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London Situated in the south east of England on the north side of the river Thames,
London is both the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland,
and the capital of England. It covers 610 squares miles (1,579 sq. Kilometres) and
has a population of around 7,200,000 making it one of the most populous cities in
Europe. The Greater London administrative area comprises the City of London and
32 London boroughs including the City of Westminster. The London metropolitan area
is the largest metropolitan area in Europe and covers an area of 6,267 square miles
(16,043 sq kilometres) and has a population of almost 14,000,000 which is larger
than the combined populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The London
that most tourists see is Central London, which comprises the historic City of London,
the West End with all its theatres, shops and restaurants, the City of Westminster
with its Royal palaces, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea with its museum
quarter and Hyde Park. There are several distinct London dialects, the most famous
of which is Cockney. Cockneys are strictly speaking only born in areas within the
sound of Bow Bells but is widely used through the City. The South London accent
is different to the North London accent but only a Londoner would know the difference.
Over 300 different languages are spoken in London which is one of the most diverse
and cosmopolitan cities in the World. .
Industry
Tourism plays a major part in the economy of London and it is by far the most popular
tourist destination in the British Isles. The City of London, also known as the
"square mile", is predominantly the financial centre, and geographically a very
small area. Although bustling during the working week, the City of London is usually
much calmer on the weekends. There is a wide range of accomodation available including
bed and breakfast, hotel accommodation, self catering, guest house, cottage, camping
and caravan sites.
History
The city of Londinium was founded by the Romans on the north bank of the River Thames
in around AD 50. Although there is no evidence of a large pre-Roman settlement,
the name is thought to be pre-Roman. It is believed to have become the capital of
the Roman province of Britannia in the early second century. After the fall of the
Roman Empire, the Roman city was virtually abandoned and a Saxon town named Lundenwic
was established a mile or two west in the Aldwych area in the 7th century AD. The
fortified Roman City of London was reoccupied around the late 9th or early 10th
century, whereafter it resumed its role as England's biggest city (although not
its capital - Winchester served as capital until the 12th century). In 1666, a devastating
fire swept through the city, destroying a large part of it. Re-building the city
took over 10 years but by the 18th century London was the biggest city in the world.
Over the years, London has increased dramatically in size, absorbing meadows, woodlands,
villages and towns and spreading outwards in every direction. Outward growth has
been physically interrupted (though by no means halted) through the definition of
a Green Belt. In recent years development has been concentrated in the London Docklands
and Thames Gateway areas of East London.
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