- London is the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom.
- London was founded by the Romans, who named it Londinium.
- The iconic London Underground, also known as ‘the Tube’, is the oldest underground railway network in the world.
- London is considered one of the world’s leading “global cities” and has strengths in arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, and more.
- Big Ben is not actually the name of the clock or the tower itself. It’s the nickname for the Great Bell inside the tower. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012.
- The British Museum in London is home to over eight million works and is dedicated to human history, art, and culture. Its permanent collection is one of the largest and most comprehensive in existence.
- The London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames, offers stunning views of the city and is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
- The city is home to four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, the historic settlement of Greenwich, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- More than 300 languages are spoken in London, making it one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world.
- London’s iconic double-decker buses were not originally red. Before 1907, different routes had different-colored buses.
- London has over 170 museums, ranging from the world-famous British Museum to the quirky Fan Museum in Greenwich.
- The city has been the setting for many famous novels and films, including Sherlock Holmes, Mary Poppins, and Harry Potter.
- The Shard, standing at 1,016 feet, is the tallest building in London.
- Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, has 775 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.
- London hosted the Summer Olympics three times: in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
- The River Thames that flows through London is 215 miles long and has been used for various purposes throughout history, including trade, defense, and leisure.
- Blackfriars is the only train station in London that has entrances on both sides of the Thames.
- The streets of London were not named until the 1850s, and before that, houses and businesses were identified by symbols or signs.
- Despite its size, more than 40% of London is green space, making it one of the greenest cities of its size in the world. This includes numerous gardens, parks, and forests, such as Hyde Park and the ancient woodland of Epping Forest.
- Tower Bridge, one of London’s most famous landmarks, is not to be confused with London Bridge, a much plainer bridge located nearby. Despite its medieval appearance, Tower Bridge was completed in 1894 and features a unique bascule (drawbridge) mechanism that allows ships to pass through.
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