London City Informatin

London (pronunciation (help·info); IPA: /ˈlʌndən/) is the largest urban area and the capital of England and the United Kingdom,^[7] and is also often referred to as the Capital of the World[2][3][4]. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans.^[8] Since its settlement, London has been the centre of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival.^[9][10][11] The city's core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited mediaeval boundaries; but since at least the 19th century the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis which has developed around it.^[12] Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of England^[13] and the Greater London administrative area,^[14] with its own elected mayor and assembly.^[15]

It is one of the world's leading business, financial, and cultural centres,^[16] and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as a major global city.^[17] London boasts four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[18] As a result, the city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and its popularity has increased over the years due to economic growth.^[19]

London has a diverse population that includes a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city.^[20] As of 2006, it has an official population of 7,512,400 within the boundaries of Greater London^[2] and is the most populous municipality in the European Union. As of 2001, the Greater London Urban Area has a population of 8,278,251^[3] and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of between 12 and 14 million.^[4][5]

History

Main article: History of London

Geography

Main article: Geography of London

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "London"