London • England UK
One of the oldest cities in the world with a history that dates back to Roman times, London is culturally rich and diverse, and a city that remains one of the most influential cities in the world.
The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, its history goes back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium.
After the end of Roman rule in 410, London experienced a gradual revival under the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the Norsemen, and emerged as a great medieval trading city. Great playwrights like Shakespeare made London their home, important depictions of London are Dickens’ novels and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.
The decline of the British Empire, and suffering during World War II when London was bombed in the Blitz, the city is still a top-ranked world city. London is the world’s largest financial centre and is one of three “command centres” for the world economy, with New York City and Tokyo.
London‘s second-biggest industry is the media industry. It is one of the great “world cities,” and remains a global capital of culture, fashion, finance, politics and trade.
The London Underground s the oldest and largest metro system in the world, dating from 1863. Known as The Tube, because of the shape of the tunnels and trains. The red double-decker bus is an iconic symbol internationally recognised, and are a trademark of London transport along with black cabs and the Tube. The traditional Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and onboard conductor to collect fares, have been phased out but still run on Heritage Routes number 9 and 15.
Having lived in London for several years I can only describe it as a love/hate relationship, there are things which are fabulous and others that just make you want to run! Frankly, the quality of life here is low standard in comparison to other major European cities, though the plusses add up to a place like New York, if you can make it here,.. then you know you can make anywhere.
The trouble with London is knowing where to begin, there are countless things to do and see.
