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London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom (which is composed of Great Britain (i.e England, Scotland and Wales)and Northern Ireland)
An important settlement for around two thousand years London is today one of the world's most important business and financial centres, and its influence in politics, culture education, entertainment, media, fashion, sport and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the key global cities.
London is the largest and most populated city in the European Union with a population of 7.5 million and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. Its population is very cosmopolitan, drawing from a wide range of peoples, cultures and religions, speaking over 300 different languages.
London is an international transport hub, with five international airports and a large port. It serves as the largest aviation hub in the world, and its principal airport, Heathrow, carries more international passengers than any other airport in the world.
London is a major tourist destination, with iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye amongst its many attractions, along with famous institutions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery.
Defining London
London is a region of England, also commonly known as the Greater London area; its local government is the Greater London Authority. The urban sprawl of the conurbation or Greater London Urban Area covers a roughly similar area, with a slightly larger population. Beyond this is the vast London commuter belt. At London's core is the small, ancient City of London which is commonly known as "The City" or "Square Mile". Within London, both the City of London and the City of Westminster have City status.
40% of Greater London is covered by the London postal area. The London telephone area code covers a larger area, similar in size to Greater London, although some outer districts are omitted and some places just outside are included. The area within the orbital M25 motorway is sometimes used to define the "London area" and the Greater London boundary has been aligned to it in places. Greater London is split for some purposes into Inner London and Outer London.
London's metropolitan area grew considerably during the Victorian era and again during the Interwar period with expansion halted in the 1940s by World War II and Green Belt legislation and has been largely static since. The Metropolitan Police District, city-wide local government area and London transport area have varied over time, but currently broadly coincide with the Greater London boundary.
Unlike most capital cities, London's status as the capital of the UK has never been granted or confirmed officially by statute or in written form.
The Romans may have marked the centre of Londinium with the London Stone, still visible on Cannon Street. The nominal centre of London (traditionally considered to be the original Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross, near the junction of Trafalgar Square and Whitehall) . Trafalgar Square has also become a central point for celebrations and protests.
Greater London covers an area of 609 square miles making it one of the world's largest cities by area. Its primary geographical feature is the Thames, a navigable river which crosses the city from the southwest to the east. The Thames Valley is a floodplain surrounded by gently rolling hills such as Parliament Hill and Primrose Hill. These hills presented no significant obstacle to the growth of London from its origins as a port on the north side of the river, and therefore London is roughly circular.
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