It was the Romans who founded London. Today's British capital is located on the site of a Roman settlement dating back to 43 BC. The settlement was founded when forces led by Emperor Claudius attacked Britain. Cannon Street in London is home to the old Roman center of Londinium marked by the London Stone. 1)
Until the UK left the EU, the London conurbation was the largest urban agglomeration of all the conurbations in the European Union countries. More than 14 million people live in the London area. After the exit of the UK from the EU, the honorable title goes to Paris. 2)
The city, inhabited by almost 9 million people, receives a gigantic number of tourists every year. London is one of the most-visited cities in the world. In 2018, 20,420,000 tourists visited the city. This is more than in Prague, Vienna, Paris, or Amsterdam. 3)
German troops failed to conquer London during World War II, so it became the seat of government for many of the countries conquered by the Germans. France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, France, and Poland all moved their governments here. 4)
The London Underground is the largest subway system in the world. The London Underground was launched on January 10, 1863. The famous Tube consists of 11 lines, 270 stations, and around 250 miles of track (402 kilometers). Forty-five percent of the London Underground routes are above ground rather than underground. Every day, 5 million passengers use the Underground in London. 5)
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is a fairly “young” landmark of this city. The opening of this Ferris wheel took place on December 31, 1999, in the ceremony attended by Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, there were technical problems at the very beginning and the attraction was operational again in March 2000. The 135-meter high observation wheel consists of 32 air-conditioned passenger capsules and one full rotation takes about half an hour. 6)
Officially, Big Ben is just the bell located inside of it. The treadmill itself is called “Elizabeth Tower.” 7)
In the English Parliament or the Palace of Westminster, the occupants are not allowed to die. This is due to the fact that the building belongs to the royal palaces, which is associated with the need to hold a state funeral in case of death inside the building. 8)
Interestingly, until 1961 English law prohibited suicide. 9)
There is one street in London where traffic drives on the right. It is located by the Savoy Hotel, which hosts famous celebrities and politicians. Why is it so? One of the theories says that cab drivers first drop passengers off at the Savoy Theatre, which is located on the right-hand side, and then pick up guests from the hotel. 10)
In 2016, London ranked as the 6th most expensive city to live in. 11)
A great fire broke out on September 2, 1666, and ravaged London for three consecutive days. The first flames appeared in a bakery in Pudding Lane. The strong winds of the time helped the fire to spread. During those few days, the city was almost completely destroyed, with over 13,000 buildings collapsing. 12)
The tallest building in London and the entire United Kingdom is The Shard. 13)
There is a rather unusual building at 23-24 Leinster Gardens. The building has windows painted in gray, there are no doorknobs in the doors, and the doorbell is not to be found. What is more, the building has no back - the city decided to preserve only the façade. The structure was demolished in 1868 during the construction of a subway tunnel. 14)
Cock Lane, near Holborn Viaduct, did not get its name because of its association with poultry, but because it was the only street to be licensed for prostitution in the Middle Ages. 15)
Ormond Street Hospital, in Russell Square, owns the copyright to Peter Pan and receives royalties from it. Author J. M. Barrie, who had no children, assigned the rights to the hospital in 1929. 16)
The Beatles played their last concert on the roof of Apple Corps at 3 Savile Row. Now there is an Abercrombie & Fitch store there. 17)
Jimi Hendrix lived at 23 Brook Street, but that location is now being converted into a museum. 18)
The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square comes from Norway. To express gratitude to the people of England for their alliance during World War II, the people of Oslo, Norway, present a Christmas tree that stands proudly in Trafalgar Square each year. 19)