Deseraine: Difference between revisions

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Ignore the obvious fact that i used the London Article as a template...
I obviously don't claim that as my work and am just using in because Deseraine bears great  resemblance to london


{{Infobox settlement
| name              = London
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT add or change images without consensus. -->
|image_skyline = <imagemap>
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>
| 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]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=325|frame-height=325|zoom=9|frame-lat=51.510|frame-long=-0.080|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#333333|fill=#ccdddd|fill-opacity=0.4|id=Q84|title=London}}
| map_caption = Interactive map outlining London
| pushpin_map_caption  = Location within the United Kingdom##Location within Europe##Location within Earth
| pushpin_relief      = 1
| pushpin_map          = UK#Europe#Earth
| coordinates          = {{coord|51|30|26|N|0|7|39|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type    = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign State]]
| subdivision_name    = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1    = {{nowrap|[[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent Country]]}}
| subdivision_type2    = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3    = [[Counties of England|Counties]]
| subdivision_name1    = [[England]]
| subdivision_name2    = [[Greater London|London]] (coterminous)
| subdivision_name3    = [[Greater&nbsp;London]]<br />[[City of London]]
| established_title    = Settled by [[Roman Empire|Romans]]
| established_date    = AD 47<ref name="auto1">[http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/no1poultry_molas_2007/ Number 1 Poultry (ONE 94), Museum of London Archaeology, 2013]. Archaeology Data Service, The University of York.</ref> <br />''as [[Londinium]]''
| parts_type          = [[Districts of England|Districts]]
| parts                = [[City of London]] & [[London borough#List of boroughs|32&nbsp;boroughs]]
| government_type      = [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|Executive mayoralty]] and [[deliberative assembly]] within [[unitary state|unitary]] [[constitutional monarchy]]
| governing_body      = [[Greater London Authority]]<br />'''• '''[[Mayor of London|Mayor]] [[Sadiq Khan]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])<!-- Please do not change this until the mayoral election results have officially been announced and the new mayor installed, which happens on the SECOND day after the election results --><br />'''• '''[[London Assembly]]
| total_type          = Total<ref group=upper-alpha name=total/>
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 1572
| area_metro_km2      = 8382
| area_urban_km2      = 1737.9
| area_blank1_title    = [[City of London]]
| area_blank1_km2      = 2.90
| area_blank2_title    = [[Greater London]]
| area_blank2_km2      = 1569
| elevation_footnotes  = <ref name = Elevation>
{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/map/gcpvj0v07 |title=London weather map |publisher=The Met Office |accessdate=26 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803055103/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/map/gcpvj0v07 |url-status=live |archivedate=3 August 2018}}</ref>
| elevation_m          = 11
| population_total    = 8,908,081
| population_as_of    = 2018
| population_footnotes = <ref name="ons-pop-estimates"/>
| population_density_km2  = 5,666
| population_blank1_title = [[City of London]]
| population_blank1      = 8,706 ([[List of cities in the United Kingdom|67th]])
| population_blank2_title = [[Greater London]]
| population_blank2      = 8,899,375
| population_urban        = 9,787,426
| population_metro        = 14,187,146<ref name="appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu show">{{cite web |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |title=Metropolitan Area Populations |publisher=Eurostat |date=19 July 2018 |accessdate=7 May 2019}}</ref> ([[List of metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom|1st]])
| population_demonyms      = Londoner
| demographics_type1 = GVA {{nobold|(2017)}}
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Regional gross value added (income approach) - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/regionalgrossvalueaddedincomeapproach |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}
*{{cite web |title=Regional economic activity by gross value added (balanced), UK: 1998 to 2017 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/bulletins/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalanceduk/1998to2017/pdf|website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1  = Total
| demographics1_info1  = [[GBP|£]]431 billion<br />(${{To USD|431|GBR|2017|round=yes}} billion)
| demographics1_title2  = Per capita
| demographics1_info2  = [[GBP|£]]48,857<br/>(${{formatnum:{{To USD|48857|GBR|2017|round=yes}}}})
|blank3_name                    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)
|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          =
{{collapsible list
  | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  | 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_name        = [[London Assembly constituencies|14 constituencies]]
| leader_title1      = [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK&nbsp;Parliament]]
| leader_name1        = [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in London|73 constituencies]]
| leader_title2      = [[European&nbsp;Parliament]]
| leader_name2        = [[London (European Parliament constituency)|London constituency]]
| timezone            = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
| utc_offset          = ±00:00{{!}}UTC
| timezone_DST        = [[British Summer Time]]
| utc_offset_DST      = +1
| blank_name_sec1  = [[Police in the United Kingdom|Police]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[City of London Police|City of London]] <br /> [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan]]
| blank1_name_sec1  = [[Fire services in the United Kingdom|Fire and Rescue]]
| blank1_info_sec1    = [[London Fire Brigade|London]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Ambulance service|Ambulance]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[London Ambulance Service|London]]
| blank3_name_sec1  = [[Airports of London|Airports]]
| blank3_info_sec1    = [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LHR]])<br /> [[London City Airport|City]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LCY]])<br />Outside London:<br />[[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LGW]])<br />[[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|STN]])<br />[[Luton Airport|Luton]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LTN]])<br />[[London Southend Airport|Southend]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|SEN]])
| blank_name_sec2    = [[GeoTLD]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[.london]]
| website            = [https://london.gov.uk/ london.gov.uk]
}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name              = Deseraine
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT add or change images without consensus. -->
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| subdivision_type    = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign State]]
| subdivision_name    = [[Ostania]]
| subdivision_type2    = [[State]]
| subdivision_type3    = [[Counties]]
| subdivision_name1    = Deseraine Central Region
| subdivision_name2    = Harlo County
| subdivision_name3    = City of Deseraine
| established_title    = Settled by Ostan Tribes
| established_date    =
| parts_type          = [[Districts]]
| parts                = Districts of Deseraine
| government_type      = Directly elected mayors and city legislature, royal appointed council
| governing_body      = Government of Deseraine, Deseraine City Legislature, Harserlein Council
| total_type          = Total<ref group=upper-alpha name=total/>
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 1572
| area_metro_km2      = 8382
| area_urban_km2      = 1737.9
| area_blank1_title    = City of Deseraine
| area_blank1_km2      = 2.90
| area_blank2_title    = Greater Deseraine
| area_blank2_km2      = 1569
| elevation_footnotes  = <ref name = Elevation>
| elevation_m          = 11
| population_total    = 8,908,081
| population_as_of    = 2018
| population_footnotes = <ref name="ons-pop-estimates"/>
| population_density_km2  = 5,666
| population_blank1_title = City of Deseraine
| population_blank1      = 8,706 ([[List of cities in Ostania|3rd]])
| population_blank2_title = Greater Deseraine
| population_blank2      = 8,899,375
| population_urban        = 9,787,426
| population_metro        = 14,187,146
| population_demonyms      = Deserainer
| demographics_type1 =
| demographics1_title1  = Total
| demographics1_info1  =
| demographics1_title2  = Per capita
| demographics1_info2  =
|blank3_name                    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)
|blank3_info                    = 0.965
| postal_code_type    =
| postal_code          = 143
{{collapsible list
  | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  | 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 =
}}
| leader_title        = Deseraine Assembly
| leader_name        = [[London Assembly constituencies|14 constituencies]]
| leader_title1      = [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK&nbsp;Parliament]]
| leader_name1        = [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in London|73 constituencies]]
| leader_title2      = [[European&nbsp;Parliament]]
| leader_name2        = [[London (European Parliament constituency)|London constituency]]
| timezone            = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
| utc_offset          = ±00:00{{!}}UTC
| timezone_DST        = [[British Summer Time]]
| utc_offset_DST      = +1
| blank_name_sec1  = [[Police in the United Kingdom|Police]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[City of London Police|City of London]] <br /> [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan]]
| blank1_name_sec1  = [[Fire services in the United Kingdom|Fire and Rescue]]
| blank1_info_sec1    = [[London Fire Brigade|London]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Ambulance service|Ambulance]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[London Ambulance Service|London]]
| blank3_name_sec1  = [[Airports of London|Airports]]
| blank3_info_sec1    = [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LHR]])<br /> [[London City Airport|City]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LCY]])<br />Outside London:<br />[[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LGW]])<br />[[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|STN]])<br />[[Luton Airport|Luton]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LTN]])<br />[[London Southend Airport|Southend]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|SEN]])
| blank_name_sec2    = [[GeoTLD]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[.london]]
| website            = [https://london.gov.uk/ london.gov.uk]
}}
<!-- Please do not make significant changes to the lead without discussing them first on the article's talk page.-->
{{short description|Capital of the United Kingdom}}
'''London''' is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/london?showCookiePolicy=true |title=London |accessdate=23 September 2014 |publisher=Collins Dictionary |date=n.d.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html |title=The World Factbook |date=1 February 2014 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |accessdate=23 February 2014}}</ref> Standing on the [[River Thames]] in the south-east of England, at the head of its {{convert|50|mi|adj=on}} [[estuary]] leading to the [[North Sea]], London has been a major settlement for two millennia. ''[[Londinium]]'' was founded by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]].<ref name="london_001">{{cite web |url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Permanent/RomanLondon.htm |date=n.d. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322235536/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Permanent/RomanLondon.htm |title=Roman London |publisher=[[Museum of London]] |archivedate=22 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[City of London]], London's ancient core − an area of just {{convert|1.12|sqmi|km2}} and colloquially known as the Square Mile − retains boundaries that follow closely its medieval limits.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23518687 |title=London Government Act: Essex, Kent, Surrey and Middlesex 50 years on |work=BBC News |author=Joshua Fowler |date=5 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/news/the_big_debate_is_bromley_in_london_or_kent_1_2266055 |title=The big debate: Is Bromley in London or Kent? |work=[[Bromley Times]] |author=Laurence Cawley |date=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Croydon-London-Croydon-Surrey/story-15224175-detail/story.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212138/http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Croydon-London-Croydon-Surrey/story-15224175-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 14 July 2014 |title=Croydon, London or Croydon, Surrey? |work=[[Croydon Advertiser]] |author=Joanna Till |date=14 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="region">{{cite web |url=http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/factgol/London/?a=42496 |title=Government Offices for the English Regions, Fact Files: London |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=4 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124102915/http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/factgol/London/?a=42496 |archivedate=24 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="elcock">{{Cite book |last=Elcock |first=Howard |title=Local Government: Policy and Management in Local Authorities |publisher=Routledge |location=London |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-415-10167-7 |page=368 |ref=harv}}</ref><ref group="note">See also: [[Independent city#National capitals|Independent city § National capitals]].</ref> The [[City of Westminster]] is also an [[Inner London]] borough holding [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]]. [[Greater London]] is governed by the [[Mayor of London]] and the [[London Assembly]].<ref name="politics_uk">{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Bill |last2=Kavanagh |first2=Dennis |last3=Moran |first3=Michael |last4=Norton |first4=Philip |title=Politics UK |publisher=Pearson Education |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4058-2411-8 |page=868 |ref=harv |location=Harlow}}</ref><ref group="note">The London Mayor is not to be confused with the [[Lord Mayor of London]] who heads the [[City of London Corporation]], which administers the [[City of London]].</ref><ref>Lieutenancies Act 1997</ref>
London is considered to be one of the world's most important [[global cities]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mori-m-foundation.or.jp/english/ius2/gpci2/ |title=Global Power City Index 2017 |accessdate=23 November 2018 |publisher=Institute for Urban Strategies&nbsp;– The Mori Memorial Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/shortcuts/2013/mar/10/london-capital-of-world-divorce-breakfast |title=London: the everything capital of the world |work=The Guardian |author=Adewunmi, Bim |date=10 March 2013 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://moreintelligentlife.co.uk/content/ideas/john-parker/what-capital-world?page=full |title=What's The Capital Of The World? |publisher=More Intelligent Life |accessdate=4 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922132807/http://moreintelligentlife.co.uk/content/ideas/john-parker/what-capital-world?page=full |archivedate=22 September 2013}}</ref>  and has been termed the world's most powerful,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mori-m-foundation.or.jp/english/ius2/gpci2/2018.shtml|title=Global Power City Index 2018|website=The Mori Memorial Foundation|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref>  most desirable,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wealthx.com/report/the-global-property-handbook-collaboration-warburg-realty-barnes-international-realty/|title=The Global Property Handbook a collaboration with Warburg Realty and Barnes International Realty - Wealth-X Report|website=Wealth-X |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> most influential,<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/11040489/London-the-most-influential-city-in-the-world-according-to-Forbes.html |title=London the most influential city in the world according to Forbes |last=Prince |first=Rosa |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=6 December 2018 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location= London }}</ref> most visited,<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/london-retains-crown-in-2015-mastercard-global-destinations-cities-index/|title=London Retains Crown in 2015 MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index |publisher=MasterCard |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> most expensive,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.property-time.co.uk/news/london-is-worlds-most-expensive-city/109514|title=London is World's Most Expensive City {{!}} PropertyTime|website=www.property-time.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.savills.com.au/_news/article/109969/141030-0/10/2015/london-ranked-most-expensive-to-live-and-work--but-sydney-and-los-angeles-offer-best-value|title=London Ranked Most Expensive to Live and Work, But Sydney & Los Angeles Offer Best Value|website=www.savills.com.au |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> innovative,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.innovation-cities.com/innovation-cities-index-2016-2017-global/9774/|title=Innovation Cities™ Index 2016-2017 : Global - by 2thinknow City Rankings|date=23 February 2017|website=Innovation Cities Program & Index |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> sustainable,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arcadis.com/en/global/our-perspectives/sustainable-cities-index-2018/citizen-centric-cities/#|title=Citizen Centric Cities {{!}} 2018 Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index|last=Arcadis|website=www.arcadis.com |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> most investment friendly,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.information-age.com/london-triumphs-worlds-most-attractive-city-foreign-investment-123460180/ |title=London triumphs as world's most attractive city for foreign investment |date=17 September 2015 |website=Information Age |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> and most popular for work<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/london-is-crowned-most-popular-city-in-the-world-for-work-a3870951.html |title=London is crowned most popular city in the world for work |date=25 June 2018 |newspaper=London Evening Standard |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> city in the world. London exerts a considerable impact upon the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transportation.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/edgl45ghmd/no-1-london |title=The World's Most Influential Cities 2014 |accessdate=2 March 2015 |magazine=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-is-the-most-desirable-city-in-the-world-to-work-in-study-finds-9779868.html |title=London is 'the most desirable city in the world to work in', study finds |accessdate=2 March 2015 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=7 October 2014}}</ref> London ranks 26 out of 300 major cities for economic performance.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/01/22/news/economy/london-fastest-growing-western-city/index.html | title=London is on fire as the West's fastest growing city| date=22 January 2015 |work=CNN Money}}</ref> It is one of the largest [[financial centre]]s<ref>[https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_24_final_Report_7kGxEKS.pdf] Retrieved 7 October 2018.</ref> and has either the fifth or sixth largest [[List of cities by GDP|metropolitan area GDP]].<ref group="note">Rankings of cities by metropolitan area GDP can vary as a result of differences in the definition of the boundaries and population sizes of the areas compared, exchange rate fluctuations and the method used to calculate output. London and Paris are of broadly similar size in terms of total economic output which can result in third party sources varying as to which is the fifth-largest city GDP in the world. A report by the McKinsey Global Institute published in 2012 estimated that London had a city GDP of US$751.8 billion in 2010, compared to US$764.2 billion for Paris, making them respectively the sixth- and fifth-largest in the world. A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers published in November 2009 estimated that London had a city GDP measured in purchasing power parity of US$565 billion in 2008, compared to US$564 billion for Paris, making them respectively the fifth- and sixth-largest in the world. The McKinsey Global Institute study used a metropolitan area with a population of 14.9 million for London compared to 11.8 million for Paris, whilst the PricewaterhouseCoopers study used a metropolitan area with a population of 8.59 million for London compared to 9.92 million for Paris.</ref><ref name="forpolgdp">{{cite news |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/13/the_most_dynamic_cities_of_2025 |title=The Most Dynamic Cities of 2025 |accessdate=28 September 2012 |work=Foreign Policy |location=Washington DC |date=September–October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Global city GDP rankings 2008-2025">{{cite web |url=http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/Media-Library/Global-city-GDP-rankings-2008-2025-61a.aspx |title=Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025 |publisher=PricewaterhouseCoopers |accessdate=16 November 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128085345/http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/Media-Library/Global-city-GDP-rankings-2008-2025-61a.aspx |archivedate=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-capital-of-the-world-766661.html |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Simon |last=Calder |date=22 December 2007 |title=London, capital of the world}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23389580-london-is-the-world-capital-of-the-21st-century-says-new-york.do |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091125151618/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23389580-london-is-the-world-capital-of-the-21st-century-says-new-york.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2009 |last=Teodorczuk |first=Tom |title=London is the world capital of the 21st century&nbsp;... says New York |work=London Evening Standard |date=20 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2008/culturecapital.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111118132607/http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2008/culturecapital.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date= 18 November 2011 |title=London is world capital of culture says LSE expert |publisher=London School of Economics |date=11 March 2008}}</ref> It is the most-visited city as measured by international arrivals<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-tops-ranking-of-destination-cities-2291794.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110603143149/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-tops-ranking-of-destination-cities-2291794.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 June 2011 |title=London tops ranking of destination cities |accessdate=12 June 2012 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=1 June 2011 }}</ref> and has the busiest [[List of busiest city airport systems by passenger traffic|city airport system]] as measured by passenger traffic.<ref name="capa1">{{cite web |url=http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/beijing-to-overtake-london-as-worlds-largest-aviation-hub-massive-new-airport-planned-58776 |title=Beijing to overtake London as world's largest aviation hub |accessdate=12 June 2012 |publisher=Centre for Aviation}}</ref> It is the leading [[foreign direct investment|investment]] destination,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gp-investment-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GlobalMonitor2017-GPIA-KPMG-WEBpages.pdf |title=Global Cities Investment Monitor 2017 |accessdate=5 September 2017 |publisher=KPMG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905231231/http://gp-investment-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GlobalMonitor2017-GPIA-KPMG-WEBpages.pdf |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agefi.fr/sites/agefi.fr/files/fichiers/2016/07/gpia-kpmg-gcim_2016.pdf |title=Global Cities Investment Monitor 2016 |accessdate=12 September 2016 |publisher=KPMG}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbre.com/o/international/investor-intentions-survey/Pages/default.aspx |title=Global Investor Intentions Survey 2015 |accessdate=27 August 2015 |publisher=CBRE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpropertyjournal.com/real-estate-news/united-kingdom/london-real-estate-news/global-property-investor-data-2015-global-investor-intentions-survey-2015-cbre-london-office-property-investors-new-york-commercial-investors-hong-kong-real-estate-investors-9065.php#sthash.YLLTORSE.dpuf |title=London Top Target for Global Investors, Secondary Markets Gain Popularity |accessdate=27 August 2015 |publisher=World Property Journal}}</ref> hosting more [[Retail#Global top ten retailers|international retailers]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://researchgateway.cbre.com/Layouts/PublicReportAccess/Default.aspx?PUBID=e351a0b7-1ce9-40f8-8278-19d18cea5b2f |title=Global Retail Report 2014 |accessdate=27 August 2015 |publisher=CBRE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/london-retains-title-as-worlds-most-international-shopping-destination-10258033.html |author=Bourke, Joanna |title=London retains title as world's most international shopping destination |website=London Evening Standard |date=18 May 2015 |accessdate=27 August 2015}}</ref> and [[ultra high-net-worth individual]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knightfrank.com/research/the-wealth-report-2015-2716.aspx |title=The Wealth Report 2015 |accessdate=27 August 2015 |publisher=Knight Frank}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2015/03/11/nyc_is_no_longer_the_no_1_city_for_the_superwealthy.php |author=Bourke, Joanna |title=NYC Is No Longer the No. 1 City for the Super-Wealthy |website=Curbed |date=11 March 2015 |accessdate=27 August 2015}}</ref> than any other city. London's universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe,<ref name="london2">{{cite press release |date=20 August 2008 |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/number-international-students-london-continues-grow |title=Number of international students in London continues to grow |publisher=Greater London Authority |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124154712/http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/number-international-students-london-continues-grow |archivedate=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is home of world-class institutions such as [[Imperial College London]] in [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]] and the [[London School of Economics]] in [[economics]], [[finance]], and [[business]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings|title=Times Higher Education World University Rankings}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/imperial-college-london|title=Top Universities: Imperial College London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top Universities: LSE |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/london-school-economics-political-science-lse/undergrad |accessdate=21 September 2019}}</ref> In [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012]], London became the first city to have hosted three modern [[Summer Olympic Games]].<ref name="IOC">{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/media?calendartab=1&articleid=52922 |title=IOC elects London as the Host City of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 |date=6 July 2005 |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |accessdate=3 June 2006}}</ref>
London has a diverse range of people and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region.<ref name=london_006>{{cite web |url=http://www.cilt.org.uk/faqs/langspoken.htm |title=Languages spoken in the UK population |publisher=National Centre for Language |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511215527/http://www.cilt.org.uk/faqs/langspoken.htm |archivedate=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{webarchive|format=addlarchives|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050213180755/http://www.cilt.org.uk/faqs/langspoken.htm|date=13 February 2005}}</ref> Its estimated mid-2018 municipal population (corresponding to [[Greater London]]) was 8,908,081,<ref name="ons-pop-estimates">{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland
|title=Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |last= |first= |date=28 September 2018 |website= |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] |accessdate=15 August 2019}}</ref> the most populous of any [[List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits|city in the European Union]]<ref name="largest_city_eu">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=384 |title=Largest EU City. Over 7&nbsp;million residents in 2001 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=28 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108101256/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=384|archive-date=8 January 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref> and accounting for 13.4% of the UK population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/applications/focus-london-population-and-migration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016225915/http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/applications/focus-london-population-and-migration |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2010 |title=Focus on London&nbsp;– Population and Migration &#124; London DataStore |publisher=Greater London Authority |accessdate=10 February 2012 }}</ref> [[Greater London Built-up Area|London's urban area]] is the second [[List of urban areas in the European Union|most populous in the EU]], after [[Paris]], with 9,787,426 inhabitants at the 2011 census.<ref name="urbanpopulation">{{cite web |url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx |title=2011 Census – Built-up areas |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] |accessdate=29 June 2013}}</ref> The population within the [[London commuter belt]] is the [[List of metropolitan areas in the European Union|most populous in the EU]] with 14,040,163 inhabitants in 2016.{{refn|According to the [[Eurostat|European Statistical Agency]] (Eurostat), London has the largest [[Larger Urban Zones|Larger Urban Zone]] in the EU. Eurostat uses the sum of the populations of the contiguous urban core and the surrounding commuting zone as its definition.|group=note}}<ref name="appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu show"/><ref name="gla-plan-2015">{{cite web |title=The London Plan (March 2015) |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/current-london-plan/london-plan-chapter-two-londons-places/policy-22 |website=London.gov.uk |publisher=The Greater London Authority |accessdate=27 January 2017|date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> London was the world's most populous city from {{circa}} 1831 to 1925.<ref name=london_030>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/i-m/london4.html |title=London: The greatest city |publisher=Channel 4 |accessdate=12 October 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510063611/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/i-m/london4.html |archivedate=10 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
London contains four [[World Heritage Site]]s: the [[Tower of London]]; [[Kew Gardens]]; the site comprising the [[Palace of Westminster]], [[Westminster Abbey]], and [[St Margaret's, Westminster|St Margaret's Church]]; and the historic settlement in [[Greenwich]] where the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich]] defines the [[Prime Meridian]], 0° [[longitude]], and [[Greenwich Mean Time]].<ref name=london_005>{{cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gb |title=Lists: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |publisher=UNESCO |accessdate=26 November 2008}}</ref> Other landmarks include [[Buckingham Palace]], the [[London Eye]], [[Piccadilly Circus]], [[St Paul's Cathedral]], [[Tower Bridge]], [[Trafalgar Square]] and [[The Shard]]. London has numerous [[List of museums in London|museums]], galleries, libraries and [[Sport in London|sporting events]]. These include the [[British Museum]], [[National Gallery]], [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]], [[Tate Modern]], [[British Library]] and [[West End theatre]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821201275286&title=West+End+Must+Innovate+to+Renovate%2C+Says+Report |title=West End Must Innovate to Renovate, Says Report |accessdate=15 November 2010 |work=What's On Stage |date=25 January 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430190446/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821201275286&title=West+End+Must+Innovate+to+Renovate%2C+Says+Report |archivedate=30 April 2011 |location=London |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[London Underground]] is the oldest underground railway network in the world.{{TOC limit|limit=3}}
==Toponymy==
{{main|Etymology of London}}
"London" is an ancient name, attested already in the first century AD, usually in the Latinised form ''[[Londinium]]'';<ref name="mills_139">{{Harvnb|Mills|2001|p=139}}</ref> for example, handwritten Roman tablets recovered in the city originating from AD 65/70-80 include the word ''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 |accessdate=1 June 2016}}</ref>
Over the years, the name has attracted many mythicising explanations. The earliest attested appears in [[Geoffrey of Monmouth|Geoffrey of Monmouth's]] ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'', written around 1136.<ref name="mills_139"/> This had it that the name originated from a supposed [[Lud son of Heli|King Lud]], who had allegedly taken over the city and named it ''Kaerlud''.<ref name=london_009>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/02/books/chapters/02-1st-ackro.html |title=London |last=Ackroyd |first=Peter |work=The New York Times |accessdate=28 October 2008 |date=2 December 2001 |isbn=978-0-7011-7279-4}}</ref>
Modern scientific analyses of the name must account for the origins of the different forms found in early sources [[Latin]] (usually ''Londinium''), [[Old English]] (usually ''Lunden''), and [[Welsh language|Welsh]] (usually ''Llundein''), with reference to the known developments over time of sounds in those different languages. It is agreed that the name came into these languages from [[Common Brittonic|Common Brythonic]]; recent work tends to reconstruct the lost Celtic form of the name as *[Londonjon] or something similar. This was adapted into Latin as ''Londinium'' and borrowed into [[Old English]], the ancestor-language of English.<ref name="auto">Theodora Bynon, 'London's Name', ''Transactions of the Philological Society'', 114:3 (2016), 281–97, {{doi|10.1111/1467-968X.12064}}.</ref>
The toponymy of the Common Brythonic form is much debated. A prominent explanation was [[Richard Coates|Richard Coates's]] 1998 argument that the name derived from pre-Celtic [[Old European hydronymy|Old European]] ''*(p)lowonida'', meaning "river too wide to ford". Coates suggested that this was a name given to the part of the [[River Thames]] which flows through London; from this, the settlement gained the Celtic form of its name, ''*Lowonidonjon''.<ref name=coates>{{Cite journal |last=Coates |first=Richard |year=1998 |title=A new explanation of the name of London |journal=Transactions of the Philological Society |volume=96 |issue=2 |pages=203–229 |doi=10.1111/1467-968X.00027 |ref=harv }}</ref> However, most work has accepted a Celtic origin for the name, and recent studies have favoured an explanation along the lines of a Celtic derivative of a [[proto-Indo-European]] root *''lend<sup>h</sup>-'' ('sink, cause to sink'), combined with the Celtic suffix *-''injo''- or *-''onjo''- (used to form place-names). [[Peter Schrijver]] has specifically suggested, on these grounds, that the name originally meant 'place that floods (periodically, tidally)'.<ref>Peter Schrijver, ''Language Contact and the Origins of the Germanic Languages'', Routledge Studies in Linguistics, 13 (New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 57.</ref><ref name="auto"/>
Until 1889, the name "London" applied to the [[City of London]], but since then it has also referred to the County of London and [[Greater London]].<ref name="mills_140">{{Harvnb|Mills|2001|p=140}}</ref> "London" is sometimes written informally as "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 |accessdate=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>
==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 |accessdate=15 April 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427021948/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba46/ba46news.html |archivedate=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 |accessdate=19 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707053946/http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/londons-oldest-prehistoric-structure/ |archivedate=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 |accessdate=15 April 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430002236/http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/frog-blog/london-s-oldest-find-discovered-at-vauxhall |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The function of the mesolithic structure is not known. Both structures are on the south bank where the [[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=harv}}</ref> This lasted only until around AD 61, when the [[Iceni]] tribe led by [[Boudica|Queen Boudica]] stormed it, burning it to the ground.<ref name=london_010>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/romanbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml |title=British History Timeline&nbsp;—Roman Britain |publisher=BBC |accessdate=7 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/romanbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</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 |author=Anne 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 |url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Londinium.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108092449/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Londinium.htm |archivedate=8 January 2009 |publisher=Museum of London |title=The last days of Londinium |accessdate=31 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</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]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610043903/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Past/MissingLink/Themes/TML_themes_Lundenwic.htm |archivedate=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 |accessdate=19 January 2016 |last1=Wheeler |first1=Kip}}</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 |authorlink=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 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/1066_06.shtml |title=History&nbsp;– 1066&nbsp;– King William |publisher=BBC |accessdate=5 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922053048/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/1066_06.shtml |archivedate=22 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</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=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_02.shtml |title=A History of British Architecture&nbsp;— White Tower |last=Tinniswood |first=Adrian |authorlink=Adrian Tinniswood |publisher=BBC |accessdate=5 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213124332/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_02.shtml |archivedate=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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311032051/http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/building.cfm |archivedate=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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404171249/http://www.parliament.uk/parliament/guide/palace.htm |archivedate=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 [[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 |last=Schofield |first=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/?id=Qu7QLC7g7VgC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26 |page=26 |ref=harv}}</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 journal |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.shtml |title=Black Death |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191039/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.shtml |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC History |accessdate=3 November 2008 |ref=harv }}</ref> London was the focus of the [[Peasants' Revolt]] in 1381.<ref name=london_020>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/richard_ii_king.shtml |title=Richard II (1367–1400) |publisher=BBC |accessdate=12 October 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191132/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/richard_ii_king.shtml |archivedate=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|title=England|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5764-england|website=[[Jewish Encyclopedia]]|publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com|year=1906}}</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 |author = Robin R. 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>[[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner, Nikolaus]]. ''London I: The Cities of London and Westminster'' rev. edition, 1962. Introduction p. 48.</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>J. G. Pounds (1976). "An Historical Geography of Europe 450 B.C.-A.D. 1330, Part 1330". p. 430. CUP Archive</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>Ramsay, George Daniel (1986). The Queen's Merchants and the Revolt of the Netherlands: The End of the Antwerp Mart. Volume 2, pp. 1 and 62–63. Manchester University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-7190-1849-7}}</ref> The [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] was founded.<ref>The life and times of Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange: including notices of many of his contemporaries. With illustrations, Volume 2, pp.&nbsp;80–81, John William Burgon, E. Wilson, 1839.</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=59 |ref=harv}}</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>Doolittle, Ian (2014) ‘The Great Refusal’: Why Does the City of London Corporation Only Govern the Square Mile?, The London Journal, 39:1, 21-36, {{DOI|10.1179/0305803413Z.00000000038}}.</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>David Flintham. ''[http://www.fortified-places.com/london/ Civil War fortifications of London] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116190923/http://www.fortified-places.com/london/ |date=16 January 2009 }}'', [http://www.fortified-places.com/ Fortified Places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409161452/http://www.fortified-places.com/ |date=9 April 2008 }}, 13 July 2009</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>
David Flintham. ''[http://www.fortified-places.com/london/ Civil War fortifications of London] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116190923/http://www.fortified-places.com/london/ |date=16 January 2009 }}'', [http://www.fortified-places.com/ Fortified Places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409161452/http://www.fortified-places.com/ |date=9 April 2008 }}, 18 August 2008. Citing:
* ''The English Civil War – A Contemporary Account'', Caliban Books, London, (1996), Vol. 3, p. 33.
* Whitelocke, in Victor T. C. Smith ''The Defences of London During the English Civil War'', Fort, Volume 25, Fortress Study Group, (1997). p. 79.
</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 |accessdate=3 May 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508010316/http://urbanrim.org.uk/plague%20list.htm |archivedate=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 |url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/plague/story.html |title=Story of the plague |publisher=Channel 4 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513041728/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/plague/story.html |archivedate=13 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</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 |authorlink=Samuel Pepys |title=The Diary of Samuel Pepys |volume=45: August/September 1666 |date=2 September 1666 |origyear=1893 |editor=[[Mynors Bright]] (decipherer) |editor2=[[Henry B. Wheatley]] |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4167/pg4167.html |ref=harv |isbn=978-0-520-22167-3 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813025236/http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4167/pg4167.html |archivedate=13 August 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Rebuilding took over ten years and was supervised by [[Robert Hooke]]<ref name=london_026>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/after_fire_02.shtml |title=London After the Great Fire: Civil War and Revolution |author=Schofield, John |date=17 February 2011 |publisher=BBC History |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410000142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/after_fire_02.shtml |archivedate=10 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=london_027>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/Themes/1405/ |title=Rebuilding after the fire |publisher=Museum of London |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201204641/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/Themes/1405/ |archivedate=1 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=london_028>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/?id=jX8ZAAAAIAAJ&q=rebuilding+of+london |title=The Rebuilding of London After the Great Fire |publisher=Thomas Fiddian |year=1940 |accessdate=27 April 2008}}</ref> as Surveyor of London.<ref name=london_029>The curious life of Robert Hooke, the man who measured London by Lisa Jardine</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>"[https://www.pbs.org/kqed/demonbarber/madding/thieftaker.html Thief Taker, Constable, Police]". Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).</ref> In total, more than 200 offences were punishable by death,<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Peter |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8181192.stm |title=Rough justice&nbsp;– Victorian style |work=BBC News |date=3 August 2009 |accessdate=13 December 2011}}</ref> including petty theft.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894775,00.html |title=National Affairs: Capital punishment: a fading practice |work=Time |location=New York |date=21 March 1960 |accessdate=13 December 2011}}</ref> Most children born in the city died before reaching their third birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/foundling_01.shtml |title=The Foundling Hospital |publisher=BBC History |date=17 February 2011 |accessdate=13 December 2011}}</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, especially a large Jewish community, and the first London international issue{{clarify|date=January 2017}} 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/?id=Yor4DAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover |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> In 1888, London became home to a series of murders by a man known only as [[Jack the Ripper]] and It has since become one of the world's most famous unsolved mysteries.
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 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427035831/http://www.samueljohnson.com/tiredlon.html |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>}}
===Late modern and contemporary===
[[File:British recruits August 1914 Q53234.jpg|thumb|British volunteer recruits in London, August 1914]]
London was the world's [[List of largest cities throughout history|largest city]] from {{circa}}1831 to 1925.<ref name="london_030"/> 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 |accessdate=13 December 2011}}</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 |accessdate=13 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230164544/http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/london_19c.html |archivedate=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. [[German strategic bombing during World War I|London was 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|url=http://kar.kent.ac.uk/56579/3/LJ_Introduction%20%2528final%20version%20for%20Kent%20repository%2529.pdf }}</ref> and during the [[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 |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/bomb-damage-maps-reveal-londons-world-war-ii-devastation.aspx |title=Bomb-Damage Maps Reveal London's World War II Devastation |date=18 May 2016 |website=nationalgeographic.com.au |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> Immediately after the war, 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 |url=http://time.com/3877686/1948-london-summer-olympics-life-photos/ |title=LIFE at the 1948 London Olympics |last=Ronk |first=Liz |date=27 July 2013 |website=time.com |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref>
[[File:LondonBombedWWII full.jpg|thumb|left|A bombed-out London street during [[the Blitz]] of the Second World War]]
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=Christopher Hibbert |author2=Ben Weinreb |author3=John Keay |author4=Julia Keay |title=The London Encyclopaedia (3rd Edition) |publisher=Pan Macmillan |year=2010 |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 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/3/newsid_2481000/2481099.stm |title=1951: King George opens Festival of Britain |website=news.bbc.co.uk |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=nytimes.com |publisher=NYT |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=Gregory Byrne Bracken |title=Walking Tour London: Sketches of the city's architectural treasures... Journey Through London's Urban Landscapes |publisher=Marshall Cavendish International |year=2011 |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 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> for two decades, starting with the [[Old Bailey bombing]] in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/london-attack-ira-terror-threat-severe-bomb-terrorism-573629|title=How Britain's history with the IRA made it resilient to attacks|date=24 March 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4734400|title=Timeline: London's Explosive History|publisher=}}</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 |accessdate=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 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/31/newsid_2530000/2530803.stm |title= 1986: Greater London Council abolished |website=news.bbc.co.uk |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 |accessdate=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&nbsp;July Bombings: Overview |work=BBC News |location=London |accessdate=28 April 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061225041921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/what_happened/html/default.stm |archivedate=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 |author=Ben Derudder |title=International Handbook of Globalization and World Cities |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |year=2011 |page=422}}</ref> In January 2015, Greater London's population was estimated to be 8.63 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://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/dataset/population-change-1939-2015/historical%20population%201939-2015.pdf|archive-date=Feb 2015|url-status=live |website=London Datastore |publisher=Greater London Authority |accessdate=7 July 2015}}</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 |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 |title=Thousands call on Sadiq Khan to declare London's independence |date=24 June 2016}}</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 |url=http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/who-runs-london |title=Who runs London |publisher=London Government |access-date=29 March 2017}}</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 |accessdate=19 September 2016 |agency=Reuters |date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2016/london/results |title=London Elections 2016: Results |work=BBC News |accessdate=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 |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan |title=The London Plan |publisher=Greater London Authority |accessdate=25 May 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508220051/http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/londonplan |archivedate=8 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</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 |url=http://directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/ |title=London Government Directory |publisher=London Government |access-date=29 March 2017}}</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 billion (£14.7 billion for the boroughs and £7.4 billion for the GLA).<ref>http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1911067.pdf</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 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429034538/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/WhoWeAre.asp |archivedate=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 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427031902/http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/about_us.aspx |archivedate=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 |url=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/aboutus/mcga-online/mcga-sailing-cg66/dops_-_all-cg66-stationlist.htm |title=Station list |year=2007 |publisher=Maritime and Coastguard Agency |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=8 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Lifeboat">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1739401.stm |title=Thames lifeboat service launched |date=2 January 2002 |work=BBC News |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040526015753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1739401.stm |archivedate=26 May 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is under the jurisdiction of the [[Port of London Authority]] from [[Teddington Lock]] to the sea.<ref name="portlondonauthority">{{cite web |url=http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/Port_of_London_Act_1968__revised_.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005959/http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/Port_of_London_Act_1968__revised_.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |title=Port of London Act 1968 |accessdate=30 November 2013}}</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 |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510193022/http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp |archivedate=10 May 2008 |title=10 Downing Street&nbsp;— Official Website |accessdate=26 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The British Parliament is often referred to as the "Mother of Parliaments" (although this [[sobriquet]] was first applied to England itself, and not to Westminster, by [[John Bright]])<ref name="london_037">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/talking_politics/96021.stm |publisher=BBC |accessdate=6 June 2008 |date=3 June 1998 |title=UK Politics: Talking Politics&nbsp;— The 'Mother of Parliaments' |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040114005709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/talking_politics/96021.stm |archivedate=14 January 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> because it has been a model for many other [[parliamentary system]]s.<ref name="london_037"/> 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|2015|May}}, 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 web |title=General Election Results 2017 |url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/general-election-results-2017 |website=London DataStore |accessdate=15 October 2017 |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |date=8 June 2017 |quote=Download the spreadsheet and count up}}</ref>
The UK government ministerial post of [[Minister for London]] was created in 1994 and currently occupied by [[Nick Hurd]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-46205600|title=Nick Hurd announced as London Minister|date=2018-11-14|access-date=2019-09-12|language=en-GB}}</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 Service]], 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 |accessdate=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 |accessdate=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 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121173357/http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/policing.jsp |archivedate=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 |url=http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/areas.aspx |title=Areas |publisher=British Transport Police |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501050551/http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/areas.aspx |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
A fourth police force in London, the [[Ministry of Defence Police]], do not generally become involved with policing the general public.
Crime rates vary widely by area, ranging from parts with serious issues to parts considered very safe. Today crime figures are made available nationally at [[Local authority#England|Local Authority]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ia/atlas.html |title=Home Office Interactive Crime Atlas |publisher=Homeoffice.gov.uk |accessdate=13 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415180307/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ia/atlas.html |archivedate=15 April 2010 }}</ref> and [[Ward (England)|Ward]] level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.police.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023062733/http://maps.police.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2009 |title=National Policing Improvement Agency: Local Crime Mapping}}</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 |accessdate=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 |accessdate=13 December 2011}}</ref>
Recorded crime has been rising in London, notably violent crime and murder by stabbing and other means have risen. There have been 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>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/10/sadiq-khan-holds-city-hall-summit-on-how-to-tackle-violent Sadiq Khan holds City Hall summit on how to tackle violent crime] ''The Guardian''</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://books.google.com/?id=YFYDAAAAQAAJ |ref=harv}}</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=harv}}</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=harv}}</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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107231348/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19930441_en_1.htm |archivedate=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=268 |ref=harv}}</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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527193714/http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/london_regional_200104.pdf |archivedate=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 |accessdate=6 May 2008 |isbn=978-0-16-053895-7 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817142118/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |archivedate=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=http://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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817141948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |archivedate=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 |accessdate=6 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530092718/http://londonist.com/2014/04/where-is-the-centre-of-london-an-update |archivedate=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 |accessdate=7 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522210452/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970023_en_1 |archivedate=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 |year=1991 |publisher=Routledge |page=346 |ref=harv}}</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 name=london_061>(1994) ''Collins English Dictionary'', Collins Education plc.</ref> London is not the capital of England, as England does not have its own government. According to the ''Oxford English Reference Dictionary'' definition of 'the most important town'<ref name=london_062>''Oxford English Reference Dictionary'', Oxford English.</ref> and many other authorities.<ref name=london_063>"HC 501 0304.PDF" (PDF). Parliament Publications</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 |date=June 1999 |title=British Archaeology |publisher=British Archaeology |issue=45 |issn=1357-4442 |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba45/ba45regs.html |accessdate=6 May 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425074539/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba45/ba45regs.html |archivedate=25 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</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 |accessdate=3 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=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/?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 |accessdate=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]] |accessdate=19 June 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215080725/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/flooding/?version=1&lang=_e |archivedate=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]] |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523225152/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/sealevels/?version=1&lang=_e |archivedate=23 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=8805 |archiveurl=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]] |archivedate=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 |accessdate=7 November 2009 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140001/http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/31/thames-flood-barrier-london |archivedate=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
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}}
London has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb '') receiving less precipitation than Rome, [[Bordeaux]], Lisbon, [[Naples]], Sydney or New York City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations |website=bom.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldweather.org/176/c00604.htm |title=Weather Information for Naples |publisher=Worldweather.org |date=5 October 2006 |accessdate=4 May 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ The Weather Network] 18 November 2011</ref><ref>[http://france.meteofrance.com/france/climat_france?CLIMAT_PORTLET.path=climatstationn%2F31069001 Prévisions météo de Météo-France – Climat en France]{{dead link|date=July 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 18 November 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.worldweather.org/062/c01058.htm World Weather Information Service – Toulouse] 18 November 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/new-york/new-york/united-states/usny0996 |title=Climate New York – New York and Weather averages New York |first=US Climate |last=Data}}</ref> Temperature extremes in London range from {{convert|38.1|°C|°F|1}} at Kew during 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|-21.1|°C|°F}}. <ref>https://londonist.com/london/history/how-cold-can-london-get</ref> However, an unofficial reading of {{convert|-24|°C|°F}} was reported on 3 January 1740.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonist.com/london/history/how-cold-can-london-get|title=What's The Coldest It's Ever Been In London?|date=6 December 2016|website=Londonist|accessdate=10 April 2019}}</ref> Conversely, the highest unofficial temperature ever known to be recorded in the United Kingdom occurred in London in the [[1808 United Kingdom heat wave|1808 heat wave.]] The temperature was recorded at {{convert|105|°F|°C|1}} on 13 July. It is thought that this temperature, if accurate, is one of the highest temperatures of the millennium in the United Kingdom. It is thought that only days in 1513 and 1707 could have beaten this.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trevorharley.com/weather-july.html|title=Trevor Harley Weather History in July|date=6 June 2019|website=Londonist|accessdate=9 June 2019}}</ref> Since records began in London (first at Greenwich in 1841<ref name="metoffice.gov.uk">https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/i/7/aug1911.pdf</ref>), the warmest month on record is July 1868, with a mean temperature of {{convert|22.5|°C|°F}} at [[Greenwich]] whereas the coldest month is December 2010, with a mean temperature of {{convert|-6.7|°C|°F}} at [[Northolt]].<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>
Summers are generally warm, sometimes hot. London's average July high is 24&nbsp;°C (74&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}} every year. During the [[2003 European heat wave]] there were 14 consecutive days above {{convert|30|°C|°F|1}} and 2 consecutive days when temperatures reached {{convert|38|°C|°F}}, leading 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 |url=http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=558}}</ref> There was also a previous spell of 15 consecutive days above {{convert|32.2|°C|°F|1}} in 1976 which also caused many heat related deaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=libgen&id=1432|title=TWO content|website=TheWeatherOutlook|accessdate=10 April 2019}}</ref> The previous record high was {{convert|38|°C|°F}} in August 1911 at the Greenwich station.<ref name="metoffice.gov.uk"/> 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|accessdate=10 April 2019}}</ref> and with much drier than average conditions prevailing from May to December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/droughts/|title=EIP - Droughts|website=eip.ceh.ac.uk|accessdate=10 April 2019}}</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|accessdate=10 April 2019}}</ref>
Winters are generally cool with little temperature variation. Heavy snow is rare but snow usually happens 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 |accessdate=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015955/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/docs/UHI_summary_report.pdf |archivedate=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 |title=Ever warmer as temperatures rival France |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463994/Ever-warmer-as-temperatures-rival-France.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=9 June 2004 |author=Eden, Philip}}</ref>
Although London and the British Isles have a reputation of frequent rainfall, London's average of {{convert|602|mm|inch}} of precipitation annually actually makes it drier than the global average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eldoradoweather.com/climate/world-maps/images/world-rainfall-map.png|title=World total annual rainfall map|publisher=El Dorado Weather|accessdate=9 June 2019}}</ref> The absence of heavy winter rainfall leads to many climates around the [[Mediterranean]] having more annual precipitation than London.<!-- Naples, Rome, Monaco, Genoa, Annaba, Rijeka, Tirana to name a few, see their respective sources for weatherboxes. -->
{{London weatherbox}}
===Districts===
{{Main|List of districts of London|London boroughs}}
London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names, such as [[Bloomsbury]], [[Mayfair]], [[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 |accessdate=3 November 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213025156/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/city-government/boroughs.jsp |archivedate=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/?id=_GFPAAAAMAAJ&q=1965,+32+boroughs+of+london |ref=harv}}</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 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106051217/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/business-and-jobs/financial-centre.jsp |archivedate=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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |date=22 October 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511121403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1608619.stm |archivedate=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 |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=7 June 2008 |location=London |first=James |last=Meek |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501134745/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/apr/17/tax.g2 |archivedate=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 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 |author=Rupert Jones |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 August 2014 |accessdate=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 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829024354/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8487518/site/newsweek/ |archivedate=29 August 2006 |title=Tomorrow's East End |newspaper=Newsweek |author=Flynn, Emily |location=New York |url-status=live }}</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]] is a historic medieval castle, the oldest part of which dates back 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 web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/hampton_court_01.shtml |title=Hampton Court: The Lost Palace |publisher=BBC History |date=29 March 2011 |author=Foyle, Jonathan |accessdate=16 June 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/hampton_court_01.shtml |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:30 St Mary Axe from Leadenhall Street.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[30 St Mary Axe]], also known as "the Gherkin", towers over [[St Andrew Undershaft]]; modern styles juxtaposed by historic styles is seen often in London.|alt=|right]]
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 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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525164017/http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paddington_Station.html |archivedate=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]].
[[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... ? |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=12 October 2008 |location=London |first=Sarah |last=Lonsdale |date=27 March 2008 |archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20130308205754/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/3360810/Eco-homes-Wooden-it-be-lovely...-.html |archivedate=8 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</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 European Union|tallest building in the European Union]].
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 |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528025840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2129199.stm |archivedate=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.jpg|1000px|The [[Houses of Parliament]] and [[Elizabeth Tower]] 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 suggest 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 [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs), two [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]]s and 76 [[local nature reserve]]s.<ref>London Natural History Society.</ref>
[[Amphibians]] are common in the capital, including [[smooth newt]]s living by the [[Tate Modern]], and common frogs, common [[toad]]s, [[palmate newt]]s and [[great crested newt]]s. On the other hand, native reptiles such as [[slowworm]]s, [[common lizard]]s, [[grass snake]]s and [[Vipera berus|adders]], are mostly only seen in [[Outer London]].<ref>Laurie Tuffrey (27 July 2012). [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/27/london-amphibian-reptile-map "London's amphibians and reptile populations mapped".] ''The Guardian''. London.</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{{nbsp}}II's prized [[pink flamingo]]s. 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 |accessdate=23 November 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/foxes-london_2.html "10,000 Foxes Roam London". James Owen in London for ''National Geographic'' News, 15 May 2006]</ref>
Other mammals found in [[Greater London]] are [[hedgehog]]s, rats, mice, rabbit, shrew, vole, and squirrels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/mammals |title=Mammals |website=The Royal Parks}}</ref> In wilder areas of Outer London, such as [[Epping Forest]], a wide variety of mammals are found, including [[hare]], [[badger]], field, bank and water [[vole]], [[wood mouse]], [[yellow-necked mouse]], [[Mole (animal)|mole]], [[shrew]], and [[weasel]], in addition to fox, squirrel and hedgehog. A dead 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 |author=Peter Law |website=This Is Local London }}</ref> Ten of England's eighteen species of [[bat]]s have been recorded in Epping Forest: soprano, nathusius and common pipistrelles, noctule, serotine, barbastelle, daubenton's, brown Long-eared, natterer's and 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}}</ref>
Among the strange sights seen in London have been a whale in the Thames,<ref>Liam O'Brien, (24 March 2013). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dead-whale-found-floating-in-the-thames-estuary-will-be-examined-8547350.html "Dead whale found floating in the Thames Estuary 'will be examined'"]. ''The Independent on Sunday'' (London).</ref> while the BBC Two programme "Natural World: Unnatural History of London" shows pigeons 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 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18428378?print=true |title=BBC Nature – A Question of Nature: How hidden is the UK's wild side? |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 |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/10026864.Richmond_Park_deer_cull_begins/ |title=Richmond Park deer cull begins |work=Wandsworth Guardian |date=5 November 2012 |accessdate=9 November 2012 |author=Rachel Bishop |location=London}}</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]]. [[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 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/in-pictures-londons-urban-deer-9149902.html |title=In pictures: London's urban deer |work=London Evening Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9761337.Photographer_snaps_Muntjac_deer_in_Mill_Hill_garden/ |title=Photographer snaps Muntjac deer in Mill Hill garden |author=Emma Innes |work=Edgware & Mill Hill Times |date=14 June 2012 |location=London}}</ref>
==Demography==
{{Main|Demography of London}}
{{Table London top 10 birth countries}}
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 250
| header = London maps showing the percentage distribution of selected races according to the 2011 Census
| image1 = White Greater London 2011 census.png
| alt1 = White
| caption1 = White British
| image2 = Asian Greater London 2011 census.png
| alt2 = Asian
| caption2 = Asian  British
| image3 = Black Greater London 2011 census.png
| alt3 = Black
| caption3 = Black  British
}}
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>
With increasing industrialisation, London's population grew rapidly throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it was for some time in the late 19th and early 20th centuries the most populous city in the world. Its population peaked at 8,615,245 in 1939 immediately before the outbreak of the Second World War, but had declined to 7,192,091 at the 2001 Census. However, the population then grew by just over a million between the 2001 and 2011 Censuses, to reach 8,173,941 in the latter enumeration.<ref>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-unitary-authorities-in-wales/chd-we-figure-1.xls "2011 Census. London population"]. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 May 2015</ref>
However, London's continuous urban area extends beyond the borders of Greater London and was home to 9,787,426 people in 2011,<ref name="urbanpopulation"/> while its wider [[London metropolitan area|metropolitan area]] has a population of between 12 and 14&nbsp;million depending on the definition used.<ref name=metro_area_1>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html |title=The Principal Agglomerations of the World |website=City Population |accessdate=3 March 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704112702/http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html |archivedate=4 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=metro2>{{cite web |url=http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119 |title=British urban pattern: population data |accessdate=22 February 2010 |date=March 2007 |website=ESPON project 1.4.3 Study on Urban Functions |publisher=[[European Spatial Planning Observation Network]] |page=119 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119 |archivedate=24 September 2015 }}</ref> According to [[Eurostat]], London is the [[List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits|most populous city and metropolitan area of the European Union]] and the second [[List of metropolitan areas in Europe|most populous in Europe]]. During the period 1991–2001 a net 726,000&nbsp;immigrants arrived in London.<ref name="Immigration">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article379434.ece |title=Immigration rise increases segregation in British cities |last=Leppard |first=David |date=10 April 2005 |work=The Times |accessdate=8 August 2009 |location=London}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
The region covers an area of {{convert|1579|km2|sqmi}}. The population density is {{convert|5177|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}},<ref>{{cite book |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 World Association of the Major Metropolises |accessdate=3 May 2010 |isbn=978-0-7306-2020-4 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=27 April 2011}}</ref> more than ten times that of any other [[NUTS:UK|British region]].<ref name=london_087>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/regional_snapshot/RS_Lon.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624195152/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/regional_snapshot/RS_Lon.pdf |archivedate=24 June 2008 |title=Population density of London: by London borough, 2006 |publisher=UK Statistics Authority |url-status=live }}</ref> In terms of population, London is the 19th [[World's largest cities|largest city]] and the 18th [[List of metropolitan areas by population|largest metropolitan]] region.<ref name=Billionaires>{{cite news |title='Rich List' counts more than 100 UK billionaires |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27360032 |accessdate=11 May 2014 |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=11 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=london_089>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/11/pf/costofliving/ |title=World's Most Expensive Cities 2004 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=16 August 2007 |date=11 June 2004 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501115458/http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/11/pf/costofliving/ |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Age structure and median age===
In 2018, London's population by age is structured differently to the rest of England's. London has a higher proportion of children under the age of 5 than the rest of England. The children (aged younger than 14 years) constitutes a 21 percent in Outer London, and 28 percent in Inner London; the age group aged between 15 and 24 years are 12 percent in both Outer and Inner London; those aged between 25 and 44 years a 31 percent in Outer London and 40 percent in Inner London; the aged between 45 and 64 years formed the 26 and 21 percent in Outer and Inner London respectively; while in Outer London the aged 65 and older were the 13 percent, in Inner London were just the 9 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/data/londons-population-age/|title=London's population by age|author=Trust for London}}</ref>
The [[median age]] of London in 2017 is 36.5 years old.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43316697|title=Where are the UK's youngest and oldest city populations?|author1=Paul Swinney|author2=Andrew Carter|work=BBC news|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
===Ethnic groups===
{{Main|Ethnic groups in London}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Ethnic groups in the 2011 census <ref name=2011censusdemo>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls "2011 Census: Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales"]. [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]]. Retrieved 3 July 2014</ref>
|label1 = White British
|value1 = 44.9
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = Other White
|value2 = 14.9
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = Asian British
|value3 = 18.4
|color3 = #ff471a
|label4 = Black British
|value4 = 13.3
|color4 = #ffff00
|label5 = Arab British
|value5 = 1.3
|color5 = #66ff33
|label6 = Mixed
|value6 = 5
|color6 = #ac00e6
|label7 = Other
|value7 = 2.2
|color7 = #ffa31a
}}
According to the [[Office for National Statistics]], based on the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]] estimates, 59.8 per cent of the 8,173,941 inhabitants of London were [[White people|White]], with 44.9 per cent [[White British]], 2.2 per cent [[Irish migration to Great Britain|White Irish]], 0.1 per cent [[Gypsy (term)|gypsy]]/[[Irish traveller]] and 12.1 per cent classified as [[Other White]].
20.9 per cent of Londoners are of [[British Asian|Asian]] and mixed-Asian descent. 19.7 per cent are of full Asian descent, with those of mixed-Asian heritage comprising 1.2 of the population. [[British Indian|Indians]] account for 6.6 per cent of the population, followed by [[British Pakistanis|Pakistanis]] and [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshis]] at 2.7 per cent each. [[British Chinese|Chinese]] peoples account for 1.5 per cent of the population, with [[British Arabs|Arabs]] comprising 1.3 per cent. A further 4.9 per cent are classified as "Other Asian".
15.6 per cent of London's population are of [[Black British|Black]] and mixed-Black descent. 13.3 per cent are of full Black descent, with those of mixed-Black heritage comprising 2.3 per cent. [[Black British|Black Africans]] account for 7.0 per cent of London's population, with 4.2 per cent as [[British African-Caribbean community|Black Caribbean]] and 2.1 per cent as "Other Black". 5.0 per cent are of [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|mixed race]].
Across London, [[Black British|Black]] and [[British Asian|Asian]] children outnumber [[White British]] children by about six to four in state schools.<ref name=london_094>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564365/One-fifth-of-children-from-ethnic-minorities.html |title=One fifth of children from ethnic minorities |author=Paton, Graeme |date=1 October 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=7 June 2008 |location=London |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206094854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564365/One-fifth-of-children-from-ethnic-minorities.html |archivedate=6 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Altogether at the 2011 census, of London's 1,624,768 population aged 0 to 15, 46.4 per cent were White, 19.8 per cent were Asian, 19 per cent were Black, 10.8 per cent were Mixed and 4 per cent represented another ethnic group.<ref>{{cite web |author=ONS |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/livelinks/12297.xlsx |title=LC2109EWls – Ethnic group by age |publisher=www.nomisweb.co.uk |accessdate=26 March 2015}}</ref> In January 2005, a survey of London's ethnic and religious diversity claimed that there were more than 300 languages spoken in London and more than 50 non-indigenous communities with a population of more than 10,000.<ref name=london_090>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/21/britishidentity1 |title=Every race, colour, nation and religion on earth |work=The Guardian |location=London |accessdate=6 May 2008 |first=Leo |last=Benedictus |date=21 January 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501134732/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/jan/21/britishidentity1 |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Figures from the [[Office for National Statistics]] show that, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, London's foreign-born population was 2,650,000 (33 per cent), up from 1,630,000 in 1997.
The 2011 census showed that 36.7 per cent of [[Greater London]]'s population were born outside the UK.<ref name=london_092>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/H-A.asp |title=Census 2001: London |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |accessdate=3 June 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511142104/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/H-A.asp |archivedate=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> A portion of the German-born population are likely to be British nationals born to parents serving in the [[British Armed Forces]] in Germany.<ref name=london_095>{{cite book |url=http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=308 |title=Beyond Black and White: Mapping new immigrant communities |last=Kyambi |first=Sarah |date=2005 |accessdate=20 January 2007 |isbn=978-1-86030-284-8 |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501123816/http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=308 |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Estimates produced by the [[Office for National Statistics]] indicate that the five largest foreign-born groups living in London in the period July 2009 to June 2010 were those born in India, Poland, the Republic of Ireland, Bangladesh and Nigeria.<ref name=Estimates>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/population-by-country-of-birth-and-nationality-jul09-jun10.zip |title=Table 1.4: Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth, July 2009 to June 2010 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=7 March 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506152443/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/population-by-country-of-birth-and-nationality-jul09-jun10.zip |archivedate=6 May 2011 |url-status=dead }} Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95 per cent [[confidence interval]]s.</ref>
===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in London}}
{{bar box
|title=[[Religion in London|Religion in London (2011 census)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-286262 |title=2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales |publisher=Ons.gov.uk |date=11 December 2012 |accessdate=4 May 2013}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent(%)
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Christians|Christian]]|purple|48.4}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No religion]]|red|20.7}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]|green|12.4}}
{{bar percent|Undeclared|black|8.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|5.0}}
{{bar percent|[[Jewish]]|Blue|1.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism|Sikh]]|yellow|1.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism|Buddhist]]|Gold|1.0}}
{{bar percent|Other|grey|0.6}}
}}
According to the [[2011 UK Census|2011 Census]], the largest religious groupings are Christians (48.4 per cent), followed by those of [[Irreligion|no religion]] (20.7 per cent), [[Muslims]] (12.4 per cent), no response (8.5 per cent), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (5.0 per cent), [[Jews]] (1.8 per cent), [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (1.5 per cent), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (1.0 per cent) and other (0.6 per cent).
London has traditionally been Christian, and has a [[List of churches in London|large number of churches]], particularly in the City of London. The well-known [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in the City and [[Southwark Cathedral]] south of the river are [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] administrative centres,<ref name=london_096>{{cite web |url=http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=97320F44yHMK9hndcXZBD5sVH4m52Yc0 |title=About Saint Paul's Cathedral |publisher=Dean and Chapter St Paul's |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407082352/http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=97320F44yHMK9hndcXZBD5sVH4m52Yc0 |archivedate=7 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], principal bishop of the [[Church of England]] and worldwide [[Anglican Communion]], has his main residence at [[Lambeth Palace]] in the [[London Borough of Lambeth]].<ref name=london_097>{{cite web |url=http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/ |title=Lambeth Palace Library |publisher=Lambeth Palace Library |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430174131/http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/ |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{multiple image
| direction        = vertical
| image1 = South facade of St Paul's Cathedral 2011 1.jpg|caption1=[[St Paul's Cathedral]], the seat of the [[Bishop of London]]
| image2 = Neasden Temple - Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir - Gate.jpg|caption2=The [[BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London]] is the second-largest [[Hindu temple]] in England and Europe.
}}
Important national and royal ceremonies are shared between [[St Paul's Cathedral|St Paul's]] and [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref name=london_098>{{cite web |url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/ |title=Westminster Abbey |publisher=Dean and Chapter of Westminster |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505083817/http://www.westminster-abbey.org/ |archivedate=5 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Abbey is not to be confused with nearby [[Westminster Cathedral]], which is the largest [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral in [[England and Wales]].<ref name=london_099>{{cite web |url=http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/home.html |title=Westminster Cathedral |publisher=Westminster Cathedral |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327041736/http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/home.html |archivedate=27 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite the prevalence of Anglican churches, observance is very low within the Anglican denomination. Church attendance continues on a long, slow, steady decline, according to Church of England statistics.<ref name=london_100>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/statistics/2007provisionalattendance.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140709133529/http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/facts-stats.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2014 |title=Church of England Statistics |publisher=Church of England |accessdate=6 June 2008 |ref=harv }}</ref>
London is also home to sizeable [[Muslim]], [[Hindu]], [[Sikh]], and [[Jewish]] communities.
Notable mosques include the [[East London Mosque]] in Tower Hamlets, which is allowed to give the Islamic call to prayer through loudspeakers, the [[London Central Mosque]] on the edge of [[Regent's Park]]<ref name=london_101>{{cite web |url=http://www.iccuk.org/index.php?article=1&PHPSESSID=rbt2vceqs1bpn9567k0kiv9hu5 |title=London Central Mosque Trust Ltd |publisher=London Central Mosque Trust Ltd. & The Islamic Cultural Centre |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426193641/http://www.iccuk.org/index.php?article=1&PHPSESSID=rbt2vceqs1bpn9567k0kiv9hu5 |archivedate=26 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Baitul Futuh]] of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]. Following the oil boom, increasing numbers of wealthy [[Middle-East]]ern Arab Muslims have based themselves around [[Mayfair]], Kensington, and [[Knightsbridge]] in West London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikhchic.com/history/sikhbritons_second_wealthiest_government_report |title=sikhchic.com – The Art and Culture of the Diaspora – Sikh-Britons Second Wealthiest: Government Report |website=sikhchic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2013/03/14/comment-british-sikhs-are-the-best-example-of-cultural-integ |title=Comment: British Sikhs are the best example of cultural integration |website=politics.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=london_102>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the-300-billion-arabs-are-coming-6890813.html |author=Bill, Peter |title=The $300&nbsp;billion Arabs are coming |website=London Evening Standard |date=29 May 2008 |accessdate=3 July 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430181240/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23488244-the-300-billion-arabs-are-coming.do |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are large [[Bengali Muslim]] communities in the eastern boroughs of [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]] and [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]].<ref>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-211026 Census 2001 Key Statistics, Local Authorities in England and Wales] Office for National Statistics</ref>
Large Hindu communities are in the north-western boroughs of [[London Borough of Harrow|Harrow]] and [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]], the latter of which hosts what was, until 2006,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/5276644.stm "Opening for biggest Hindu temple"]. BBC News, 23 August 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2006.</ref> Europe's largest [[Hindu temple]], [[Neasden Temple]].<ref name=london_103>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/19/hindu_london_feature.shtml |title=Hindu London |date=6 June 2005 |publisher=BBC London |accessdate=3 June 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218161357/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/19/hindu_london_feature.shtml |archivedate=18 February 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> London is also home to 44 Hindu temples, including the [[BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London]]. There are Sikh communities in East and West London, particularly in Southall, home to one of the largest Sikh populations and the largest Sikh temple outside India.<ref name=london_104>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2898761.stm |title=£17&nbsp;m Sikh temple opens |date=30 March 2003 |work=BBC News |accessdate=7 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003094649/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2898761.stm |archivedate=3 October 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The majority of [[British Jews]] live in London, with significant Jewish communities in [[Stamford Hill]], [[Stanmore]], [[Golders Green]], [[Finchley]], [[Hampstead]], [[Hendon]] and [[Edgware]] in [[North London]]. [[Bevis Marks Synagogue]] in the [[City of London]] is affiliated to London's historic [[Sephardic]] Jewish community. It is the only synagogue in Europe which has held regular services continuously for over 300 years. [[Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue]] has the largest membership of any single Orthodox synagogue in the whole of Europe, overtaking [[Ilford]] synagogue (also in London) in 1998.<ref name=london_106>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Israel/Partnerships/Regions/Kavimut/Britain+Communities/Stanmore+11.htm |publisher=The Jewish Agency for Israel |title=Stanmore |accessdate=12 October 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426075317/http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Israel/Partnerships/Regions/Kavimut/Britain+Communities/Stanmore+11.htm |archivedate=26 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The community set up the [[London Jewish Forum]] in 2006 in response to the growing significance of devolved London Government.<ref name=london_107>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Jonny |date=10 December 2006 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1178443551.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+10%2C+2006&author=JONNY+PAUL%2C+Jerusalem+Post+correspondent&pub=Jerusalem+Post&edition=&startpage=05&desc=Livingstone+apologizes+to+UK+Jews |title=Livingstone apologizes to UK's Jews |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427064159/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881856232&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Accent===
There are many accents traditionally associated with London. The most well known of the London accents long ago acquired the [[Cockney]] label from [[East End of London|London's East End]], which is heard both in London itself, and across the wider [[South East England]] region more generally.<ref>"Cracking Up!". p. 178. Lulu.com</ref> The accent of a 21st-century Londoner varies widely; what is becoming more and more common amongst the under-30s however is some fusion of Cockney with a whole array of ethnic accents, in particular [[Caribbean]], which form an accent labelled [[Multicultural London English]] (MLE).<ref name="MCLE">{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/jafaican-and-tikkiny-drown-out-the-east-ends-cockney-twang-473688.html |title=Jafaican and Tikkiny drown out the East End's Cockney twang |first=Jonathan |last=Brown |work=The Independent |location=London |date=11 April 2006 |accessdate=22 August 2008 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513074846/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/jafaican-and-tikkiny-drown-out-the-east-ends-cockney-twang-473688.html |archivedate=13 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The other widely heard and spoken accent is RP ([[Received Pronunciation]]) in various forms, which can often be heard in the media and many of other traditional professions and beyond, although this accent is not limited to London and South East England, and can also be heard selectively throughout the whole UK amongst certain social groupings. Since the turn of the century the Cockney dialect is less common in the East End and has 'migrated' east to [[London Borough of Havering|Havering]] and the county of [[Essex]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/forget-tower-hamlets-romford-is-new-east-end-says-cockney-language-study-1-2314662 |title=Forget Tower Hamlets - Romford is new East End, says Cockney language study |first=Ramzy |last=Alwakeel |newspaper=Romford Recorder |location= London |date=2 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/heritage/cockney-dialect-migrated-to-essex-dr-fox-tells-east-end-cockney-festival-1-2298684 |title=Cockney dialect migrated to Essex, Dr Fox tells East End Cockney Festival |first=Mike|last=Brooke |newspaper=The Docklands and East London Advertiser |date=25 July 2013}}</ref>
==Economy==
{{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 2017 was £430 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/grossvalueaddedgva/bulletins/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalanceduk/1998to2017/pdf |title=Regional gross value added (balanced), UK: 1998 to 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/70KECQtTi?url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/bulletins/regionalgrossvalueaddedincomeapproach/december2016 |archivedate=20 June 2018 |accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref> while the economy of the [[London metropolitan area]]—[[List of cities by GDP#Europe, Western|the largest in Europe]]—generates about 1/3 of the UK's GDP (almost $700&nbsp;billion in 2005).<ref name=london_109>{{cite web |url=http://www.iaurif.org/en/doc/studies/cahiers/cahier_135/pdf/073-85.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624195153/http://www.iaurif.org/en/doc/studies/cahiers/cahier_135/pdf/073-85.pdf |archivedate=24 June 2008 |title=The Economic Positioning of Metropolitan Areas in North Western Europe |date=December 2002 |publisher=The Institute for Urban Planning and Development of the Paris Île-de-France Region |accessdate=27 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</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 news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/2784634/Highgate-trumps-Chelsea-as-priciest-postcode.html |title=Highgate trumps Chelsea as priciest postcode |last=Lowe |first=Felix |date=19 February 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/11/postcodes-uk-expensive-forbeslife-cx_po_1212realestate.html |title=U.K.'s Most Expensive Postcodes |date=12 December 2007 |work=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 |accessdate=27 September 2015}}</ref> {{As of|2015}} the residential property in London is worth $2.2 trillion – same value as that of Brazil's annual GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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 |website=CNNMoney |accessdate=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===
[[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 |title=After the fall |work=The Economist|date=29 November 2007 |location=London |url=http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDNDRPTT |accessdate=15 May 2009 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121208172611/http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDNDRPTT |archivedate=8 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="economist2">{{Cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9753240 |title=Financial Centres&nbsp;— Magnets for money |date=13 September 2007 |work=The Economist |location=London |accessdate=15 May 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805052952/http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9753240 |archivedate=5 August 2009 |url-status=live }}</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 |accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref> and it ranked second in A.T. Kearney's 2018 Global Cities Index.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atkearney.com/2018-global-cities-report|title=A.T. Kearney {{!}} Global Management Consulting Firm - A.T. Kearney|website=atkearney.com|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620232225/https://www.atkearney.com/2018-global-cities-report|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
London's largest industry is finance, and its [[financial export]]s make it a large contributor to the UK's [[balance of payments]]. Around 325,000 people were employed in financial services in London until mid-2007. London has over 480 overseas banks, more than any other city in the world. It is also the world's biggest currency trading centre, accounting for some 37 per cent of the $5.1 trillion average daily volume, according to the BIS.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-global-markets-bis-britain-idUKKCN11O0C4 |title=London's core role in euros under spotlight after Brexit vote |first=Reuters |last=Editorial|newspaper=Reuters |date=18 September 2016 }}</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 has recovered; put in place new regulatory powers, proceeded to regain lost ground and re-established London's economic dominance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/global/21rglofinuk.html |title=The London Banking Center Is Beginning to Feel Like Itself Again. |date=21 January 2010 |work=International Herald Tribune |via=The New York Times}}</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.
Over half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the [[FTSE 100]]) and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies have their headquarters in central London. Over 70 per cent of the FTSE 100 are within London's metropolitan area, and 75 per cent of [[Fortune 500]] companies have offices in London.<ref name="london_113">{{cite web |url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/ |title=London Stock Exchange |year=2008 |publisher=London Stock Exchange plc. |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609022757/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/ |archivedate=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Media and technology===
Media companies are [[Media in London|concentrated in London]] and the media distribution industry is London's second most competitive sector.<ref name="london_114">{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2CAE66FB-2DD5-41A5-B916-8FFC37276059/0/BC_RS_lpuk_0511_FR.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525075622/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2CAE66FB-2DD5-41A5-B916-8FFC37276059/0/BC_RS_lpuk_0511_FR.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2006 |title=London's Place in the UK Economy, 2005–6 |date=November 2005 |website=Oxford Economic Forecasting on behalf of the Corporation of London |page=19 |accessdate=19 June 2006 }}</ref> The [[BBC]] is a significant employer, while other broadcasters also have headquarters around the City. Many [[List of newspapers in the United Kingdom|national newspapers]] are edited in London. London is a major retail centre and in 2010 had the highest non-food retail sales of any city in the world, with a total spend of around £64.2&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/uk-retail-major-cities-idUKLNE71G00420110217 |title=London tops world cities spending league |accessdate=29 April 2011 |agency=Reuters |date=17 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220031529/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/uk-retail-major-cities-idUKLNE71G00420110217 |archivedate=20 February 2011 |url-status=live |first=Mark |last=Potter }}</ref> The [[Port of London]] is the second-largest in the United Kingdom, handling 45&nbsp;million [[tonne]]s of cargo each year.<ref name="handling"/>
A growing number of technology companies are based in London notably in [[East London Tech City]], also known as Silicon Roundabout. In April 2014, the city was among the first to receive a [[geoTLD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mydotlondon.com/domain-availability/ |title=Availability |website=mydotlondon.com}}</ref> In February 2014 London was ranked as the European City of the Future <ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2014/london-named-as-european-city-of-the-future |title=London named as European City of the Future |date=17 February 2014 |publisher=London&Partners}}</ref> in the 2014/15 list by [[FDi Magazine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fdiintelligence.com/Locations/Europe/European-Cities-and-Regions-of-the-Future-2014-15 |title=European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15 |date=17 February 2014 |work=fDiIntelligence.com |location=London}}</ref>
The gas and electricity distribution networks that manage and operate the towers, cables and pressure systems that deliver energy to consumers across the city are managed by [[National Grid plc]], [[SGN (company)|SGN]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gas distributors |url=https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/gas/distribution-networks/gb-gas-distribution-network |publisher=Ofgem |accessdate=19 January 2016|date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> and [[UK Power Networks]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Electricity distributor |url=http://www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/Our-company/electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/ |publisher=National Grid |accessdate=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914184550/http://www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/Our-company/electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/ |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
===Tourism===
{{Main|Tourism in London}}
{{Multiple image
|direction=vertical
|image1=British Museum from NE 2 (cropped).JPG
|caption1=The [[British Museum]]
|image2=Galería Nacional, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-07, DD 035.JPG|
|caption2=The [[National Gallery]]
}}
London is one of the leading tourist destinations in the world and in 2015 was ranked as the most visited city in the world with over 65 million visits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.masterintelligence.com/content/intelligence/en/research/reports/2015/mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-report-2015.html |title=Mastercard |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2016/070316-over-65-million-visits-to-london-attractions-in-2015 |title=London and Partners |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> It is also the top city in the world by visitor cross-border spending, estimated at US$20.23 billion in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MasterCard-GDCI-2015-Final-Report1.pdf |title=Mastercard |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Tourism is one of London's prime industries, employing the equivalent of 350,000 full-time workers in 2003,<ref name=london_117>{{cite news |url=http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2005/02/15/27958/london-is-the-hr-centre-of-opportunity-in-the-uk.html |title=London is the HR centre of opportunity in the UK |date=15 February 2005 |work=Personnel Today |accessdate=3 June 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429055835/http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2005/02/15/27958/london-is-the-hr-centre-of-opportunity-in-the-uk.html |archivedate=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and the city accounts for 54% of all inbound visitor spending in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitbritain.org/visitor-economy-facts |title=visitbritain |last= |first= |date= 22 April 2015|website= |publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> {{As of|2016}} London is the world top city destination as ranked by [[TripAdvisor]] users.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35840394 |title=London named No.1 city destination on TripAdvisor |date=21 March 2016 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
In 2015 the top most-visited attractions in the UK were all in London. The top 10 most visited attractions were: (with visits per venue) <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35730578 |title=British Museum tops UK visitor attractions list |date=7 March 2016 |publisher= |accessdate=19 January 2017 |via=www.bbc.co.uk|work=BBC News }}</ref>
# The [[British Museum]]: 6,820,686
# The [[National Gallery]]: 5,908,254
# The [[Natural History Museum]] (South Kensington): 5,284,023
# The [[Southbank Centre]]: 5,102,883
# [[Tate Modern]]: 4,712,581
# The [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (South Kensington): 3,432,325
# The [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]]: 3,356,212
# [[Somerset House]]: 3,235,104
# The [[Tower of London]]: 2,785,249
# The [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]]: 2,145,486
The number of hotel rooms in London in 2015 stood at 138,769, and is expected to grow over the years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonandpartners.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/20151118-london-sees-growth-in-hotel-development-as-new-properties-open-across-capital-for-2016 |title=London and Partners Statistics |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in London|Infrastructure in London}}
[[File:Transport in London.png|thumb|Journeys in Greater London by mode from 1997–2017<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-11.pdf |title=Travel in London Report 11}}</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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104235448/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ |archivedate=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 he 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).
The lines that formed the London Underground, as well as trams and buses, became part of an integrated transport system in 1933 when the [[London Passenger Transport Board]] or ''[[London Transport (brand)|London Transport]]'' was created. Transport for London is now the statutory corporation responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London, and is run by a board and a commissioner appointed by the [[Mayor of London]].<ref name=stat_tfl>{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/help/faq.jsp#transport |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019055413/http://www.london.gov.uk/help/faq.jsp |archivedate=19 October 2007 |title=How do I find out about transport in London? |publisher=Greater London Authority |accessdate=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Aviation===
{{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 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 |url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/ |title=BAA Heathrow: Official Website |publisher=BAA |accessdate=27 April 2008}}</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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430195211/http://www.heathrow-airport-uk.info/heathrow-airport-terminal-5.htm |archivedate=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|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airports-worlds-busiest-international-passengers-dubai-heathrow-hong-kong-amsterdam-paris-a8194911.html|title=These are the world's busiest airports|date=5 February 2018|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[London Gatwick Airport]],<ref name=london_139>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatwickairport.com/ |title=BAA Gatwick: Gatwick Airport |publisher=BAA |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429215757/http://www.gatwickairport.com/ |archivedate=29 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> south of London in [[West Sussex]], handles flights to more destinations than any other UK airport<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/company-information/gatwick-by-numbers/|title=Gatwick by Numbers - Gatwick Airport|website=www.gatwickairport.com|access-date=13 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153659/https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/company-information/gatwick-by-numbers/|archive-date=16 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is the main base of [[easyJet]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://careers.easyjet.com/why-easyjet/where-we-are/|title=Where We Are - easyJet CareerseasyJet Careers|website=careers.easyjet.com}}</ref> the UK's largest airline by number of passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airlines/Datasets/UK-Airline-data/2017/Airline-data-annual-reports-2017/|title=Airline data annual reports 2017 - UK Civil Aviation Authority|website=www.caa.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[London Stansted Airport]],<ref name=london_140>{{cite book |url=http://www.stanstedairport.com/ |title=BAA Stansted : Stansted Airport |year=2008 |publisher=BAA |accessdate=27 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-86039-476-1 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429151324/http://www.stanstedairport.com/ |archivedate=29 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> north-east of London in [[Essex]], has flights that serve the greatest number of European destinations of any UK airport<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stanstedairport.com/about-us/london-stansted-airport-and-mag/facts-and-figures/|title=Facts and Figures - Stansted Airport|website=www.stanstedairport.com}}</ref> and is the main base of [[Ryanair]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/about-us/history-of-ryanair/|title=History of Ryanair - Ryanair's Corporate Website|website=corporate.ryanair.com}}</ref> the world's largest international airline by number of international passengers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2015/06/worlds-largest-airlines|title=Domestic bliss|website=The Economist}}</ref>
* [[London Luton Airport]], to the north of London in [[Bedfordshire]], is used by several budget airlines for short-haul flights.<ref name=london_141>{{cite book |url=http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/ |title=London Luton Airport |publisher=London Luton Airport |accessdate=27 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-11-510256-1 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501023741/http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[London City Airport]], the most central airport and the one with the shortest runway, in [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]], East London, is focused on business travellers, with a mixture of full-service short-haul scheduled flights and considerable [[business jet]] traffic.<ref name=london_142>{{cite web |url=http://www.londoncityairport.com/Default.aspx |title=London City Airport&nbsp;— Corporate Information |publisher=London City Airport Ltd. |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423115236/http://www.londoncityairport.com/Default.aspx |archivedate=23 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[London Southend Airport]], east of London in [[Essex]], is a smaller, regional airport that caters for short-haul flights on a limited, though growing, number of airlines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Londoners love our airport |date=18 May 2018 |author=Adam Cornell |url-status=live |url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16234556.Londoners_love_our_airport/?ref=rss |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.echo-news.co.uk%2Fnews%2F16234556.Londoners_love_our_airport%2F%3Fref%3Drss&date=2018-05-18 |archivedate=18 May 2018 |accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref> In 2017, international passengers made up over 95% of the total at Southend, the highest proportion of any London airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/UK-Airport-data/Airport-data-2017/|title=Airport data 2017 - UK Civil Aviation Authority|website=www.caa.co.uk}}</ref>
===Rail===
====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 |accessdate=30 December 2012 |isbn=978-0-904711-30-1 |ref=harv |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 |accessdate=12 June 2018 |location=London}}</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 |accessdate=15 October 2009 |ref=harv }}</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 |accessdate=24 September 2006 |isbn=978-3-936573-01-5 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006013919/http://de.geocities.com/u_london/london.htm |archivedate=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 |accessdate=10 January 2013}}</ref>
Over four million journeys are made every day on the Underground network, over 1&nbsp;billion each year.<ref name=london_124>{{cite press release |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7103.html |title=Tube breaks record for passenger numbers |publisher=Transport for London |date=27 December 2007 |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427025251/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7103.html |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An investment programme is attempting to reduce congestion and improve reliability, including £6.5&nbsp;billion (€7.7&nbsp;billion) spent before the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The London 2012 legacy |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/25869.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018211357/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/25869.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2012 |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=11 August 2013 }}</ref> The [[Docklands Light Railway|Docklands Light Railway (DLR)]], which opened in 1987, is a second, more [[medium-capacity rail transport system|local metro system]] using smaller and lighter tram-type vehicles that serve the [[London Docklands|Docklands]], [[Greenwich]] and [[Lewisham]].
====Suburban====
[[File:700110 - London Blackfriars 3T13.JPG|thumb|A [[Thameslink]] train at {{stn|Blackfriars}}]]
There are more than 360 [[railway stations]] in the [[London fare zones|London Travelcard Zones]] on an extensive above-ground suburban railway network. South London, particularly, has a high concentration of railways as it has fewer Underground lines. Most rail lines terminate around the centre of London, running into [[London station group|eighteen terminal stations]], with the exception of the [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]] trains connecting [[Bedford]] in the north and [[Brighton]] in the south via [[London Luton Airport|Luton]] and [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] airports.<ref name="london_127">{{cite web |url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?sEvent=HomePage |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130091433/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?sEvent=HomePage |archivedate=30 January 2010 |title=First Capital Connect |publisher=First Capital Connect |accessdate=27 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> London has Britain's busiest station&nbsp;by number of passengers – [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]], with over 184&nbsp;million people using the interchange station complex (which includes [[London Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]] station) each year.<ref name="National Rail Station Usage">{{cite web |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |title=Rail Station Usage |publisher=Office of Rail Regulation |accessdate=24 October 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705115621/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |archivedate=5 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tube exits">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/performance/default.asp?onload=entryexit |title=Tube exits |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=24 October 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514062729/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/performance/default.asp?onload=entryexit |archivedate=14 May 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{rws|Clapham Junction}} is the busiest station in Europe by the number of trains passing.
With the need for more rail capacity in London, [[Crossrail]] is expected to open in 2020/21.<ref name="Opening plan">{{cite press release |url= http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/crossrail-ltd-outlines-plan-to-complete-the-elizabeth-line |title=CROSSRAIL LTD OUTLINES PLAN TO COMPLETE THE ELIZABETH LINE
|publisher= Crossrail |date=25 April 2019}}</ref> It will be a new railway line running east to west through London and into the [[Home Counties]] with a branch to [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/maps/regional-map |title=Crossrail Regional Map |publisher=Crossrail |accessdate=8 September 2013}}</ref> It is Europe's biggest construction project, with a £15 billion projected cost.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16289051 |work=BBC News |title=Crossrail's giant tunnelling machines unveiled |date=2 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/crossrail-delayed-to-save-1631bn-2064629.html |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |location=London |title=Crossrail delayed to save £1bn |date=29 August 2010 |first=Mark |last=Leftly}}</ref>
====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 |title=Rail |url=http://londonfirst.co.uk/our-focus/londons-transport-infrastructure/rail/ |website=London First |publisher=London First |accessdate=5 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083946/http://londonfirst.co.uk/our-focus/londons-transport-infrastructure/rail/ |archivedate=7 April 2014  }}</ref> 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 [[Birmingham]], [[Brighton]], [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Bristol]], [[Cardiff]], [[Chester]], [[Holyhead]] (for [[Dublin]]), [[Derby]], [[Nottingham]], [[Exeter]], [[Sheffield]], [[York]], [[Southampton]], [[Leeds]], [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[Cambridge]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]].
Some international railway services to [[Continental Europe]] were operated during the 20th century as [[boat train]]s, such as the ''[[Admiraal de Ruijter (train)|Admiraal de Ruijter]]'' to [[Amsterdam]] and the ''[[Night Ferry]]'' to Paris and Brussels. The opening of the [[Channel Tunnel]] in 1994 connected London directly to the continental rail network, allowing [[Eurostar]] services to begin. Since 2007, high-speed trains link [[St Pancras railway station|St. Pancras International]] with [[Lille]], [[Calais]], [[Paris]], [[Disneyland Paris]], [[Brussels]], [[Amsterdam]] and other European tourist destinations via the [[High Speed 1]] rail link and the [[Channel Tunnel]].<ref name=london_128>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp;ERSPRDSession=LJqZB7nyKlW9lVLvZzK534LvMjL519fPDS4R0QGn51CprylVmjH8!685848002 |title=Eurostar |publisher=Eurostar |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429060917/http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp;ERSPRDSession=LJqZB7nyKlW9lVLvZzK534LvMjL519fPDS4R0QGn51CprylVmjH8!685848002 |archivedate=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The first [[Southeastern (train operating company)|high-speed domestic]] trains started in June 2009 linking [[Kent]] to London.<ref name="Southeastern Highspeed">{{cite web |url=http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/highspeed/ |title=Highspeed |publisher=Southeastern |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501110057/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/highspeed/ |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are plans for a [[High Speed 2|second high speed line]] linking London to the Midlands, North West England, and Yorkshire.
====Freight====
Although [[rail freight]] levels are far down compared to their height, significant quantities of cargo are also carried into and out of London by rail; chiefly building materials and [[landfill]] waste.<ref name="Freight Plan">August 2007, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529165228/https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/rail-freight-strategy-aug-2007.pdf Rail Freight Strategy], [[London Rail]]</ref> As a major hub of the British railway network, London's tracks also carry large amounts of freight for the other regions, such as [[containerisation|container freight]] from the Channel Tunnel and [[English Channel]] ports, and [[nuclear waste]] for [[nuclear reprocessing|reprocessing]] at [[Sellafield]].<ref name="Freight Plan"/>
===Buses and trams===
[[File:LT 480 (LTZ 1480) Go-Ahead London New Routemaster (20929161801).jpg|thumb|The [[London buses|red double decker bus]] is an iconic symbol of London.]]
London's [[London Buses|bus network]] is one of the largest in the world, running 24 hours a day, with about 8,500 buses, more than 700 bus routes and around 19,500 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 |accessdate=5 April 2014}}</ref> In 2013, the network had more than 2 billion commuter trips per annum, more than the Underground.<ref name="Buses"/> Around £850&nbsp;million is taken in revenue each year. London has the largest wheelchair accessible network in the world<ref name=london_131>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3609.html |title=London's bus improvements get Parliamentary seal of approval |date=23 May 2006 |publisher=Transport For London |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427025259/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3609.html |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and, from the 3rd quarter of 2007, became more accessible to hearing and visually impaired passengers as audio-visual announcements were introduced. The distinctive red [[double-decker bus]]es are an internationally recognised trademark of London transport along with [[Hackney carriage|black cabs]] and the Tube.<ref name=london_132>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonblackcabs.co.uk/ |title=London Black Cabs |publisher=London Black Cabs |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501110021/http://www.londonblackcabs.co.uk/ |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=london_133>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx |title=Tube |publisher=[[Transport for London]] |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502104747/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx |archivedate=2 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
London has a modern tram network, known as [[Tramlink]], centred on [[Croydon]] in [[South London]]. The network has 39 stops and four routes, and carried 28&nbsp;million people in 2013.<ref name=Trams>{{cite web |title=What we do – Trams |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do/tramlink |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405073759/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do/tramlink |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2014 |website=Transport for London |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=5 April 2014 }}</ref> Since June 2008 [[Transport for London]] has completely owned Tramlink, and it plans to spend £54m by 2015 on maintenance, renewals, upgrades and capacity enhancements.<ref name=london_134>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tramlink-factsheet.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123061057/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tramlink-factsheet.pdf |archivedate=23 November 2009 |date=Summer 2009 |publisher=Transport for London |title=Tramlink Factsheet |accessdate=19 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Cable car===
London's first and only cable car, known as the [[Emirates Air Line (cable car)|Emirates Air Line]], opened in June 2012. Crossing the [[River Thames]], linking [[Greenwich Peninsula]] and the [[Royal Docks]] in the east of the city, the cable car is integrated with London's Oyster Card ticketing system, although special fares are charged. Costing £60 million to build, it carries over 3,500 passengers every day, although this is very much lower than its capacity. Similar to the [[Santander Cycles]] bike hire scheme, the cable car is sponsored in a 10-year deal by the airline [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]].
===Cycling===
{{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]]
[[File:CycleSuperhighway2Stratford-London-P1300696.JPG|thumb|Segregated cycle lanes are being implemented across London. [[List of cycle routes in London#Cycle Superhighways|Cycle Superhighway 2]] in Stratford]]
In the whole Greater London Area, around 650,000 people use a bike everyday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-9.pdf|title=p.144|publisher=}}</ref> But out of a total population of
around 8.8 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-greaterlondon.php|title=Greater London (United Kingdom): Boroughs - Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> this means that just around 7% of Greater London's population use a bike on an average day. This is a small proportion, when compared to many other cities in the world <ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/copenhagenize-worlds-most-bike-friendly-cities/|title=The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet|journal=Wired|date=2 June 2015}}</ref> A reason may well be the poor investments for cycling in London of about £110 million per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/4045/slash-to-cycling-budget-false-says-transport-for-london |title=Slash to cycling budget false, says Transport for London |first=Joe |last=Robinson |date=18 January 2018 |website=www.cyclist.co.uk |access-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180815091003/http://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/4045/slash-to-cycling-budget-false-says-transport-for-london |archive-date=15 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> equating to around £12 per person, which can be compared to £22 in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/05/where-world-most-cycle-friendly-city-amsterdam-copenhagen |title=Where is the most cycle-friendly city in the world? |first=Athlyn |last=Cathcart-Keays |date=5 January 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |location= London}}</ref>
[[Cycling in London|Cycling]] is nevertheless becoming increasingly popular way to get around London. The launch of [[Santander Cycles|a cycle hire scheme]] in July 2010 has been successful and generally well received. The [[London Cycling Campaign]] lobbies for better provision.<ref name="london_122">{{cite web |url=http://www.lcc.org.uk/ |title=London Cycling Campaign |date=20 November 2006 |publisher=Rosanna Downes |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430173221/http://lcc.org.uk/ |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are many [[List of cycle routes in London|cycle routes in London]], including several [[Cycle Superhighways]].
===Port and river boats===
From being the largest port in the world, the [[Port of London]] is now only the second-largest in the United Kingdom, handling 45 million tonnes of cargo each year.<ref name=handling>{{cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/maritime/ports/provportstats2009 |title=ARCHIVED CONTENT&#93; Provisional Port Statistics 2009 |publisher=Department for Transport&nbsp;– Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |accessdate=26 April 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110203090417/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/maritime/ports/provportstats2009 |archivedate=3 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most of this actually passes through the [[Port of Tilbury]], outside the boundary of Greater London.
London has frequent river boat services on the Thames known as [[Thames Clippers]]. These run up to every 20 minutes between [[Embankment Pier]] and [[North Greenwich Pier]]. The [[Woolwich Ferry]], with 2.5 million passengers every year,<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/27762.aspx Transport for London: Woolwich Ferry, 50 years on] Retrieved 8 September 2013</ref> is a frequent service linking the [[North Circular Road|North]] and [[South Circular Road, London|South Circular]] Roads. Other operators run both commuter and tourist boat services in London.
===Roads===
Although the majority of journeys involving central London are made by public transport, car travel is common in the suburbs. The [[London Inner Ring Road|inner ring road]] (around the city centre), the [[A406 road|North]] and [[A205 road|South Circular]] roads (in the suburbs), and the outer orbital motorway (the [[M25 motorway|M25]], outside the built-up area) encircle the city and are intersected by a number of busy radial routes—but very few motorways penetrate into [[inner London]]. A plan for a comprehensive network of motorways throughout the city (the [[London Ringways|Ringways Plan]]) was prepared in the 1960s but was mostly cancelled in the early 1970s. The M25 is the second-longest ring-road motorway in Europe at {{convert|117|mi|km|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Highways Agency |date=25 June 2018 |url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/our-network/key-roads/m25/ |accessdate=25 June 2018 |title=M25 |archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/70RoYooMF?url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/our-network/key-roads/m25/ |archive-date= 25 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and [[M1 motorway|M1]] connect London to [[Leeds]], and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] and [[Edinburgh]].
London is notorious for its traffic congestion, the average speed of a car in the rush hour being {{convert|10.6|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name=london_147>{{cite web |last1=Mulholland |first1=Hélène |title=Boris Johnson mulls 'intelligent' congestion charge system for London |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/mar/16/boris-johnson-congestion-charge |website=The Guardian |date=16 March 2009}}</ref>
In 2003, a [[London congestion charge|congestion charge]] was introduced to reduce traffic volumes in the city centre. With a few exceptions, motorists are required to pay £10 per day to drive within a defined zone encompassing much of central London.<ref name="london_144">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharge/whereandwhen/ |title=Charging Zone |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=7 June 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504061537/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharge/whereandwhen/ |archivedate=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="london_145">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6741.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608124006/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6741.aspx |archivedate=8 June 2008 |title=Who pays what |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=7 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Motorists who are residents of the defined zone can buy a greatly reduced season pass.<ref name="london_146">{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6735.aspx |title=Residents |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=7 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503211945/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6735.aspx |archivedate=3 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> London government initially expected the Congestion Charge Zone to increase daily peak period Underground and bus users by 20,000 people, reduce road traffic by 10 to 15 per cent, increase traffic speeds by 10 to 15 per cent, and reduce queues by 20 to 30 per cent.<ref>Santos, Georgina; Button, Kenneth; Noll, Roger G. "London Congestion Charging/Comments." Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs. 15287084 (2008): 177,177–234.</ref> Over the course of several years, the average number of cars entering the centre of London on a weekday was reduced from 195,000 to 125,000 cars&nbsp;– a 35-per-cent reduction of vehicles driven per day.<ref>Table 3 in Santos, Georgina; Button, Kenneth; Noll, Roger G. "London Congestion Charging/Comments." Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs.15287084 (2008): 177,177–234.</ref>
==Education==
{{Main|Education in London}}
===Tertiary education===
[[File:Imperial College London MMB 02.jpg|thumb|[[Imperial College London]], a world leading research university located in [[South Kensington]]]]
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|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2015#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=|title=QS World University Rankings® 2015/16|accessdate=26 September 2015|date=11 September 2015}}</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|accessdate=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|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking/analysis/capital-offer|title=Capital offer {{!}} Times Higher Education|accessdate=26 September 2015|date=January 1990}}</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|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|accessdate=26 September 2015}}</ref>
A number of world-leading education institutions are based in London. In the 2014/15 ''[[QS World University Rankings]]'', [[Imperial College London]] is ranked joint 2nd in the world, [[University College London]] (UCL) is ranked 5th, and [[King's College London]] (KCL) is ranked 16th.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014|title=QS World University Rankings – Overall for 2014|accessdate=13 November 2014|date=11 September 2014}}</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|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2496158.ece|title=The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2007&nbsp;– Profile for London School of Economics|last=Hipwell|first=Deirdre|date=23 September 2007|work=The Sunday Times|accessdate=6 June 2008|location=London|ref=harv}} {{subscription required}}</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|accessdate=25 January 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504135153/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings|archivedate=4 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref>
With 120,000 students in London,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.ac.uk/aboutus.html|title=About us|publisher=University of London|accessdate=1 December 2014}}</ref> the federal [[University of London]] is the largest contact teaching university in the UK.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044330/http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0506.xls HESA Statistics: United Kingdom]. HESA. Retrieved 6 April 2015</ref> It includes five multi-faculty universities&nbsp;– [[City, University of London|City]], [[King's College London]], [[Queen Mary, University of London|Queen Mary]], [[Royal Holloway]] and [[University College London|UCL]]&nbsp;– and a number of smaller and more specialised institutions including [[Birkbeck College|Birkbeck]], the [[Courtauld Institute of Art]], [[Goldsmiths, University of London|Goldsmiths]], [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]], the [[London Business School]], the [[London School of Economics]], the [[London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine]], the [[Royal Academy of Music]], the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]], the [[Royal Veterinary College]] and the [[School of Oriental and African Studies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.ac.uk/colleges_institutes.html|title=Colleges and Institutes|publisher=University of London|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110422180655/http://www.london.ac.uk/colleges_institutes.html|archivedate=22 April 2011|url-status=live|accessdate=23 September 2010}}</ref> Members of the University of London have their own [[University and college admission|admissions]] procedures, and some award their own degrees.
A number of universities in London are outside the University of London system, including [[Brunel University]], [[Imperial College London]], [[Kingston University]], [[London Metropolitan University]],<ref name="london_157">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143209/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/o90402_3.pdf About London Met] London Metropolitan University, August 2008</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|accessdate=27 August 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501135123/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/may/01/universityguide.highereducation42|archivedate=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|accessdate=6 September 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140334/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/07/health.highereducation|archivedate=1 May 2011|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref>
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]], the [[Royal College of Music]] and [[Trinity Laban]].[[File:Strand102.jpg|thumb|[[King's College London]], established by Royal Charter having been founded by [[King George IV]] and the [[Duke of Wellington]] in 1829, is one of the founding colleges of the [[University of London]].]]
===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]].
==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of London}}
===Leisure and entertainment===
{{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, with a 2003 report attributing 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 |accessdate=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|accessdate=11 December 2017}}</ref> Globally, the city is amongst the big four [[fashion capital]]s of the world, and according to official statistics, London 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 |accessdate=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001092404/https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/promoting-arts-culture/20-facts-about-london-s-culture |archivedate=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 |newspaper=Financial Times |date=30 July 2014|access-date = 30 September 2015 |issn=0307-1766 |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 |accessdate=3 November 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426103109/http://www.piccadillylights.co.uk/ |archivedate=26 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124185332/http://www.yourlondon.gov.uk/visiting/topic.jsp?topicid=6482&search_title=Theatres%2Band%2Bconcert%2Bhalls |archivedate=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 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |accessdate=4 June 2008 |ref=harv |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430191354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history/city/street_03.shtml?publichouses |archivedate=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 |accessdate=19 June 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204913/http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/06sep/p7a.jsp |archivedate=30 September 2007 |ref=harv |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Knightsbridge]], home to the equally renowned [[Harrods]] [[department store]], lies to the south-west.
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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501115502/http://www.chinatownlondon.org/ |archivedate=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 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620233221/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4820.asp |archivedate=20 June 2008 |title=One Queen, Two Birthdays |publisher=Royal Government |accessdate=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===
{{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&nbsp;– 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 |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427043832/http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/guides/london/londoninliterature.shtml |archivedate=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}}</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 |accessdate=27 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426181458/http://workingtitlefilms.com/ |archivedate=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), ''[[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]]. {{As of|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 and art galleries===
[[File:Kensington Museums aerial 2011 b.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Aerial view of [[Albertopolis]]. [[Albert Memorial]], [[Royal Albert Hall]] 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. 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]].
In the latter half of the 19th century the locale of [[South Kensington]] was developed as "[[Albertopolis]]", a cultural and scientific quarter. Three major national museums are there: the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (for the [[applied arts]]), the [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]], and the [[London Science Museum|Science Museum]]. The [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]] was founded in 1856 to house depictions of figures from British history; its holdings now comprise the world's most extensive collection of portraits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npg.org.uk/about/organisation.php |title=Organisation |publisher=National Portrait Gallery |accessdate=18 November 2013}}</ref> The national gallery of British art is at [[Tate Britain]], originally established as an annexe of the National Gallery in 1897. The Tate Gallery, as it was formerly known, also became a major centre for modern art; in 2000, this collection moved to [[Tate Modern]], a new gallery housed in the former [[Bankside Power Station]].
===Music===
[[File:Royal Albert Hall Crop, London - Nov 2012.jpg|thumb|The [[Royal Albert Hall]] hosts concerts and musical events.]]
London is one of the major classical and [[popular music]] capitals of the world and hosts major music corporations, such as [[Universal Music Group|Universal Music Group International]] and [[Warner Music Group]], as well as countless bands, musicians and industry professionals. The city is also home to many orchestras and concert halls, such as the [[Barbican Arts Centre]] (principal base of the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[London Symphony Chorus]]), [[Cadogan Hall]] ([[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]]) and the [[Royal Albert Hall]] ([[The Proms]]).<ref name="London's Concerts"/> London's two main opera houses are the [[Royal Opera House]] and the [[London Coliseum]].<ref name="London's Concerts"/> The UK's largest [[pipe organ]] is at the Royal Albert Hall. Other significant instruments are at the cathedrals and major churches. Several [[conservatoire]]s are within the city: [[Royal Academy of Music]], [[Royal College of Music]], [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] and [[Trinity College of Music|Trinity Laban]].
[[File:Abbey Rd Studios.jpg|thumb|[[Abbey Road Studios]], 3 [[Abbey Road (street)|Abbey Road]], [[St John's Wood]], City of Westminster]]
London has numerous venues for rock and pop concerts, including the world's busiest indoor venue, [[The O2 Arena]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2015/2015YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues.pdf |title=Pollstarrpro.com |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date= }}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and [[Wembley Arena]], as well as many mid-sized venues, such as [[Brixton Academy]], the [[Hammersmith Apollo]] and the [[Shepherd's Bush Empire]].<ref name="London's Concerts"/> Several [[music festivals]], including the [[Wireless Festival]], South West Four, [[Lovebox Festival|Lovebox]], and [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]]'s [[British Summer Time (concerts)|British Summer Time]] are all held in London.<ref>{{cite web |title=The best music festivals in London |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/music-festivals/the-best-music-festivals-in-london?package_page=48331 |website=Time Out London|access-date = 27 January 2016}}</ref> The city is home to the original [[Hard Rock Cafe]] and the [[Abbey Road Studios]], where [[The Beatles]] recorded many of their hits. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, musicians and groups like [[Elton John]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[David Bowie]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[The Kinks]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[The Who]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Small Faces]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[Elvis Costello]], [[Cat Stevens]], [[The Police]], [[The Cure]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[The Jam]], [[Ultravox]], [[Spandau Ballet]], [[Culture Club]], [[Dusty Springfield]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Rod Stewart]], [[Adam Ant]], [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] and [[Sade (band)|Sade]], derived their sound from the streets and rhythms of London.<ref name="Top40">{{cite book |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2006/04/06/garycrowley_londontop40_feature.shtml |title=London's top 40 artists |date=6 April 2006 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=9 September 2008 |isbn=978-0-89820-135-2}}</ref>
London was instrumental in the development of [[punk music]],<ref name=london_172>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic |class=explore |id=style/d204|pure_url=yes}} |website=[[AllMusic]] |title=Punk |accessdate=19 February 2010}}</ref> with figures such as the [[Sex Pistols]], [[The Clash]],<ref name="Top40"/> and [[Vivienne Westwood]] all based in the city. More recent artists to emerge from the London music scene include [[George Michael]]'s [[Wham!]], [[Kate Bush]], [[Seal (musician)|Seal]], the [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Bananarama]], [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], [[Bush (band)|Bush]], the [[Spice Girls]], [[Jamiroquai]], [[Blur (band)|Blur]], [[McFly]], [[The Prodigy]], [[Gorillaz]], [[Bloc Party]], [[Mumford & Sons]], [[Coldplay]], [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Adele]], [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Paloma Faith]], [[Ellie Goulding]], [[One Direction]] and [[Florence and the Machine]].<ref name="Scene">{{cite web |url=http://www.londonbc.co.uk/history-of-music-in-london.html |title=History of music in London |publisher=The London Music Scene |accessdate=2 August 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427023619/http://www.londonbc.co.uk/history-of-music-in-london.html |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Walker, Tim (28 July 2008). [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/mumford--sons-the-luminaire-london-878562.html "Mumford & Sons, The Luminaire, London"]. ''The Independent'' (London). Retrieved 13 October 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/dec/09/10-classic-club-nights |title=From the Dug Out and dreads to DMZ and dubstep: 10 classic club nights |work=Guardian Music Blog |location=London |author=Warren, Emma |accessdate=13 October 2012 |date=9 December 2011}}</ref> London is also a centre for urban music. In particular the genres [[UK garage]], [[drum and bass]], [[dubstep]] and [[grime (music)|grime]] evolved in the city from the foreign genres of [[hip hop]] and [[reggae]], alongside local [[drum and bass]]. Music station [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]] was set up to support the rise of local [[urban contemporary]] music both in London and in the rest of the United Kingdom.
==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from London}}
==Recreation==
===Parks and open spaces===
{{Main|Parks and open spaces in London|Royal Parks of London}}
{{see also|List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London|List of local nature reserves in Greater London}}
{{multiple image
| align    = right
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| image1    = Aerial view of Hyde Park.jpg
| caption1  = Aerial view of [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]]
| alt1      = Hyde Park
| image2    = St James's Park Lake – East from the Blue Bridge - 2012-10-06.jpg
| caption2  = [[St. James's Park]] lake with the London Eye in the distance
| alt2      = Lake with London Eye in the background
}}
A 2013 report by the [[City of London Corporation]] said that London is the "greenest city" in Europe with 35,000 acres of public parks, woodlands and gardens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edie.net/news/6/London--greenest-city--in-Europe-/|title=London 'greenest city' in Europe|publisher=}}</ref> The largest parks in the [[Central London|central area of London]] are three of the eight [[Royal Parks of London|Royal Parks]], namely [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] and its neighbour [[Kensington Gardens]] in the west, and [[Regent's Park]] to the north.<ref name=london_080>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/ |title=Kensington Gardens |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527231143/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/ |archivedate=27 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hyde Park in particular is popular for [[London#Sports|sports]] and sometimes hosts open-air concerts. Regent's Park contains [[London Zoo]], the world's oldest scientific zoo, and is near [[Madame Tussauds]] Wax Museum.<ref name=london_081>{{cite web |url=http://www.madametussauds.com/London/About.aspx |title=Madame Tussauds&nbsp;— Official website |publisher=Madame Tussauds |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501102841/http://www.madametussauds.com/London/About.aspx |archivedate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=london_082>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/madame-tussauds.htm |title=Tourist Information |publisher=Madame Tussauds |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427094710/http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/madame-tussauds.htm |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Primrose Hill]], immediately to the north of Regent's Park, at {{convert|256|ft|0}}<ref name=mills>Mills, A., ''Dictionary of London Place Names'', (2001)</ref> is a popular spot from which to view the city skyline.
Close to Hyde Park are smaller Royal Parks, [[Green Park]] and [[St. James's Park]].<ref name=london_083>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green_park/ |title=Green Park |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316052139/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green_park/ |archivedate=16 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A number of large parks lie outside the city centre, including [[Hampstead Heath]] and the remaining Royal Parks of [[Greenwich Park]] to the southeast<ref name=london_170>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich_park/ |title=Greenwich Park |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403202320/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich_park |archivedate=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Bushy Park]] and [[Richmond Park]] (the largest) to the southwest,<ref name=london_084>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy_park/ |title=Bushy Park |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528105028/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy_park/ |archivedate=28 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=london_085>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond_park/ |title=Richmond Park |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527212545/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond_park/ |archivedate=27 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Hampton Court Park]] is also a royal park, but, because it contains a palace, it is administered by the [[Historic Royal Palaces]], unlike the eight [[Royal Parks of London|Royal Parks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=268 |title=Park details – Hampton Court |publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |accessdate=26 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826172424/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=268 |archivedate=26 August 2015 }}</ref>
Close to Richmond Park is [[Kew Gardens]] which has the world's largest collection of living plants. In 2003, the gardens were put on the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] list of [[List of World Heritage Sites of the United Kingdom|World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kew.org/ksheets/pdfs/k16kewhistory.pdf |title=Kew, History & Heritage |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |accessdate=24 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829192523/http://www.kew.org/ksheets/pdfs/k16kewhistory.pdf |archivedate=29 August 2008 }}</ref> There are also parks administered by London's borough Councils, including [[Victoria Park, London|Victoria Park]] in the [[East End]] and [[Battersea Park]] in the centre. Some more informal, semi-natural open spaces also exist, including the {{convert|320|ha|acre|adj=on}} [[Hampstead Heath]] of [[North London]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Hampstead_Heath/ |title=City of London Corporation Hampstead Heath |publisher=City of London Corporation |accessdate=19 February 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513102058/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Hampstead_Heath/ |archivedate=13 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Epping Forest]], which covers 2,476 hectares (6,118 acres)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://217.154.230.195/NR/rdonlyres/A3CB6563-4D0D-4C35-AC7F-818C28306E79/0/OS_EF_Dogs.pdf |title=Epping Forest You & Your Dog |website=brochure |publisher=City of London |accessdate=13 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704191340/http://217.154.230.195/NR/rdonlyres/A3CB6563-4D0D-4C35-AC7F-818C28306E79/0/OS_EF_Dogs.pdf |archivedate=4 July 2011}}</ref> in the east. Both are controlled by the [[City of London Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Ramblers |url=http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/parks/name/c/corporationoflondon.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029232404/http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/parks/name/c/corporationoflondon.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2008 |title=Corporation of London Open Spaces |publisher=Ramblers |accessdate=12 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/Pages/default.aspx |publisher=City of London |title=Green spaces |accessdate=27 July 2012}}</ref> Hampstead Heath incorporates [[Kenwood House]], a former [[stately home]] and a popular location in the summer months when classical musical concerts are held by the lake, attracting thousands of people every weekend to enjoy the music, scenery and fireworks.<ref name=london_086>{{cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100200800k00800f |title=Kenwood House |publisher=English Heritage |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305202033/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100200800k00800f |archivedate=5 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Epping Forest is a popular venue for various outdoor activities, including mountain biking, walking, horse riding, golf, angling, and orienteering.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/Pages/default.aspx |title=Epping Forest |website=cityoflondon.gov.uk}}</ref>
===Walking===
[[File:UK London - River Wandle, Carshalton.jpg|thumb|left|The [[River Wandle]], [[Carshalton]], in the [[London Borough of Sutton]]]]
[[Walking in London|Walking is a popular recreational activity in London]]. Areas that provide for walks include [[Wimbledon Common]], [[Epping Forest]], [[Hampton Court Park]], [[Hampstead Heath]], the eight [[Royal Parks]], canals and disused railway tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerlondonramblers.org.uk/ideasforwalks.html |title=Inner London Ramblers – Walk Ideas |author=Phil Marson |website=innerlondonramblers.org.uk}}</ref> Access to canals and rivers has improved recently, including the creation of the [[Thames Path]], some {{convert|28|mi|km}} of which is within [[Greater London]], and The [[Wandle Trail]]; this runs {{convert|12|mi|km}} through [[South London]] along the [[River Wandle]], a [[tributaries of the River Thames|tributary of the River Thames]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/wandle-trail |title=Wandle Trail – Map |website=Sustrans}}</ref>
Other [[long distance path]]s, linking green spaces, have also been created, including the [[Capital Ring]], the [[Green Chain Walk]], [[London Outer Orbital Path]] ("Loop"), [[Jubilee Walkway]], [[Lea Valley Walk]], and the [[Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk]].<ref>Ideas for London walks from the Inner London Walking Group</ref>
==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in London}}
[[File:Wembley Stadium interior.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wembley Stadium]], home of the [[England football team]], has a 90,000 capacity. It is the UK's biggest stadium.]]
London has hosted the [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]] three times: in [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908]], [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948]], and [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012]],<ref name=london_173>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/london-1908-summer-olympics |title=London 1908 |publisher=International Olympic Committee |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425214411/http://www.olympic.org/london-1908-summer-olympics |archivedate=25 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=london_174>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/london-1948-summer-olympics |title=London 1948 |publisher=International Olympic Committee |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425214340/http://www.olympic.org/london-1948-summer-olympics |archivedate=25 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> making it the first city to host the modern Games three times.<ref name=IOC/> The city was also the host of the [[Commonwealth Games|British Empire Games]] in [[1934 British Empire Games|1934]].<ref name=london_175>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecgf.com/countries/intro.asp?loc=ENG |title=England&nbsp;— Introduction |publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation |accessdate=3 November 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429043207/http://www.thecgf.com/countries/intro.asp?loc=ENG |archivedate=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 2017, London hosted the [[2017 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Athletics]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1216135963.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113180038/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1216135963.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 November 2011 |title=London Defeats Doha to host 2017 International Athletics Championships |publisher=Gamesbids.com |accessdate=13 December 2011 }}</ref>
London's [[Sport in the United Kingdom#Popularity|most popular sport]] is [[association football|football]] and it has five clubs in the English [[Premier League]] as of the [[2019–20 in English football|2019–20 season]]: [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref name=london_176>{{cite web |title=Barclays Premier League Clubs |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/clubs.html |website=Premier League}}</ref> Other professional teams in London are [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], [[AFC Wimbledon]] and [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]].
[[File:Twickenham Stadium - May 2012.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.05|[[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], home of the [[England national rugby union team|England rugby union team]], has an 82,000 capacity, the world's largest rugby union stadium.]]
From 1924, the original [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] was the home of the [[England national football team|English national football team]].
It hosted the [[1966 FIFA World Cup Final]], with England defeating West Germany, and served as the venue for the [[FA Cup Final]] as well as [[rugby league]]'s [[Challenge Cup]] final.<ref name=london_178>{{cite web |url=http://www.wembleystadium.com/GloriousPast/greatmoments/1steverwembleyFACupFinal.htm |title=Wembley Stadium History&nbsp;— Official Website |publisher=Wembley National Stadium Limited. |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403102710/http://www.wembleystadium.com/GloriousPast/greatmoments/1steverwembleyFACupFinal.htm |archivedate=3 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new [[Wembley Stadium]] serves exactly the same purposes and has a capacity of 90,000.<ref name="Wembley Stadium Facts and Figures">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressbox/presspack/factsandFigures.htm |title=Wembley Stadium&nbsp;— Presspack&nbsp;— Facts and Figures |publisher=Wembley National Stadium Limited |accessdate=6 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516051636/http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressbox/presspack/factsandFigures.htm |archivedate=16 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Two [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]] rugby union teams are based in London, [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] and [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]].<ref name=london_177>{{cite web |url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/clubs/index.php |title=Premiership Rugby: Clubs |publisher=Premier Rugby |accessdate=5 August 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427075926/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/clubs/index.php |archivedate=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[London Scottish F.C.|London Scottish]], [[London Welsh]] and [[London Irish]] play in the [[RFU Championship]] club and other rugby union clubs in the city include [[Richmond F.C.]], [[Rosslyn Park F.C.]], [[Westcombe Park R.F.C.]] and [[Blackheath F.C.]]. [[Twickenham Stadium]] in south-west London hosts home matches for the [[England national rugby union team]] and has a capacity of 82,000 now that the new south stand has been completed.<ref name="musiccap">{{Cite press release |publisher=Twickenham Rugby Stadium |title=RFU apply for two additional concerts at Twickenham Stadium in 2007 |url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14822 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625050620/http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14822 |archivedate=25 June 2008 |date=3 October 2006 |ref=harv |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Centre Court, 28 March 2012.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.05|[[Centre Court]] at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]. First played in 1877, the Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/tennis/06/14/tennis.wimbledon.125th.anniversary.museum/index.html 125 years of Wimbledon: From birth of lawn tennis to modern marvels] CNN. Retrieved 28 September 2011</ref>]]
While [[rugby league]] is more popular in the north of England, there are two professional rugby league clubs in London&nbsp;– the [[London Broncos]] in the top tier [[Super League]], who play at the [[Trailfinders Sports Ground]] in [[West Ealing]], and the third tier [[League 1 (rugby league)|League 1]] team, the [[London Skolars]] from [[Wood Green]], [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]].
One of London's best-known annual sports competitions is the [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon Tennis Championships]], held at the [[All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club|All England Club]] in the south-western suburb of [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]].<ref name=london_181>{{cite web |url=http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423182334/http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html |archivedate=23 April 2008 |title=Wimbledon&nbsp;— official website |publisher=The All England Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) |accessdate=29 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Played in late June to early July, it is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered the most prestigious.<ref>{{cite news |title=Traditional Final: It's Nadal and Federer |work=The New York Times |date=7 May 2008 |first=Christopher |last=Clarey |quote=Federer said[:] 'I love playing with him, especially here at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament we have.' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/sports/tennis/05wimbledon.html |accessdate=17 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor=Will Kaufman & Heidi Slettedahl Macpherson |encyclopedia=Britain and the Americas |title=Tennis |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO|volume=1 : Culture, Politics, and History |isbn=978-1-85109-431-8 |page=958 |quote=this first tennis championship, which later evolved into the Wimbledon Tournament ... continues as the world's most prestigious event.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=What Is The Most Prestigious Grand Slam Tennis Tournament? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2012/05/30/what-is-the-most-prestigious-grand-slam-tennis-tournament/ |work=Forbes |location=New York |date=30 May 2012 |accessdate=25 June 2013 |author=Burke, Monte}}</ref>
London has two [[Test cricket]] grounds, [[Lord's]] (home of [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex C.C.C.]]) in [[St John's Wood]]<ref name=london_179>{{cite web |url=http://www.lords.org/lords-ground/about-lords/ |title=About Lord's—the home of cricket&nbsp;— official website |year=2008 |publisher=MCC |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505124304/http://www.lords.org/lords-ground/about-lords/ |archivedate=5 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[the Oval]] (home of [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey C.C.C.]]) in [[Kennington]].<ref name=london_180>{{cite web |url=http://www.surreycricket.com/the-brit-oval |title=The Brit Oval&nbsp;— Official Website |year=2008 |publisher=Surrey CCC |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307124530/http://www.surreycricket.com/the-brit-oval/ |archivedate=7 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lord's has hosted four finals of the [[Cricket World Cup]], and is known as the ''Home of Cricket''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57129.html|title=Lord's ESPN CricInfo|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Other key events are the annual mass-participation [[London Marathon]], in which some 35,000 runners attempt a {{convert|26.2|mi|km}} course around the city,<ref name=london_182>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/ |title=Flora London Marathon 2008 |publisher=London Marathon Ltd |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426224024/http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/ |archivedate=26 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[University Boat Race]] on the [[River Thames]] from [[Putney]] to [[Mortlake]].<ref name=london_183>{{cite web |url=http://www.theboatrace.org/ |title=The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race&nbsp;— Official Website |publisher=The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430162037/http://www.theboatrace.org/ |archivedate=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portal|London|England|United Kingdom}}
* [[Outline of London]]
* [[Outline of England]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|group=upper-alpha|refs=
<ref name=total>[[City of London]] and [[Greater London]]</ref>
}}
{{Reflist|group="note"|30em}}
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
===Bibliography===
* {{Cite book |last=Ackroyd |first=Peter |title=London: The Biography |publisher=Vintage |location=London |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-09-942258-7 |page=880 |ref=harv|title-link=London: The Biography }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mills |first=David |title=Dictionary of London Place Names |publisher=Oxford Paperbacks |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-280106-7 |oclc=45406491 |ref=harv}}
==External links==
* [http://www.london.gov.uk/ London.gov.uk&nbsp;– Greater London Authority]
* [http://www.visitlondon.com/ VisitLondon.com]&nbsp;– Official London tourism site
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London] (TfL)&nbsp;– city transport authority
* [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ Museum of London]
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/search/query/london British Pathé] – Digitalised archive containing hundreds of films of 20th century London
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/place.aspx?region=1 London] in ''[[British History Online]]'', with links to numerous authoritative online sources
* [http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/ Map of Early Modern London] – Historical map and encyclopaedia of Shakespeare's London
* [http://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}}
{{London history}}
{{London landmarks}}
{{Areas of London}}
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{{Governance of Greater London}}
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{{Universities and colleges in London}}
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[[Category:London| ]]
[[Category:Pages including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]]
[[Category:British capitals]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Greater London]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Southern England]]
[[Category:Staple ports]]
[[Category:Southern England]]
[[Category:University towns in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1st-century establishments in Roman Britain]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century]]

Revision as of 16:58, 5 November 2019

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