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London: Greater London
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London [2] is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and the largest city in western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of roughly 7.5 million people — although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance. London is historically one of the great, "world cities," and remains a global capital of culture, fashion, finance, politics and trade.
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Today, London, with its population of more than seven million, is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and a center of business, finance, politics, culture, arts and style, as well as a busy port city. Greater London stretches over both sides of the Thames River and consists of 32 boroughs that surround the City of London — a one-square-mile area that includes the old city of London and what constitutes the commercial hub of today's London. A region of immigrants, some 30% of London's population is foreign born.
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London has an official population of 7,512,400 (as of mid-2006) within the boundaries of Greater London[2] and is the most populous municipality in the European Union. The urban area of London extends beyond the limits of Greater London and has a population of 8,278,251 (as of 2001).[3] The metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of between 12 and 14 million.[4][5] London's diverse population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 different languages are spoken within the city.[14] It is an international transport hub, with five major international airports serving the area and a large port. It serves as the largest aviation hub in the world,[15] and the multi-terminal Heathrow Airport carries more international passengers than any other airport in the world.[16]
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In the 19th cent., London began a period of extraordinary growth. The area of present-day Greater London had about 1.1 million people in 1801; by 1851, the population had increased to 2.7 million, and by 1901 to 6.6 million. During the Victorian era, London acquired tremendous prestige as the capital of the British Empire and as a cultural and intellectual center. Britain's free political institutions and intellectual atmosphere made London a haven for persons unsafe in their own countries. The Italian Giuseppe Mazzini, the Russian Aleksandr Herzen, and the German Karl Marx were among many politically controversial figures who lived for long periods in London.
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London (all airports code: LON) is served by a total of six airports. Traveling between the city and the airports is made relatively easy by the large number of public transport links that have been put in place over recent years. However, if transiting through London be sure to check the arrival and departure airports carefully as transfers across the city may be quite time consuming. In addition to London's six official airports (of which only two are located within Greater London) there are a number of other regional UK airports conveniently accessible from London. Since they offer a growing number of budget flights choosing those airports can be cheaper (or even faster, depending on where in London your destination is).
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London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names (e.g. Bloomsbury, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Whitechapel, Fitzrovia). These are either informal designations, or reflect the names of superseded parishes and city wards. Such names have remained in use through tradition, each referring to a neighbourhood with its own distinctive character, but often with no modern official boundaries. Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into 32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London.
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Greater London