London is the capital city of the United Kingdom
and England. With 7.5 million people, it is the
largest city in the European Union. The
population is quite diverse and over 300
languages are spoken there. The city is an
international leader in finance, politics,
communications, entertainment, fashion and the
arts and has considerable influence worldwide.
London was founded in about 43 AD. At that
time, it was controlled by the Romans who called
it Londinium. London has grown steadily over
the centuries, surrounding and making suburbs
of neighboring villages and towns, farmland,
countryside, meadows and woodlands,
spreading in every direction. From the 16th to
the early-20th century, London flourished as the
capital of the British Empire.
London is one of the most visited cities on
earth. London has the greatest concentration of
major attractions in Britain and boasts four
World Heritage Sites. Over two hundred
attractions are free to enter, so there's nowhere
else in the world where you can see so much for
so little! There are many attractions to choose
from including the British Airways London Eye,
Buckingham Palace, or the Tower of London.
There are also many beautiful parks and
gardens.
London will host the 2012 Summer Olympics. In
preparation for the 2012 London Olympic
Games, a total of £7 billion (€10 billion) will be
spent on refurbishment and expansion of city
links, mainly on the Underground. The
Underground is what Londoners call their
subway system. The London transportation
system is one of the most complex transit
systems in the world. Unfortunately because it
so complex it is often considered to be
congested and unreliable. In fact every year over
1 billion people ride the Underground.
