London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is truly a metropolis, a global city. London is Europe’s melting pot. Over 300 different languages are spoken within its borders. Made up of a conglomeration of smaller villages and cities, Greater London is Europe’s largest city, including the areas of Westminster, Kensington, Camden, and England’s smallest city, the centrally located City of London (with only a population of about 7,300).
Today, London is a mecca for arts and entertainment. Millions visit arrive each year to explore the countless attractions this city has to offer. London has something for everyone, from ancient history to modern art, and everything in between.
History
All major cities have had their humble origins and London is no different. Archaeological excavations have shown that the area around the Thames was lightly settled during the Bronze Age (around 1,500 BCE), but the first major settlement was founded by the Romans in 43 CE.
The first Roman settlement, Londinium, was small, but a prosperous trading town. All was good, until the Iceni Queen Boudicca got very angry at the Romans and burned down the town. Londinium was quickly rebuilt and grew exponentially.
Londinium, while prosperous for a while, went into decline and after the Romans retreated from Britain, it was essentially abandoned in the 5th century. The invading Anglo-Saxons moved into the area slightly west of the old Roman city, after 500 CE. The city, Lundenwic, grew into a major port once again. After being attacked numerous times by the Vikings in the early 9th century, Lundenwic was abandoned and the city was re-founded in the area that was still surrounded by the old Roman walls, today’s City of London.
London grew and grew and was conquered once again. This time by the Normans in 1066, which were here to stay. William the Conqueror was crowned in the newly rebuilt Westminster Abbey and began his reign over England. William the Conqueror quickly constructed one of London’s most famous landmarks, the Tower of London, as well as, the Palace of Westminster, of which only the great hall remains (today’s Houses of Parliament). The Normans moved the capital of England from Winchester to Westminster, where it remains today.
The modern Palace of Westminster and Big Ben.
The city of London grew from a population of 18,000 in 1100, to nearly 100,000 by 1300. The city was a flourishing commercial center that not even the Black Death of the mid-14th century could stop (London lost a third of its population).
London survived the troubled shift to Protestantism during the Reformation, when much of London passing from church to private ownership. With the Age of Exploration in full swing, London became the principal port for colonial trade and emigration to the colonies.
The most defining moment, one that changed the face of London, was the Great Fire in 1666. Over the next ten years, London was re-planned and rebuilt to the crowning glory it is today. London spread out past its old Roman walls, enveloping villages along the way.
London was the world’s largest city from 1831 to 1925. The congestion in the city lead to the creation of the first local urban rail network, which moved underground shortly thereafter, London’s famous Tube.
Buckingham Palace, home in the king, a big tourist draw in London.
The city was bombed during both World Wars, the worse being the Blitz which destroyed large tracts of housing and buildings across the city. The people of London were not going to give up that easily. They rebuilt, creating the landscape of the city that we see today. The Blitz inadvertently helped recover some of London’s lost history. Roman and Medieval ruins were found after the rubble of destroyed buildings were removed, uncovering the past that was long forgotten.
Tips
The tube is the quickest way to get around London. If you are planning on riding more than one trip, get a day pass. Cheaper if you buy after 9am.
Planning an extended stay for more than a couple of days. Invest in the Oyster pass for public transportation. It’s a preloaded pass that works for all local trains and buses. It has a daily cap the same price as a day pass but charges less per ride. You can save a lot of money using the bus instead for central London transit.
Food in London is expensive. Every grocery store offers cheap lunch options (meal deals with a sandwich, a side and a drink). Head off the main streets to find more deals.
Get ready for crowds. London is one of the most visited cities in the world.
All municipal museums are free of charge (i.e., British Museum, Soane Museum, Museum of London).
London has many airports. Research how to get to and from the airport (some take an hour or more to get to from central London). All airports have express train service from various stations across the city (non-express, however, is a fraction of the cost). Heathrow has tube and express train service. If more than two people need a ride, it may be worth it to save some hassle and share a cab.
If you want to see more of Southern England whilst in London, couch tours leave London daily to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Canterbury and many more. (Golden Tours offers many tours which I have taken and recommend.)
Attractions
Places I have been and recommend to visitors in the London area.
