London, the capital of Great Britain, is also one of the world's capitals of finance, arts, fashion and entertainment. The city has a recorded history dating back to Roman times and encompassing the lives of such illustrious political figures as William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth I, and Thomas à Becket, as well as those of William Shakespeare, John Milton, and the other authors who created one of the world's great bodies of literature.

Once the most populous city in the world, London is now a hotbed of cultural and historical richness, with countless museums, galleries, libraries, and important sites. Some popular tourist stops include the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Big Ben, Kew Gardens, Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, the historic settlement of Greenwich, and much more. Important historical religious sites include Westminster Abbey, St Margaret’s Church, and St Paul’s Cathedral. London is also home to the oldest underground railway network in the world, known as the London Underground. London is a major air transportation hub so getting there is a breeze. The city is also a major tourist destination, so finding a place to stay and things to do is even easier.

London assumes the mantle of one of the world’s great cities with ease, crowning itself Napoleon-style by hosting its third Olympic games in 2012. It’s safe to say that London has not exuded so much confidence since the heady days of empire in the late 19th century, even despite the economic crisis that has seen the city’s status as the world’s pre-eminent financial centre take a wobble. London has been called a ‘world in one city’ and that’s not just empty rhetoric. The brilliant feat carried off here is that while immigrants, the city’s life blood, continue to flow in and contribute their energy and cultures to the capital’s already spicy melting pot, London nevertheless feels quintessentially British, whether it’s those boxy black cabs, the red double deckers or those grand symbols of Britain – the mother of all parliaments at Westminster, the silhouette of Tower bridge above the muddy Thames or the already world-famous London Eye, barely a decade old. Don’t miss these essential sights of course, but equally ensure you partake in what really makes London great: a pint and a plate of fish n’ chips by the river, a day in the park or a night out in Soho or Shoreditch. Take a deep breath and prepare to fall in love with the British capital...

London

London at night

London England

London England

London England

Tower Bridge, London England