Location and Lifestyle
London
A leading global city, London is famous for its diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and boasts a unique history with some of the most famous landmarks and cultural icons in the world.
The capital’s landmarks have a rich and complex history and are recognised throughout the world.
Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are celebrated historical structures, as are Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.
Millions of visitors are drawn to the many distinct areas that make up the capital, such as Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Mayfair, Trafalgar Square, the West End and Knightsbridge, to name a few.
London’s neighbourhoods are diverse. Brick Lane, for instance, is a Bangladeshi area of London made famous by the Monica Ali novel of the same name and famous for its Indian restaurants whilst across the other side of London, Notting Hill is an attractive, cosmopolitan area neighbouring the well known Portobello Road.
London’s museums are highly regarded and many of them are national treasures in their own right. The British Museum has more than seven millions objects from around the world documenting history from the beginning of time. The Imperial War Museum situated in East London has extensive displays chronicling the history of conflict in Britain and Ireland.
London is considered a fashion capital with numerous notable designers originating from London. The city is home to world renowned art galleries including the Saatchi Gallery, the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery and the Tate Modern, and the Royal Academy regularly hosts exhibitions.
Today London is one of the world’s most influential cities due its contributions in politics, finance, media, entertainment, education and culture. The largest urban area in the EU, London has the most extensive underground travel system in the world whilst Heathrow airport handles more international passengers than any other airport in the world.
In 2012 London will host the Olympic Games for a third time, the first city in the world to do so. A brand new Olympic stadium is under construction in Stratford and other venues, such as Wembley Stadium and the All England Club at Wimbledon, will also be used.
