London
London (pronunciation ; IPA: /ˈlʌndən/) is the largest urban area and capital of England and the United Kingdom.[7] An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans.[8] Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival.[9] 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.[10] Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of England[11] and the Greater London administrative area,[12] with its own elected mayor and assembly.[13]
London is one of the world's leading business, financial, and cultural centres,[14] and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as a major global city.[15] 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.[16] The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and its popularity has increased over the years due to economic growth.[17]
London's diverse population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city.[18] 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 [19] and the second on Europe. [20] 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] London will be hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The article above is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "London".