held, and [[Piccadilly Circus]], with its giant electronic advertisements.<ref name="london_160">{{cite web |url=http://www.piccadillylights.co.uk/ |title=Piccadilly Lights |publisher=Land Securities |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110426103109/http://www.piccadillylights.co.uk/ |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> London's [[West End theatre|theatre district]] is here, as are many cinemas, bars, clubs, and restaurants, including the city's [[Chinatown, London|Chinatown]] district (in [[Soho]]), and just to the east is [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]], an area housing speciality shops. The city is the home of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], whose musicals have dominated the West End theatre since the late 20th century.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=AWaZ1LAFAZEC&dq=lloyd+webber+%22the+most+commercially+successful+composer+in+history.%22 Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber: the new musical] ''[[The New York Times]]'' referred to Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the most commercially successful composer in history"</ref> The United Kingdom's [[Royal Ballet]], [[English National Ballet]], [[Royal Opera, London|Royal Opera]], and [[English National Opera]] are based in London and perform at the [[Royal Opera House]], the [[London Coliseum]], [[Sadler's Wells Theatre]], and the [[Royal Albert Hall]], as well as touring the country.<ref name="London's Concerts">{{cite web |url= http://www.yourlondon.gov.uk/visiting/topic.jsp?topicid=6482&search_title=Theatres+and+concert+halls |title=Theatres and concert halls |publisher=Your London |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080124185332/http://www.yourlondon.gov.uk/visiting/topic.jsp?topicid=6482&search_title=Theatres%2Band%2Bconcert%2Bhalls |archive-date=24 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Within the [[City of Westminster]] in London, the entertainment district of the [[West End of London|West End]] has its focus around [[Leicester Square]], where London and world film [[premiere]]s are held, and [[Piccadilly Circus]], with its giant electronic advertisements.<ref name="london_160">{{cite web |url=http://www.piccadillylights.co.uk/ |title=Piccadilly Lights |publisher=Land Securities |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110426103109/http://www.piccadillylights.co.uk/ |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> London's [[West End theatre|theatre district]] is here, as are many cinemas, bars, clubs, and restaurants, including the city's [[Chinatown, London|Chinatown]] district (in [[Soho]]), and just to the east is [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]], an area housing speciality shops. The city is the home of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], whose musicals have dominated the West End theatre since the late 20th century.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=AWaZ1LAFAZEC&dq=lloyd+webber+%22the+most+commercially+successful+composer+in+history.%22 Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber: the new musical] ''[[The New York Times]]'' referred to Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the most commercially successful composer in history"</ref> The United Kingdom's [[Royal Ballet]], [[English National Ballet]], [[Royal Opera, London|Royal Opera]], and [[English National Opera]] are based in London and perform at the [[Royal Opera House]], the [[London Coliseum]], [[Sadler's Wells Theatre]], and the [[Royal Albert Hall]], as well as touring the country.<ref name="London's Concerts">{{cite web |url= http://www.yourlondon.gov.uk/visiting/topic.jsp?topicid=6482&search_title=Theatres+and+concert+halls |title=Theatres and concert halls |publisher=Your London |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080124185332/http://www.yourlondon.gov.uk/visiting/topic.jsp?topicid=6482&search_title=Theatres%2Band%2Bconcert%2Bhalls |archive-date=24 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Notting Hill Carnival 2014 (1).JPG|thumb|upright= 0.9|left|Scene of the annual [[Notting Hill Carnival]], 2014]]


[[Islington]]'s {{convert|1|mi|km}} long Upper Street, extending northwards from [[Angel, London|Angel]], has more bars and restaurants than any other street in the United Kingdom.<ref name=london_161>{{Cite journal |title=2001: Public houses |publisher=BBC History |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |access-date=4 June 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Europe's busiest shopping area is [[Oxford Street]], a shopping street nearly {{convert|1|mi|km}} long, making it the longest shopping street in the UK. Oxford Street is home to vast numbers of retailers and [[department stores]], including the world-famous [[Selfridges]] [[Flagship store#Retailing|flagship store]].<ref name=london_162>{{cite journal |url= http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/06sep/p7a.jsp |publisher=[[The Londoner]] |title=Oxford Street gets its own dedicated local police team |date=September 2006 |access-date=19 June 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204913/http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/06sep/p7a.jsp |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Knightsbridge]], home to the equally renowned [[Harrods]] [[department store]], lies to the south-west.
[[Islington]]'s {{convert|1|mi|km}} long Upper Street, extending northwards from [[Angel, London|Angel]], has more bars and restaurants than any other street in the United Kingdom.<ref name=london_161>{{Cite journal |title=2001: Public houses |publisher=BBC History |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |access-date=4 June 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Europe's busiest shopping area is [[Oxford Street]], a shopping street nearly {{convert|1|mi|km}} long, making it the longest shopping street in the UK. Oxford Street is home to vast numbers of retailers and [[department stores]], including the world-famous [[Selfridges]] [[Flagship store#Retailing|flagship store]].<ref name=london_162>{{cite journal |url= http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/06sep/p7a.jsp |publisher=[[The Londoner]] |title=Oxford Street gets its own dedicated local police team |date=September 2006 |access-date=19 June 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204913/http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/06sep/p7a.jsp |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Knightsbridge]], home to the equally renowned [[Harrods]] [[department store]], lies to the south-west.
Line 592: Line 344:
London is home to designers [[Vivienne Westwood]], [[John Galliano|Galliano]], [[Stella McCartney]], [[Manolo Blahnik]], and [[Jimmy Choo]], among others; its renowned art and fashion schools make it an international centre of fashion alongside Paris, [[Milan]], and New York City. London offers a great variety of cuisine as a result of its ethnically diverse population. Gastronomic centres include the Bangladeshi restaurants of [[Brick Lane]] and the [[Chinese food|Chinese]] restaurants of [[Chinatown, London|Chinatown]].<ref name=london_163>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinatownlondon.org/ |title=Chinatown&nbsp;— Official website |publisher=Chinatown London |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501115502/http://www.chinatownlondon.org/ |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
London is home to designers [[Vivienne Westwood]], [[John Galliano|Galliano]], [[Stella McCartney]], [[Manolo Blahnik]], and [[Jimmy Choo]], among others; its renowned art and fashion schools make it an international centre of fashion alongside Paris, [[Milan]], and New York City. London offers a great variety of cuisine as a result of its ethnically diverse population. Gastronomic centres include the Bangladeshi restaurants of [[Brick Lane]] and the [[Chinese food|Chinese]] restaurants of [[Chinatown, London|Chinatown]].<ref name=london_163>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinatownlondon.org/ |title=Chinatown&nbsp;— Official website |publisher=Chinatown London |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501115502/http://www.chinatownlondon.org/ |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>


[[File:Restaurante The Swan, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 113.jpg|thumb|[[Shakespeare's Globe]] is a modern reconstruction of the Globe Theatre on the south bank of the [[River Thames]].]]
There is a variety of [[List of annual events in London|annual events]], beginning with the relatively new [[New Year's Day Parade]], a fireworks display at the [[London Eye]]; the world's second largest [[street party]], the [[Notting Hill Carnival]], is held on the late [[August Bank Holiday]] each year. Traditional parades include November's [[Lord Mayor's Show]], a centuries-old event celebrating the annual appointment of a new [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]] with a procession along the streets of the city, and June's [[Trooping the Colour]], a formal military pageant performed by regiments of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and [[British Army|British]] armies to celebrate the [[Queen's Official Birthday]].<ref name=london_164>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4820.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620233221/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4820.asp |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=One Queen, Two Birthdays |publisher=Royal Government |access-date=27 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Boishakhi Mela]] is a [[Bengali New Year]] festival celebrated by the [[British Bangladeshi]] community. It is the largest open-air Asian festival in Europe. After the [[Notting Hill Carnival]], it is the second-largest street festival in the [[United Kingdom]] attracting over 80,000 visitors from across the country.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2018/05/celebrate-the-bengali-new-year-this-summer-in-tower-hamlets/ |publisher=East London Lines |last=Andreou |first=Roza |title=Celebrate the Bengali New Year this summer in Tower Hamlets |date=25 May 2018}}</ref>
There is a variety of [[List of annual events in London|annual events]], beginning with the relatively new [[New Year's Day Parade]], a fireworks display at the [[London Eye]]; the world's second largest [[street party]], the [[Notting Hill Carnival]], is held on the late [[August Bank Holiday]] each year. Traditional parades include November's [[Lord Mayor's Show]], a centuries-old event celebrating the annual appointment of a new [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]] with a procession along the streets of the city, and June's [[Trooping the Colour]], a formal military pageant performed by regiments of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and [[British Army|British]] armies to celebrate the [[Queen's Official Birthday]].<ref name=london_164>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4820.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620233221/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4820.asp |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=One Queen, Two Birthdays |publisher=Royal Government |access-date=27 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Boishakhi Mela]] is a [[Bengali New Year]] festival celebrated by the [[British Bangladeshi]] community. It is the largest open-air Asian festival in Europe. After the [[Notting Hill Carnival]], it is the second-largest street festival in the [[United Kingdom]] attracting over 80,000 visitors from across the country.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2018/05/celebrate-the-bengali-new-year-this-summer-in-tower-hamlets/ |publisher=East London Lines |last=Andreou |first=Roza |title=Celebrate the Bengali New Year this summer in Tower Hamlets |date=25 May 2018}}</ref>


===Literature, film and television===
===Literature, film and television===
{{main|London in fiction|London in film|List of television shows set in London|London Television Archive}}
{{main|London in fiction|London in film|List of television shows set in London|London Television Archive}}
[[File:Sherlock Holmes Museum.jpg|left|thumb|[[Sherlock Holmes Museum]] in [[Baker Street]], bearing the number 221B]]


London has been the setting for many works of literature. The pilgrims in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]'s late 14th-century ''[[The Canterbury Tales|Canterbury Tales]]'' set out for [[Canterbury]] from London—specifically, from the [[The Tabard|Tabard]] inn, [[Southwark]]. [[William Shakespeare]] spent a large part of his life living and working in London; his contemporary [[Ben Jonson]] was also based there, and some of his work, most notably his play ''[[The Alchemist (play)|The Alchemist]]'', was set in the city.<ref name="London in Literature"/> ''[[A Journal of the Plague Year]]'' (1722) by [[Daniel Defoe]] is a fictionalisation of the events of the 1665 [[Great Plague of London|Great Plague]].<ref name="London in Literature"/>
London has been the setting for many works of literature. The pilgrims in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]'s late 14th-century ''[[The Canterbury Tales|Canterbury Tales]]'' set out for [[Canterbury]] from London—specifically, from the [[The Tabard|Tabard]] inn, [[Southwark]]. [[William Shakespeare]] spent a large part of his life living and working in London; his contemporary [[Ben Jonson]] was also based there, and some of his work, most notably his play ''[[The Alchemist (play)|The Alchemist]]'', was set in the city.<ref name="London in Literature"/> ''[[A Journal of the Plague Year]]'' (1722) by [[Daniel Defoe]] is a fictionalisation of the events of the 1665 [[Great Plague of London|Great Plague]].<ref name="London in Literature"/>


The literary centres of London have traditionally been hilly [[Hampstead]] and (since the early 20th century) [[Bloomsbury]]. Writers closely associated with the city are the diarist [[Samuel Pepys]], noted for his eyewitness account of the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]]; [[Charles Dickens]], whose representation of a foggy, snowy, grimy London of street sweepers and pickpockets has been a major influence on people's vision of early [[Victorian era|Victorian]] London; and [[Virginia Woolf]], regarded as one of the foremost [[modernist literature|modernist]] literary figures of the 20th century.<ref name="London in Literature">{{cite web |url=http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/guides/london/londoninliterature.shtml |title=London in Literature |publisher=Bryn Mawr College |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427043832/http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/guides/london/londoninliterature.shtml |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Later important depictions of London from the 19th and early 20th centuries are Dickens' novels, and [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories.<ref name="London in Literature"/> Also of significance is [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]]'s ''Calendar of the London Seasons'' (1834). Modern writers pervasively influenced by the city include [[Peter Ackroyd]], author of a "biography" of London, and [[Iain Sinclair]], who writes in the genre of [[psychogeography]].{{wikisource|Calendar of the London Seasons/Calendar of the London Seasons|'Calendar of the London Seasons', by L. E. L.}}
The literary centres of London have traditionally been hilly [[Hampstead]] and (since the early 20th century) [[Bloomsbury]]. Writers closely associated with the city are the diarist [[Samuel Pepys]], noted for his eyewitness account of the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]]; [[Charles Dickens]], whose representation of a foggy, snowy, grimy London of street sweepers and pickpockets has been a major influence on people's vision of early [[Victorian era|Victorian]] London; and [[Virginia Woolf]], regarded as one of the foremost [[modernist literature|modernist]] literary figures of the 20th century.<ref name="London in Literature">{{cite web |url=http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/guides/london/londoninliterature.shtml |title=London in Literature |publisher=Bryn Mawr College |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427043832/http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/guides/london/londoninliterature.shtml |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Later important depictions of London from the 19th and early 20th centuries are Dickens' novels, and [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories.<ref name="London in Literature"/> Also of significance is [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]]'s ''Calendar of the London Seasons'' (1834). Modern writers pervasively influenced by the city include [[Peter Ackroyd]], author of a "biography" of London, and [[Iain Sinclair]], who writes in the genre of [[psychogeography]].{{wikisource|Calendar of the London Seasons/Calendar of the London Seasons|'Calendar of the London Seasons', by L. E. L.}}
[[File:John Keats (4625082560).jpg|thumb|[[Keats House]], where [[John Keats|Keats]] wrote his ''[[Ode to a Nightingale]]''. The village of [[Hampstead]] has historically been a literary centre in London.]]


London has played a significant role in the film industry. Major studios within or bordering London include [[Twickenham Film Studios|Twickenham]], [[Ealing Studios|Ealing]], [[Shepperton Studios|Shepperton]], [[Pinewood Studios|Pinewood]], [[Elstree studios|Elstree and Borehamwood]],<ref name="filmlondon">{{cite web |url=http://filmlondon.org.uk/studio-contacts |title=Film London – studio contacts |website=Filmlondon.org.uk |access-date=27 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011712/http://filmlondon.org.uk/studio-contacts |archive-date=10 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a [[special effect]]s and [[post-production]] community centred in [[Soho]]. [[Working Title Films]] has its headquarters in London.<ref name=london_165>{{cite web |url=http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/ |title=Working Title Films |publisher=Universal Studios |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426181458/http://workingtitlefilms.com/ |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> London has been the setting for films including ''[[Oliver Twist (1948 film)|Oliver Twist]]'' (1948), ''[[Scrooge (1951 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1951), ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (1953), ''[[101 Dalmatians (1996 film)|The 101 Dalmatians]]'' (1961), ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964), ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964), ''[[Blowup]]'' (1966), ''[[The Long Good Friday]]'' (1980), ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]'' (1986), ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999), ''[[Love Actually]]'' (2003), ''[[V For Vendetta (film)|V For Vendetta]]'' (2005), ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]'' (2008) and ''[[The King's Speech]]'' (2010). Notable actors and filmmakers from London include; [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Michael Caine]], [[Helen Mirren]], [[Gary Oldman]], [[Christopher Nolan]], [[Jude Law]], [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], [[Tom Hardy]], [[Keira Knightley]] and [[Daniel Day-Lewis]]. Since 2008, the [[British Academy Film Awards]] have taken place at the [[Royal Opera House]]. London is a major centre for television production, with studios including [[BBC Television Centre]], [[The Fountain Studios]] and [[The London Studios]]. Many television programmes have been set in London, including the popular television soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'', broadcast by the BBC since 1985.
London has played a significant role in the film industry. Major studios within or bordering London include [[Twickenham Film Studios|Twickenham]], [[Ealing Studios|Ealing]], [[Shepperton Studios|Shepperton]], [[Pinewood Studios|Pinewood]], [[Elstree studios|Elstree and Borehamwood]],<ref name="filmlondon">{{cite web |url=http://filmlondon.org.uk/studio-contacts |title=Film London – studio contacts |website=Filmlondon.org.uk |access-date=27 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011712/http://filmlondon.org.uk/studio-contacts |archive-date=10 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a [[special effect]]s and [[post-production]] community centred in [[Soho]]. [[Working Title Films]] has its headquarters in London.<ref name=london_165>{{cite web |url=http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/ |title=Working Title Films |publisher=Universal Studios |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426181458/http://workingtitlefilms.com/ |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> London has been the setting for films including ''[[Oliver Twist (1948 film)|Oliver Twist]]'' (1948), ''[[Scrooge (1951 film)|Scrooge]]'' (1951), ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (1953), ''[[101 Dalmatians (1996 film)|The 101 Dalmatians]]'' (1961), ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964), ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964), ''[[Blowup]]'' (1966), ''[[The Long Good Friday]]'' (1980), ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]'' (1986), ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999), ''[[Love Actually]]'' (2003), ''[[V For Vendetta (film)|V For Vendetta]]'' (2005), ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]'' (2008) and ''[[The King's Speech]]'' (2010). Notable actors and filmmakers from London include; [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Michael Caine]], [[Helen Mirren]], [[Gary Oldman]], [[Christopher Nolan]], [[Jude Law]], [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], [[Tom Hardy]], [[Keira Knightley]] and [[Daniel Day-Lewis]]. Since 2008, the [[British Academy Film Awards]] have taken place at the [[Royal Opera House]]. London is a major centre for television production, with studios including [[BBC Television Centre]], [[The Fountain Studios]] and [[The London Studios]]. Many television programmes have been set in London, including the popular television soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'', broadcast by the BBC since 1985.


===Museums, art galleries and libraries===
===Museums, art galleries and libraries===
[[File:Kensington Museums aerial 2011 b.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Aerial view of [[Albertopolis]]. [[Albert Memorial]], [[Royal Albert Hall]], [[Royal Geographical Society]] and [[Royal College of Art]] are visible near the top; [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] and [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] at the lower end; [[Imperial College]], [[Royal College of Music]], and [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] lying in between.]]
London is [[List of museums in London|home to many museums]], galleries, and other institutions, many of which are free of admission charges and are major [[tourist attraction]]s as well as playing a research role. The first of these to be established was the [[British Museum]] in [[Bloomsbury]], in 1753.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Life and Curiosity of Hans Sloane|url=https://www.bl.uk/events/the-life-and-curiosity-of-hans-sloane|access-date=27 March 2021|website=The British Library}}</ref> Originally containing antiquities, natural history specimens, and the national library, the museum now has 7&nbsp;million artefacts from around the globe. In 1824, the [[National Gallery]] was founded to house the British national collection of Western paintings; this now occupies a prominent position in [[Trafalgar Square]].
London is [[List of museums in London|home to many museums]], galleries, and other institutions, many of which are free of admission charges and are major [[tourist attraction]]s as well as playing a research role. The first of these to be established was the [[British Museum]] in [[Bloomsbury]], in 1753.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Life and Curiosity of Hans Sloane|url=https://www.bl.uk/events/the-life-and-curiosity-of-hans-sloane|access-date=27 March 2021|website=The British Library}}</ref> Originally containing antiquities, natural history specimens, and the national library, the museum now has 7&nbsp;million artefacts from around the globe. In 1824, the [[National Gallery]] was founded to house the British national collection of Western paintings; this now occupies a prominent position in [[Trafalgar Square]].


Line 674: Line 420:
File:Centre Court, 28 March 2012.jpg|[[Centre Court]] at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]. First played in 1877, the Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morley|first=Gary|date=22 June 2011|title=125 years of Wimbledon: From birth of lawn tennis to modern marvels|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/tennis/06/14/tennis.wimbledon.125th.anniversary.museum/index.html|access-date=26 March 2021|website=CNN International Edition}}</ref>
File:Centre Court, 28 March 2012.jpg|[[Centre Court]] at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]. First played in 1877, the Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morley|first=Gary|date=22 June 2011|title=125 years of Wimbledon: From birth of lawn tennis to modern marvels|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/tennis/06/14/tennis.wimbledon.125th.anniversary.museum/index.html|access-date=26 March 2021|website=CNN International Edition}}</ref>
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from London}}
==See also==
{{portal|London|England|United Kingdom}}
* [[Outline of England]]
* [[Outline of London]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 702: Line 440:
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/place.aspx?region=1 London] in ''[[British History Online]]'', with links to numerous authoritative online sources
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/place.aspx?region=1 London] in ''[[British History Online]]'', with links to numerous authoritative online sources
** [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00546w3 "London"], ''In Our Time'', BBC Radio 4 discussion with Peter Ackroyd, Claire Tomalin and Iain Sinclair (28 September 2000)
** [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00546w3 "London"], ''In Our Time'', BBC Radio 4 discussion with Peter Ackroyd, Claire Tomalin and Iain Sinclair (28 September 2000)
* {{osmrelation-inline|175342}}
*[https://merhav.nli.org.il/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,london%20map&tab=default_tab&search_scope=Local&sortby=lso01&vid=NLI&mfacet=rtype,include,Maps,1&mfacet=topic,include,London%20(England),1&lang=en_US&offset=0&came_from=sort Old maps of London], from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, The [[National Library of Israel]]
*[https://merhav.nli.org.il/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,london%20map&tab=default_tab&search_scope=Local&sortby=lso01&vid=NLI&mfacet=rtype,include,Maps,1&mfacet=topic,include,London%20(England),1&lang=en_US&offset=0&came_from=sort Old maps of London], from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, The [[National Library of Israel]]


{{London history}}
{{London landmarks}}
{{Areas of London}}
{{navboxes|title=[[Outline of London|Other articles related to London]]|list=
{{Governance of Greater London}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{London commuter belt}}
{{Universities and colleges in London}}
{{Megacities}}
}}
{{Subject bar|commons=yes|wikt=yes|n=yes|n-search=Category:London|q=yes|s=yes|b=no|voy=yes|v=yes|d=yes|d-search=Q84}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}


[[Category:London| ]]
[[Category:London| ]]
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/121940"