tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107642502011-04-21T18:21:38.352-07:00maharajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116245622427915320noreply@blogger.comBlogger41100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10764250.post-1155902186216383432006-08-18T04:54:00.000-07:002006-08-18T04:56:26.776-07:00hi from venice. bye bye<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10764250-115590218621638343?l=about-london.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>maharajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116245622427915320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10764250.post-1131783449228372622005-11-12T00:15:00.000-08:002005-11-12T00:17:29.243-08:00<strong>hello </strong>mr <em>rohit</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10764250-113178344922837262?l=about-london.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>maharajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116245622427915320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10764250.post-1127463848085127762005-09-23T01:24:00.000-07:002005-09-23T01:24:08.090-07:00<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>test post</FONT></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10764250-112746384808512776?l=about-london.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>maharajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116245622427915320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10764250.post-1108110739493492732005-02-11T00:28:00.000-08:002005-02-11T00:33:31.203-08:00<p><b>London</b> — containing the <b><a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a></b> — is the capital of the <a title="United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> and of <a title="England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England">England</a> and a major "<a title="World city" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_city">world city</a>". With over seven million inhabitants (<b>Londoners</b>) in <a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a> area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in <a title="Western Europe" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe">Western Europe</a>. Founded as <i>Londinium</i>, the capital of the <a title="Roman" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman">Roman</a> province of <a title="Roman Britain" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britain">Britannia</a>, it later rose to become the centre of the <a title="British Empire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire">British Empire</a>. Today it generates over 17% of the <a title="Gross domestic product" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product">GDP</a> of the UK's economy, the world's fourth largest, and is a major financial centre along with <a title="New York City" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City">New York</a> and <a title="Tokyo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo">Tokyo</a>. For several centuries now, London has been one of the most influential powers in <a title="Politics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics">politics</a>, <a title="Finance" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finance">finance</a>, <a title="Arts" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts">arts</a> and <a title="Fashion" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion">fashion</a> and it remains so today.</p><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title="The seen across the is one of the iconic images of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PalaceOfWestminsterAtNight.jpg"><img height="177" alt="The seen across the is one of the iconic images of London" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/250px-PalaceOfWestminsterAtNight.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:PalaceOfWestminsterAtNight.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PalaceOfWestminsterAtNight.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a title="Palace of Westminster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster">Palace of Westminster</a> seen across the <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a> is one of the iconic images of <strong>London</strong></div></div></div><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IMG_0077.jpg"><img height="187" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8b/250px-IMG_0077.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:IMG_0077.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IMG_0077.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a title="The London Eye" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_London_Eye">The London Eye</a></div></div></div><br /><table id="toc" border="0"><br /><tbody><br /><tr id="toctitle"><br /><td align="middle"><b>Contents</b><br /><br /><span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" href="javascript:toggleToc()"><span id="showlink" style="DISPLAY: none">show</span><span id="hidelink">hide</span></a>]</span> </td></tr><br /><tr id="tocinside"><br /><td><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Location">1 Location</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#History">2 History</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Modern_London">3 Modern London</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Population">4 Population</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Government">5 Government</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Transport">6 Transport</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocindent"><br /><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Airports">6.1 Airports</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Rail">6.2 Rail</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Road">6.3 Road</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Waterways">6.4 Waterways</a><br /></p></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Sport">7 Sport</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Culture">8 Culture</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocindent"><br /><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Music">8.1 Music</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Festivals">8.2 Festivals</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Theatre">8.3 Theatre</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Art">8.4 Art</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Museums">8.5 Museums</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Night-life">8.6 Night-life</a><br /></p></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Business">9 Business</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#London_tourist_attractions">10 London tourist attractions</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Prominent_exhibitions">11 Prominent exhibitions</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#London_in_the_arts">12 London in the arts</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocindent"><br /><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Literature_featuring_London">12.1 Literature featuring London</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#Films_featuring_London">12.2 Films featuring London</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#TV_shows_featuring_London">12.3 TV shows featuring London</a><br /></p></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#See_also">13 See also</a><br /></div><br /><div class="tocline"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London#External_links">14 External links</a><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Location" name="Location"></a></p><br /><h2>Location</h2><br /><p>The term "London" was used for hundreds of years to refer to the <a title="Conurbation" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conurbation">conurbation</a> centred on the small <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a> in the <a title="Traditional counties of England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_counties_of_England">historic county</a> of <a title="Middlesex" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesex">Middlesex</a>. Today, it usually refers to the administrative area known as <a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a>, but is sometimes used to mean the area within the <a title="London postal district" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_postal_district">London postal district</a>, the area covered by the 020 <a title="Area code" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code">area code</a> (formerly 0171 and 0181; before that 071 and 081; even earlier 01), the area covered by an all-zone <a title="Transport for London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London">Transport for London</a> <a title="Travelcards" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelcards">Travelcard</a>, the area within the <a title="M25 motorway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M25_motorway">M25 motorway</a>, or the larger <a title="London commuter belt" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_commuter_belt">London commuter belt</a>.</p><br /><p>The coordinates of the centre of London (traditionally considered to be <a title="Charing Cross" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charing_Cross">Charing Cross</a>, near <a title="Trafalgar Square" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square">Trafalgar Square</a>) are approximately 51°30' N, 0°8' W although the Romans marked the centre with the <a title="London Stone" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stone">London Stone</a> in the City.</p><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title=" The spanning the between gallery and " href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London.millennium.bridge.arp.750pix.jpg"><img height="167" alt=" The spanning the between gallery and " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/31/250px-London.millennium.bridge.arp.750pix.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London.millennium.bridge.arp.750pix.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London.millennium.bridge.arp.750pix.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a title="London Millennium Bridge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Millennium_Bridge">London Millennium Bridge</a> spanning the <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a> between <a title="Tate Modern" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern">Tate Modern</a> gallery and <a title="St. Pauls Cathedral" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Pauls_Cathedral">St. Pauls Cathedral</a></div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="History" name="History"></a></p><br /><h2>History</h2><br /><p><i>Main article: <a title="History of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_London">History of London</a></i></p><br /><p>The city of <i>Londinium</i> was founded by the <a title="Romans" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romans">Romans</a> on the north bank of the <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a> in around AD <a title="50" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50">50</a>. Although there is no evidence of a large pre-Roman settlement, the name is thought to be pre-Roman. It is believed to have become the capital of the Roman province of <a title="Britannia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia">Britannia</a> in the early second century. After the fall of the <a title="Roman Empire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire">Roman Empire</a>, the Roman city was virtually abandoned and a <a title="Saxon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon">Saxon</a> town named <i>Lundenwic</i> was established a mile or two west in the <a title="Aldwych" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldwych">Aldwych</a> area in the <a title="7th century" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_century">7th century</a> AD. The fortified Roman <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a> was reoccupied around the late <a title="9th century" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_century">9th</a> or early <a title="10th century" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_century">10th century</a>, whereafter it resumed its role as England's biggest city (although not its capital - <a title="Winchester, Hampshire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester,_Hampshire">Winchester</a> served as capital until the <a title="12th century" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century">12th century</a>). In <a title="1666" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1666">1666</a>, a <a title="Great Fire of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_London">devastating fire</a> swept through the city, destroying a large part of it. Re-building the city took over 10 years but by the <a title="18th century" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century">18th century</a> London was the largest city in the world.</p><br /><p>Over the years, London has increased dramatically in size, absorbing meadows, woodlands, villages and towns and spreading outwards in every direction. Outward growth has been physically interrupted (though by no means halted) through the definition of a <a title="Green Belt (UK)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Belt_(UK)">Green Belt</a>. In recent years development has been concentrated in the <a title="Docklands" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands">London Docklands</a> and <a title="Thames Gateway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Gateway">Thames Gateway</a> areas of East London.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Modern_London" name="Modern_London"></a></p><br /><h2>Modern London</h2><br /><p>Today the <a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a> administrative area comprises the <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a> and 32 <a title="London boroughs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_boroughs">London boroughs</a> including the <a title="City of Westminster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Westminster">City of Westminster</a>. The City of London, also known as the "square mile", is predominantly the financial centre, and geographically a very small area. Although bustling during the working week, the City of London is usually much calmer on the weekends.</p><br /><p>The London that most tourists see is <a title="Central London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_London">Central London</a>, which comprises the historic <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a>, the <a title="West End" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End">West End</a> with all its theatres, shops and restaurants, the <a title="City of Westminster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Westminster">City of Westminster</a> and its <a title="Royal palaces" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_palaces">Royal palaces</a>, the <a title="Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Borough_of_Kensington_and_Chelsea">Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea</a> with its museum quarter and <a title="Hyde Park, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London">Hyde Park</a> and the newly emerging <a title="Bankside" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankside">Bankside</a> area of <a title="Southwark" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwark">Southwark</a> with the <a title="Globe Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_Theatre">Globe Theatre</a>, <a title="Tate Modern" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern">Tate Modern</a> and other attractions.</p><br /><p>In contrast, the <a title="London East End" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_East_End">East End</a> has played host to successive waves of immigrants for centuries and contains some of the UK's most deprived areas. The <a title="Isle of Dogs, London, England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Dogs,_London,_England">Isle of Dogs</a> is, however, witnessing unprecedented commercial change and many restaurants, music and comedy clubs are injecting a more varied atmosphere. See also <a title="Gentrification" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentrification">gentrification</a>. The East End is centred on the Borough of <a title="Tower Hamlets" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Hamlets">Tower Hamlets</a> and <a title="Hackney" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney">Hackney</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Population" name="Population"></a></p><br /><h2>Population</h2><br /><p>London was the most populous city in the world from <a title="1825" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1825">1825</a> until <a title="1925" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925">1925</a>, when it was overtaken by <a title="New York City" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City">New York City</a>.</p><br /><p>Residents of London are known as 'Londoners'. On <a title="Census" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census">census</a> day, 2001, the City and the 32 boroughs (some 1579 km² or 610 sq. miles) had 7,172,036 inhabitants, making London one of the most populous cities in Europe alongside <a title="Moscow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow">Moscow</a>, <a title="Istanbul" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul">Istanbul</a> and <a title="Paris" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris">Paris</a>.</p><br /><p>In the 2001 census 71% of these seven million people classed their ethnic group as white, 10% as <a title="India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India">Indian</a>, <a title="Bangladesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh">Bangladeshi</a> or <a title="Pakistan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan">Pakistani</a>, 5% as black <a title="Africa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa">African</a>, 5% as black <a title="Caribbean" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean">Caribbean</a>, 3% as mixed race and 1% as <a title="Overseas Chinese" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinese">Chinese</a>. The largest religious groupings are <a title="Christianity" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christian</a> (58.2%) and <a title="Atheism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism">No Religion</a> (15.8%). 21.8% of inhabitants were born outside the <a title="European Union" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union">European Union</a>.</p><br /><p>Unlike many other countries, the <a title="United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom">UK</a> does not provide national <a title="Metropolitan area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area">metropolitan area</a> population figures based on commuter percentages and economic influence. This is left up to each individual city to define.</p><br /><p>Unfortunately, this has created much confusion when comparing London's true <a title="Metropolitan area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area">metropolitan area</a> region with others around the world. It is helped even less by the name "Greater London" for the political entity of the "City Proper", which is often confused as a <a title="Metropolitan area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area">metropolitan area</a>.</p><br /><p>Without a specific National reference to London's metropolitan area, many different sources provide alternate definitions. One such common definition decribes the <a title="London metropolitan area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_metropolitan_area">London metropolitan area</a> (6,267 sq. miles, 16,043 sq. kilometres) with a population of 13,945,000 - larger than the combined populations of <a title="Scotland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland">Scotland</a>, <a title="Wales" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales">Wales</a> and <a title="Northern Ireland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland">Northern Ireland</a>. It is the largest <a title="List of metropolitan areas by population" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population">metropolitan area</a> in Europe, and one of the World's largest 20. (external references: <a class="external" title="http://www.demographia.com/dm-lonarea.htm" href="http://www.demographia.com/dm-lonarea.htm" rel="nofollow">[1]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.demographia.com/dm-lonarea.htm</i>)</span>, <a class="external" title="http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/demography/census/london/london boroughs census2001.pdf" href="http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/demography/census/london/london_boroughs_census2001.pdf" rel="nofollow">[2]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/demography/census/london/london_boroughs_census2001.pdf</i>)</span>)</p><br /><p>However, in 2004, the Government of <a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a> has officially defined their <a title="Metropolitan area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area">metropolitan area</a> with a population of approximately 18million people, including a large portion (though not all of) the <a title="South East England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_East_England">South East England</a> and <a title="East England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_England">East England</a> regions (As described in the "London Plan" from the Mayor of London external link below. This area is similar in size to many large North American metropolitan area's.) (external references:<a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london plan/lon plan all.pdf" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_all.pdf" rel="nofollow">[3]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_all.pdf</i>)</span>,<a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london plan/lon plan 1.pdf" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_1.pdf" rel="nofollow">[4]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_1.pdf</i>)</span>,<a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/draft london plan/dlp ch1.pdf" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/draft_london_plan/dlp_ch1.pdf" rel="nofollow">[5]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/draft_london_plan/dlp_ch1.pdf</i>)</span>)</p><br /><div class="center"><br /><div class="thumb tnone"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 602px"><a class="internal" title="Panorama of London taken from the " href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Eye_panorama.jpg"><img height="42" alt="Panorama of London taken from the " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7e/600px-London_Eye_panorama.jpg" width="600" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London_Eye_panorama.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Eye_panorama.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>Panorama of London taken from the <a title="London Eye" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye">London Eye</a></div></div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Government" name="Government"></a></p><br /><h2>Government</h2><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 182px"><a class="internal" title=" and the " href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EnglandLondon.png"><img height="222" alt=" and the " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/97/180px-EnglandLondon.png" width="180" longdesc="/wiki/Image:EnglandLondon.png" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EnglandLondon.png"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a> and the <a title="Regions of England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_England">Regions of England</a></div></div></div><br /><p><a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a> is divided into 32 <a title="London borough" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_borough">London boroughs</a> and the <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a>, which are responsible for running most services in their respective areas.</p><br /><p>The <a title="Greater London Authority" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London_Authority">Greater London Authority</a> (GLA) is the London-wide body responsible for co-ordinating the boroughs, and is responsible for running London-wide services such as emergency services, transport, and strategic planning.</p><br /><p>The GLA consists of the elected <a title="Mayor of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_London">Mayor of London</a> and the elected <a title="London Assembly" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Assembly">London Assembly</a>, which scrutinises the mayor. The mayor is elected by the <a title="Supplementary Vote" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supplementary_Vote">Supplementary Vote</a> system while the assembly is elected by the <a title="Additional Member System" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additional_Member_System">Additional Member System</a>.</p><br /><p>The current mayor of London <a title="Ken Livingstone" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Livingstone">Ken Livingstone</a> was elected as an independent candidate in <a title="2000" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000">2000</a>. Despite opposition from all the main political parties and the press, his enormous popularity with Londoners made the election a foregone conclusion. Expelled from the <a title="British Labour Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Labour_Party">Labour Party</a> after standing against the official Labour candidate in the 2000 election, he was re-admitted in 2004, and was re-elected as Mayor under the Labour banner in the <a title="London mayoral election, 2004" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_mayoral_election,_2004">election</a> later that year.</p><br /><p>The GLA was established in <a title="2000" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000">2000</a> as a replacement for the former <a title="Greater London Council" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London_Council">Greater London Council</a> (GLC) which was established in <a title="1965" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965">1965</a> and abolished in <a title="1986" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986">1986</a> after several high-profile clashes between the GLC (also then lead by Livingstone) and the <a title="Conservative Party (UK)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)">Conservative</a> government of <a title="Margaret Thatcher" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher">Margaret Thatcher</a>.</p><br /><p>Between 1986-2000 there was no central administrative body for London, and it was governed in piecemeal fashion by the individual boroughs and unelected agencies.</p><br /><p>The Mayor and the Assembly will likely be in conflict with one or more Boroughs from time to time: they had each enjoyed "<a title="Unitary authority" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_authority">unitary status</a>" and a fair degree of autonomy since the GLC was abolished.</p><br /><p>Historically London was governed by the <a title="Metropolitan Board of Works" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Board_of_Works">Metropolitan Board of Works</a> (1855-1889) and then the <a title="London County Council" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_County_Council">London County Council</a> (1889-1965).</p><br /><p>From the Boundary Commission of England and Wales: <a class="external" title="http://www.londonancestor.com/misc/bc-pop.htm" href="http://www.londonancestor.com/misc/bc-pop.htm" rel="nofollow">Population of London, 1881</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.londonancestor.com/misc/bc-pop.htm</i>)</span></p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Transport" name="Transport"></a></p><br /><h2>Transport</h2><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Airports" name="Airports"></a></p><br /><h3>Airports</h3><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title="London - The World's Busiest International Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Heathrow.jpg"><img height="166" alt="London - The World's Busiest International Airport" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a5/250px-Heathrow.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Heathrow.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Heathrow.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>London <a title="Heathrow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow">Heathrow</a> - The World's Busiest International Airport</div></div></div><br /><p><a title="London City Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_City_Airport">London City Airport</a>, <a title="London Heathrow Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Heathrow_Airport">Heathrow</a>, <a title="RAF Biggin Hill" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Biggin_Hill">Biggin Hill</a>, and <a title="Northolt Aerodrome" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northolt_Aerodrome">Northolt</a> lie within the London boundary. Of these, Heathrow is the city's principal airport and is also a major international hub. It is currently the busiest international terminal in the world, and a fifth terminal (with a sixth being proposed) is being built on the site.</p><br /><p>Other airports, such as <a title="London Gatwick Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gatwick_Airport">London Gatwick Airport</a>, <a title="London Luton Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Luton_Airport">London Luton Airport</a>, and <a title="London Stansted Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport">London Stansted Airport</a>, as well as those at <a title="Manston Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manston_Airport">Manston</a> and <a title="Southend Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southend_Airport">Southend</a>, incorporate "London" into their name, but the towns where they are situated (<a title="Crawley" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawley">Crawley</a>, <a title="Luton" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luton">Luton</a> and <a title="London Stansted Airport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport">Stansted</a> respectively) lie some distance from London.</p><br /><p>Special train stations built at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted help to offset their distance from the capital and thus spread scheduled <a title="Airline" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline">airline</a> services across the region.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Rail" name="Rail"></a></p><br /><h3>Rail</h3><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title="The London Underground at Green Park station" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London.underground.arp.750pix.jpg"><img height="186" alt="The London Underground at Green Park station" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/250px-London.underground.arp.750pix.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London.underground.arp.750pix.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London.underground.arp.750pix.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The London Underground at Green Park station</div></div></div><br /><p>The London public transport system is one of the few systems in the world to be a tourist attraction; its infrastructure, however has always been financially stretched and under-resourced, leading to difficulties and delays in making journeys. However, in recent years the London Rail/Tram network has seen substantial spending.</p><br /><p>London has a vast rail network generally regarded as the second largest in the world after Tokyo. This rail network is split into four sections:</p><br /><ul><br /><li>Mainline<br /><li>Underground (known as the 'Tube')<br /><li>Tramlink<br /><li>Docklands Light Rail </li></ul><br /><p><a title="Transport for London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London">Transport for London</a> runs the <a title="London Underground" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground">London Underground</a> (the world's first metro or underground rail network), also known as the <b>Tube</b>. Government proposals to place the Underground network under a "<a title="Public-private partnership" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-private_partnership">public-private partnership</a>" arrangement have encountered widespread opposition.</p><br /><p>All four parts of the rail network are undergoing upgrades and expansions to counter London's congestion problems. Important examples include the <a title="Crossrail" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossrail">Crossrail</a> and <a title="Channel Tunnel Rail Link" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel_Rail_Link">Channel Tunnel Rail Link</a> projects.</p><br /><p><i>See also:</i></p><br /><ul><br /><li><a title="London Underground" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground">London Underground</a><br /><li><a title="Docklands Light Railway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands_Light_Railway">Docklands Light Railway</a><br /><li><a title="Tramlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlink">Tramlink</a><br /><li><a title="Category:London's railways" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:London">Category: London's railways</a><br /><li><a title="Rail transport in the United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_the_United_Kingdom">Rail transport in the United Kingdom</a> </li></ul><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="London by night as seen from outer spaceClick picture above for larger version" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_iss_c1.jpg"><img height="211" alt="London by night as seen from outer spaceClick picture above for larger version" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a3/300px-London_iss_c1.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London_iss_c1.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_iss_c1.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>London by night as seen from outer space<br />Click picture above for larger version</div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Road" name="Road"></a></p><br /><h3>Road</h3><br /><p>The red <a title="Double decker" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_decker">double decker</a> buses are now run by private companies, although it is a requirement that the buses still be painted (mostly) red. However the famous "<a title="Routemaster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Routemaster">Routemasters</a>" have now mostly been taken out of service. London is also well-known for its <a title="Hackney carriage" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney_carriage">black cabs</a>.</p><br /><p>Transport for London introduced a <a title="Road pricing" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_pricing">road pricing</a> scheme (the <a title="London Congestion Charge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Congestion_Charge">Congestion Charge</a>) in February <a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003">2003</a>, which is levied on traffic entering Central London during peak hours. The intention was to alleviate chronic traffic congestion and initial indications are that traffic levels have dropped by over 10%.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Waterways" name="Waterways"></a></p><br /><h3>Waterways</h3><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 182px"><a class="internal" title="The Festival Pier on the River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Festival_Pier.JPG"><img height="240" alt="The Festival Pier on the River Thames" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d9/180px-London_Festival_Pier.JPG" width="180" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London_Festival_Pier.JPG" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Festival_Pier.JPG"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The Festival Pier on the River Thames</div></div></div><br /><p>The <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a> flows through London on its way to the <a title="North Sea" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea">North Sea</a>. The river is easily navigable and so London has historically been a major port.</p><br /><p>London has several smaller rivers which feed into the <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a>. However, many of these rivers have been built over, and so now only exist in underground pipes (see <a title="Subterranean rivers of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subterranean_rivers_of_London">Subterranean rivers of London</a>).</p><br /><p>London also has an extensive <a title="Canals of the United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canals_of_the_United_Kingdom">canal network</a>, with important routes such as the <a title="Regent's Canal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent">Regent's Canal</a> linking the Thames with other major rivers.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Sport" name="Sport"></a></p><br /><h2>Sport</h2><br /><p>London is home to 11 professional <a title="Football (soccer)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_(soccer)">football</a> clubs, which are named after the district in which they play (except for Arsenal, who play in <a title="Highbury" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highbury">Highbury</a>, <a title="Chelsea F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C.">Chelsea</a> who play in Fulham, and <a title="Crystal Palace F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_F.C.">Crystal Palace</a> who play in Norwood). Those currently in the top division (the <a title="FA Premier League" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Premier_League">Premier League</a>) are <a title="Arsenal F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenal_F.C.">Arsenal</a>, <a title="Charlton Athletic F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.">Charlton Athletic</a>, <a title="Chelsea F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C.">Chelsea</a>, <a title="Crystal Palace F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_F.C.">Crystal Palace</a>, <a title="Fulham F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulham_F.C.">Fulham</a>, and <a title="Tottenham Hotspur F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C.">Tottenham Hotspur</a>. The clubs outside the Premier League are <a title="Brentford F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brentford_F.C.">Brentford</a>, <a title="Millwall F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millwall_F.C.">Millwall</a>, <a title="Queens Park Rangers F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Park_Rangers_F.C.">Queens Park Rangers</a>, <a title="Leyton Orient F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyton_Orient_F.C.">Leyton Orient</a> and <a title="West Ham United F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ham_United_F.C.">West Ham United</a> - all of whom have at one time played in the top division. Wimbledon F.C., in a controversial move, left London in <a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003">2003</a> to play in <a title="Milton Keynes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Keynes">Milton Keynes</a>, <a title="Buckinghamshire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckinghamshire">Buckinghamshire</a>, changing their name to <a title="Milton Keynes Dons F.C." href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Keynes_Dons_F.C.">Milton Keynes Dons F.C.</a>, and the newly formed <a title="AFC Wimbledon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Wimbledon">AFC Wimbledon</a> inherited most of their support, despite playing at a much lower level in the <a title="National League System" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_League_System">football pyramid</a>. London was one of the venues for the <a title="Football World Cup 1966" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_World_Cup_1966">World Cup</a> in <a title="1966" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966">1966</a>, and the <a title="1996 European Football Championship" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_European_Football_Championship">European Football Championship</a> in <a title="1996" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996">1996</a>, and hosted the final of both tournaments. London also hosted the <a title="Champions League" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champions_League">European Cup final</a> in <a title="1968" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968">1968</a>, <a title="1978" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978">1978</a> and 1992.</p><br /><p>London is home to many major sporting venues including <a title="Lord's" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord">Lord's</a>, home of <a title="Middlesex County Cricket Club" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesex_County_Cricket_Club">Middlesex</a> and the <a title="Marylebone Cricket Club" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylebone_Cricket_Club">Marylebone Cricket Club</a>, and <a title="The Oval" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oval">The Oval</a>, home of <a title="Surrey County Cricket Club" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey_County_Cricket_Club">Surrey</a>. The <a class="new" title="All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=All_England_Lawn_Tennis_and_Croquet_Club&action=edit">All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club</a>, which hosts the <a title="Wimbledon Championships" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimbledon_Championships">Wimbledon Championships</a>, is based in <a title="Wimbledon, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimbledon,_London">Wimbledon</a>. <a title="Twickenham stadium" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twickenham_stadium">Twickenham</a> is the home of English <a title="Rugby Union" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Union">Rugby Union</a> and <a title="Wembley Stadium" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium">Wembley Stadium</a>, being rebuilt, is the home for international football and <a title="Rugby League" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_League">Rugby League</a>. London hosts one of the world's largest mass-participation road races, the <a title="London Marathon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Marathon">London Marathon</a>.</p><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Buckingham_palace_Copyright2003KaihsuTai.jpg"><img height="198" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ea/300px-Buckingham_palace_Copyright2003KaihsuTai.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Buckingham_palace_Copyright2003KaihsuTai.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Buckingham_palace_Copyright2003KaihsuTai.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a title="Buckingham Palace" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Palace">Buckingham Palace</a></div></div></div><br /><p>London has twice hosted the <a title="Summer Olympics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Olympics">Summer Olympics</a>, in <a title="1908 Summer Olympics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics">1908</a> and <a title="1948 Summer Olympics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Summer_Olympics">1948</a>. It is one of the cities bidding to host the <a title="2012 Summer Olympics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics">2012 Games</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Culture" name="Culture"></a></p><br /><h2>Culture</h2><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Music" name="Music"></a></p><br /><h3>Music</h3><br /><p>London has five professional <a title="Symphony orchestra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_orchestra">symphony orchestras</a>; the <a title="London Symphony Orchestra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Symphony_Orchestra">London Symphony Orchestra</a>, the <a title="London Philharmonic Orchestra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Philharmonic_Orchestra">London Philharmonic Orchestra</a>, the <a title="Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Philharmonic_Orchestra">Royal Philharmonic Orchestra</a>, the <a title="Philharmonia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philharmonia">Philharmonia</a> and the <a title="BBC Symphony Orchestra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Symphony_Orchestra">BBC Symphony Orchestra</a>. There are also several chamber orchestras, some of which specialise in period instrument performances, including the <a class="new" title="Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orchestra_of_the_Age_of_Enlightenment&action=edit">Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment</a>, and the <a title="Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_St_Martin-in-the-Fields">Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields</a>.</p><br /><p>The principal orchestral music venues are the <a title="Royal Festival Hall" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Festival_Hall">Royal Festival Hall</a>, and the <a title="Queen Elizabeth Hall" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_Hall">Queen Elizabeth Hall</a>, which are both in the <a title="South Bank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bank">South Bank Centre</a>; the <a title="Barbican Centre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbican_Centre">Barbican Centre</a>; and the <a title="Royal Albert Hall" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Albert_Hall">Royal Albert Hall</a>, which hosts the <a title="Proms" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proms">Proms</a> each Summer. Chamber music venues include the <a class="new" title="Purcell Room" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Purcell_Room&action=edit">Purcell Room</a> at the <a title="South Bank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bank">South Bank Centre</a>; the <a title="Wigmore Hall" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigmore_Hall">Wigmore Hall</a> and <a title="St. John's, Smith Square" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John">St. John's, Smith Square</a>.</p><br /><p>The <a title="Royal Opera House" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Opera_House">Royal Opera House</a> at <a title="Covent Garden" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covent_Garden">Covent Garden</a> is home to the <a class="new" title="Royal Opera" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Opera&action=edit">Royal Opera</a> and the <a title="Royal Ballet, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ballet,_London">Royal Ballet</a>. The other main opera company is the <a title="English National Opera" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_National_Opera">English National Opera</a>. In the summer opera is performed in a temporary pavilion by <a class="new" title="Holland Park Opera" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holland_Park_Opera&amp;action=edit">Holland Park Opera</a>, and there are occasional performances by visting opera companies and small freelance professional opera companies.</p><br /><p>In addition, London contains some of the world's premier music conservatoires including the <a title="Royal College of Music" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_College_of_Music">Royal College of Music</a>, <a title="Royal Academy of Music" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Academy_of_Music">Royal Academy of Music</a> and <a title="Guildhall School of Music and Drama" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildhall_School_of_Music_and_Drama">Guildhall School of Music and Drama</a>.</p><br /><p>The major venues for contemporary dance productions include the <a title="Sadler's Wells" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadler">Sadler's Wells</a> Theatre and the <a title="Barbican Centre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbican_Centre">Barbican Centre</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=14">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Festivals" name="Festivals"></a></p><br /><h3>Festivals</h3><br /><p>London hosts several festivals, fairs and carnivals throughout the year. The most famous is the <a title="Notting Hill Carnival" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notting_Hill_Carnival">Notting Hill Carnival</a>, the world's largest carnival. The carnival takes place over the August bank holiday weekend, and attracts almost 2 million people. It has a distinctly Afro-Caribbean flavour, and highlights include a competition between London's <a title="Steelpan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steelpan">steelpan</a> bands and a 3 mile street parade with dancing a music.</p><br /><p>There are also large parades held on <a title="St. George's Day" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George">St. George's Day</a> (<a title="April 23" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_23">23rd April</a>) and <a title="St. Patrick's Day" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick">St. Patrick's Day</a> (<a title="March 17" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_17">17th March</a>).</p><br /><p>The <a title="Dance Umbrella" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Umbrella">Dance Umbrella</a> is held every October, and features a vareity of dance companies putting on displays across London.</p><br /><p>In additon there are many smaller fairs and parades, including the <a title="Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Without_Cruelty_Fayre">Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre</a>, a fair held annually to promote <a title="Animal rights" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights">animal rights</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=15">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Theatre" name="Theatre"></a></p><br /><h3>Theatre</h3><br /><p>There are over three dozen major theatres, most concentrated in the <a title="West End" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End">West End</a> (see the articles <a title="West End Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_Theatre">West End Theatre</a> and <a title="List of London venues" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_London_venues">List of London venues</a>). West End theatres are commercial ventures and show musicals, comedy and serious drama. The subsidised or non-commerical theatre includes the <a title="Royal National Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_National_Theatre">National Theatre</a>, which is based at the <a title="South Bank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bank">South Bank</a>; the <a title="Royal Shakespeare Company" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Shakespeare_Company">Royal Shakespeare Company</a> which is based in Stratford, but presents seasons in London; <a title="Globe Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_Theatre">The Globe</a>, a modern reconstruction of the home of <a title="William Shakespeare" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a>'s troupe; The <a class="new" title="Royal Court Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Court_Theatre&action=edit">Royal Court Theatre</a> which specialises in new drama; the <a title="Old Vic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Vic">Old Vic</a>; and the <a class="new" title="Young Vic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Young_Vic&action=edit">Young Vic</a>. London also boasts a vibrant fringe theatre culture including places such as the <a title="Battersea Arts Centre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Arts_Centre">Battersea Arts Centre</a>, <a title="The UCL Bloomsbury" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_UCL_Bloomsbury">The UCL Bloomsbury</a>, <a title="The Place" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Place">The Place</a>, and <a class="new" title="Tricycle Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tricycle_Theatre&amp;action=edit">Tricycle Theatre</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=16">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Art" name="Art"></a></p><br /><h3>Art</h3><br /><p>The British National collection of Western Art to 1900 is held at <a title="National Gallery, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Gallery,_London">The National Gallery</a>. Other major collections of pre-1900 art are The <a title="Wallace Collection" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Collection">Wallace Collection</a>; the Courtauld Gallery at the <a title="Courtauld Institute of Art" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtauld_Institute_of_Art">Courtauld Institute of Art</a>; and <a title="Dulwich Picture Gallery" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulwich_Picture_Gallery">Dulwich Picture Gallery</a>. The national collection of post-1900 art is at <a title="Tate Modern" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern">Tate Modern</a> and the national collection of British Art is at <a title="Tate Britain" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Britain">Tate Britain</a>. <a title="National Portrait Gallery, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Portrait_Gallery,_London">The National Portrait Gallery</a> has a collection of portraits of all periods.</p><br /><p>In addition to <a title="Tate Modern" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern">Tate Modern</a> major contemporary art venues include <a class="new" title="White Cube" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_Cube&action=edit">White Cube</a>, the <a title="Saatchi Gallery" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saatchi_Gallery">Saatchi Gallery</a>, and The <a title="Institute of Contemporary Arts" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Contemporary_Arts">ICA</a>.</p><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 252px"><a class="internal" title="The west face of Westminster Abbey" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Westminster.abbey.westface.arp.500pix.jpg"><img height="324" alt="The west face of Westminster Abbey" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cb/250px-Westminster.abbey.westface.arp.500pix.jpg" width="250" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Westminster.abbey.westface.arp.500pix.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Westminster.abbey.westface.arp.500pix.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The west face of Westminster Abbey</div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=17">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Museums" name="Museums"></a></p><br /><h3>Museums</h3><br /><p>The main museums include the <a title="British Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Museum">British Museum</a> (antiquities from all over the world), the <a title="Victoria and Albert Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum">Victoria and Albert Museum</a> (applied arts), the <a title="Natural History Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museum">Natural History Museum</a>, the <a title="Science Museum (London)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Museum_(London)">Science Museum</a>, the <a title="Imperial War Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_War_Museum">Imperial War Museum</a>, the <a title="National Maritime Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Maritime_Museum">National Maritime Museum</a>, and the <a title="Museum of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_London">Museum of London</a>. There are <a title="List of London museums" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_London_museums">over 260 museums in London</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=18">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Night-life" name="Night-life"></a></p><br /><h3>Night-life</h3><br /><p>Apart from the pubs and clubs, there are a number of music venues including <a class="new" title="Shepherds Bush Empire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shepherds_Bush_Empire&action=edit">Shepherds Bush Empire</a>, <a title="Brixton Academy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brixton_Academy">Brixton Academy</a>, <a title="Hammersmith Apollo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammersmith_Apollo">Hammersmith Apollo</a>, <a title="Wembley Arena" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Arena">Wembley Arena</a>, <a class="new" title="The Marquee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Marquee&amp;action=edit">The Marquee</a>, <a title="The UCL Bloomsbury" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_UCL_Bloomsbury">The UCL Bloomsbury</a>, <a title="Mean Fiddler" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_Fiddler">Mean Fiddler</a>, <a title="Albert Hall" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hall">Albert Hall</a> and the <a title="London Astoria" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Astoria">London Astoria</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=19">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Business" name="Business"></a></p><br /><h2>Business</h2><br /><p>The <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a> or "Square Mile" is the financial centre of London, home to banks, brokers, insurers and legal and accounting firms. A second financial district is developing at <a title="Canary Wharf" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Wharf">Canary Wharf</a> to the east of central London. This is much smaller than <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a>, but has equally prestigious occupants, including the global headquarters of <a title="HSBC" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSBC">HSBC</a>.</p><br /><p>Non-financial business headquarters are located throughout central London. Some are in <a title="City of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London">City of London</a>, but more are located further West, in and around <a title="Mayfair" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfair">Mayfair</a>, <a title="St James's" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_James">St James's</a>, <a title="The Strand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strand">The Strand</a> and elsewhere. More than half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the <a title="FTSE" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTSE">FTSE</a>) are headquartered in central London, and more than 70% in London's <a title="Metro" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro">metro</a> region. London is a leading global centre for professional services, and media and creative industries.</p><br /><p><a title="Tourism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism">Tourism</a> is one of the UK's largest industries, and in <a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003">2003</a> employed the equivalent of 350,000 full time workers in London <a class="external" title="http://www.visitbritain.com/" href="http://www.visitbritain.com/" rel="nofollow">[6]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.visitbritain.com/</i>)</span>.</p><br /><p>While the <a title="Port of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_London">Port of London</a> is now only the third largest in the United Kingdom, rather than largest in the world, it still handles 50 million tonnes of cargo each year. The main docks are now at <a title="Tilbury" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilbury">Tilbury</a> which is outside the boundary of <a title="Greater London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London">Greater London</a>.</p><br /><p>London's economy generates 116,444 million <a title="Pound Sterling" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_Sterling">pounds</a> annually, and accounts for 17% of the UK's <a title="Gross Domestic Product" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_Domestic_Product">Gross Domestic Product</a> - see <a title="Economy of the United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Kingdom">Economy of the United Kingdom</a>. (external link <a class="external" title="http://www.lda.gov.uk/" href="http://www.lda.gov.uk/" rel="nofollow">London Development Authority</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.lda.gov.uk/</i>)</span>).</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=20">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="London_tourist_attractions" name="London_tourist_attractions"></a></p><br /><h2>London tourist attractions</h2><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="Full panoramic photo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Trafalgar_square_night_small.jpg"><img height="195" alt="Full panoramic photo" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/300px-Trafalgar_square_night_small.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Trafalgar_square_night_small.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Trafalgar_square_night_small.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div><a title="Trafalgar Square" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square">Trafalgar Square</a><br /><b><a title="Image:Trafalgar square night panorama.jpg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Trafalgar_square_night_panorama.jpg">Full panoramic photo</a></b></div></div></div><br /><ul><br /><li><a title="Bank of England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_England">Bank of England</a><br /><li><a title="Buckingham Palace" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Palace">Buckingham Palace</a><br /><li><a title="British Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Museum">British Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Charing Cross Road" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charing_Cross_Road">Charing Cross Road</a><br /><li><a title="Chinatown, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_London">Chinatown</a><br /><li><a title="Cleopatra's Needle" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra">Cleopatra's Needle</a><br /><li><a title="Covent Garden" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covent_Garden">Covent Garden</a><br /><li><a title="Downing Street" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downing_Street">Downing Street</a><br /><li><a title="Hampton Court Palace" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_Palace">Hampton Court Palace</a><br /><li><a title="Horse Guards" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Guards">Horse Guards</a><br /><li><a title="Imperial War Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_War_Museum">Imperial War Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Kensington Roof Gardens" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Roof_Gardens">Kensington Roof Gardens</a><br /><li><a title="Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens,_Kew">Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew</a> (known as <a title="Kew Gardens" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kew_Gardens">Kew Gardens</a>)<br /><li><a title="Leicester Square" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Square">Leicester Square</a><br /><li><a class="new" title="The London Dungeon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_London_Dungeon&action=edit">The London Dungeon</a><br /><li><a title="The London Eye" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_London_Eye">The London Eye</a><br /><li><a title="Madame Tussauds" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Tussauds">Madame Tussaud's</a><br /><li><a title="Monument to the Great Fire of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_the_Great_Fire_of_London">Monument to the Great Fire of London</a><br /><li><a title="Museum of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_London">Museum of London</a><br /><li><a title="National Gallery, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Gallery,_London">National Gallery</a><br /><li><a title="Natural History Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museum">Natural History Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Old Operating Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Operating_Theatre">Old Operating Theatre</a> Museum<br /><li><a title="Palace of Westminster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster">The Palace of Westminster</a> (<a title="Houses of Parliament" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houses_of_Parliament">Houses of Parliament</a> and tower containing <a title="Big Ben" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben">Big Ben</a>)<br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 102px"><a class="internal" title="The of the which contains " href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Uk-london-bigben-tower.jpg"><img height="225" alt="The of the which contains " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/100px-Uk-london-bigben-tower.jpg" width="100" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Uk-london-bigben-tower.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Uk-london-bigben-tower.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a title="Clock Tower" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_Tower">Clock Tower</a> of the <a title="Palace of Westminster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster">Palace of Westminster</a> which contains <a title="Big Ben" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben">Big Ben</a></div></div></div><br /><li><a title="Piccadilly Circus" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Circus">Piccadilly Circus</a><br /><li><a title="Royal Courts of Justice" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Courts_of_Justice">Royal Courts of Justice</a><br /><li><a title="Royal Greenwich Observatory" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Greenwich_Observatory">Royal Greenwich Observatory</a> and the <a title="Prime Meridian" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Meridian">Greenwich Meridian</a><br /><li><a title="Royal Parks of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Parks_of_London">Royal Parks of London</a><br /><li><a title="St Paul's Cathedral" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul">St Paul's Cathedral</a><br /><li><a title="Science Museum (London)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Museum_(London)">Science Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Soane Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soane_Museum">Soane Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Tate Britain" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Britain">Tate Britain</a><br /><li><a title="Tate Modern" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate_Modern">Tate Modern</a><br /><li><a title="Temple of Mithras, London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Mithras,_London">Temple of Mithras</a><br /><li><a title="Theatreland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatreland">Theatreland</a><br /><li><a title="Tower Bridge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge">Tower Bridge</a><br /><li><a title="Tower of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London">Tower of London</a><br /><li><a title="Trafalgar Square" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square">Trafalgar Square</a><br /><li><a title="Victoria and Albert Museum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum">Victoria &amp; Albert Museum</a><br /><li><a title="Westminster Abbey" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Abbey">Westminster Abbey</a> </li></ul><br /><p>Other places of interest:</p><br /><ul><br /><li><a title="The Old Bailey" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Bailey">The Old Bailey</a> The Central Criminal Court with famous trials but inconvenient for the unprepared tourist since personal items prohibited include bags and mobile phones.<br /><li><a title="Tyburn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyburn">Tyburn</a> was the location for many infamous executions by hanging.<br /><li><a title="Thames House" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_House">Thames House</a> and <a title="SIS Building" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIS_Building">SIS Building</a>, home to the intelligence agencies <a title="MI5" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI5">MI5</a> and <a title="MI6" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI6">MI6</a> respectively.<br /><li><a title="Battersea Power Station" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Power_Station">Battersea Power Station</a> and the <a title="Millennium Dome" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Dome">Millennium Dome</a> are two architecturally interesting buildings which currently stand empty. However mixed use developments centred on both buildings are due to commence in 2005. The <a title="Millennium Dome" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Dome">Millennium Dome</a> will become an indoor sports hall, and <a title="Battersea Power Station" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Power_Station">Battersea Power Station</a> will become a shopping and leisure facility. </li></ul><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=21">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Prominent_exhibitions" name="Prominent_exhibitions"></a></p><br /><h2>Prominent exhibitions</h2><br /><ul><br /><li><a title="1851" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1851">1851</a> - <a title="Great Exhibition" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Exhibition">Great Exhibition</a> of the Works of Industry of All Nations -- <a title="The Crystal Palace" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace">The Crystal Palace</a><br /><li><a title="1862" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1862">1862</a> - <a title="International Exhibition (1862)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Exhibition_(1862)">International Exhibition (1862)</a><br /><li><a title="1871" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1871">1871</a> - <a class="new" title="First Annual International Exhibition (1871)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_Annual_International_Exhibition_%281871%29&action=edit">First Annual International Exhibition (1871)</a><br /><li><a title="1872" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1872">1872</a> - <a class="new" title="Second Annual International Exhibition (1872)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Annual_International_Exhibition_%281872%29&amp;action=edit">Second Annual International Exhibition (1872)</a><br /><li><a title="1873" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1873">1873</a> - <a class="new" title="Third Annual International Exhibition (1873)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Annual_International_Exhibition_%281873%29&action=edit">Third Annual International Exhibition (1873)</a><br /><li><a title="1874" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1874">1874</a> - <a class="new" title="Fourth Annual International Exhibition (1874)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fourth_Annual_International_Exhibition_%281874%29&amp;action=edit">Fourth Annual International Exhibition (1874)</a><br /><li><a title="1886" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1886">1886</a> - <a class="new" title="Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_and_Indian_Exhibition_%281886%29&action=edit">Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886)</a><br /><li><a title="1899" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1899">1899</a> - <a class="new" title="Greater Britain Exhibition (1899)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greater_Britain_Exhibition_%281899%29&amp;action=edit">Greater Britain Exhibition (1899)</a><br /><li><a title="1908" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908">1908</a> - <a title="Franco-British Exhibition (1908)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-British_Exhibition_(1908)">Franco-British Exhibition (1908)</a><br /><li><a title="1924" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1924">1924</a> - <a title="British Empire Exhibition" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire_Exhibition">British Empire Exhibition</a> at <a title="Wembley" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley">Wembley</a> (1924)<br /><li><a title="1951" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1951">1951</a> - <a title="Festival of Britain" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_of_Britain">Festival of Britain</a><br /><li><a title="2000" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000">2000</a> - <a title="Millennium Dome" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Dome">Millennium Dome</a> </li></ul><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 202px"><a class="internal" title="China Town" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chinatown.london.700px.jpg"><img height="266" alt="China Town" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d7/200px-Chinatown.london.700px.jpg" width="200" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Chinatown.london.700px.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chinatown.london.700px.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>China Town</div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=22">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="London_in_the_arts" name="London_in_the_arts"></a></p><br /><h2>London in the arts</h2><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=23">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Literature_featuring_London" name="Literature_featuring_London"></a></p><br /><h3>Literature featuring London</h3><br /><div class="dablink"><br /><dl><br /><dd><i>Main article: <a title="London in fiction" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_in_fiction">London in fiction</a></i> </dd></dl></div><br /><p>London has been the setting for many works of literature. The two writers who are perhaps most closely associated with the city are the diarist <a title="Samuel Pepys" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pepys">Samuel Pepys</a>, famous among other things for his eye-witness account of the <a title="Great Fire of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_London">Great Fire</a>, and <a title="Charles Dickens" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens">Charles Dickens</a>, whose representation of a foggy, snowy, grimy London of street-sweepers and pickpockets is a major influence on people's vision of early <a title="Victorian era" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_era">Victorian</a> London.</p><br /><p>Other famous works that feature London include <i><a title="A Journal of the Plague Year" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Journal_of_the_Plague_Year">A Journal of the Plague Year</a></i> and <i><a title="Moll Flanders" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moll_Flanders">Moll Flanders</a></i> by <a title="Daniel Defoe" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoe">Daniel Defoe</a>, <i><a title="The Secret Agent" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Agent">The Secret Agent</a></i> by <a title="Joseph Conrad" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conrad">Joseph Conrad</a>, the <a title="Sherlock Holmes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes">Sherlock Holmes</a> stories by <a title="Arthur Conan Doyle" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle">Arthur Conan Doyle</a>, <i><a title="The Waste Land" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waste_Land">The Waste Land</a></i> by <a title="T. S. Eliot" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Eliot">T. S. Eliot</a>, <i><a class="new" title="The Apes of God" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Apes_of_God&action=edit">The Apes of God</a></i> by <a title="Wyndham Lewis" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyndham_Lewis">Wyndham Lewis</a>, <i><a title="Down and Out in Paris and London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_London">Down and Out in Paris and London</a></i> by <a title="George Orwell" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell">George Orwell</a>, <i><a title="Fever Pitch" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever_Pitch">Fever Pitch</a></i> by <a title="Nick Hornby" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Hornby">Nick Hornby</a> and <i><a title="White Teeth" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Teeth">White Teeth</a></i> by <a title="Zadie Smith" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadie_Smith">Zadie Smith</a>.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=24">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="Films_featuring_London" name="Films_featuring_London"></a></p><br /><h3>Films featuring London</h3><br /><div class="dablink"><br /><dl><br /><dd><i>Main article: <a title="London in film" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_in_film">London in film</a></i> </dd></dl></div><br /><p>London has been the backdrop for many films. Genres of note include <a title="Ealing Studios" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ealing_Studios">Ealing comedy</a>, <a title="Gangster film" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangster_film">gangster films</a> and the <a title="Romantic comedy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_comedy">romantic comedies</a> of <a title="Richard Curtis" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Curtis">Richard Curtis</a>. Many films have also been made based on books set in London, such as those of <a title="Charles Dickens" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens">Charles Dickens</a> and the <a title="Sherlock Holmes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes">Sherlock Holmes</a> novels.</p><br /><p>London is also home to a world-class <a title="Post-production" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-production">post-production</a> and <a title="Special effects" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effects">special effects</a> industry.</p><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=25">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="TV_shows_featuring_London" name="TV_shows_featuring_London"></a></p><br /><h3>TV shows featuring London</h3><br /><div class="dablink"><br /><dl><br /><dd><i>Main article: <a class="new" title="London in television" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London_in_television&action=edit">London in television</a></i> </dd></dl></div><br /><ul><br /><li><i><a title="EastEnders" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders">EastEnders</a></i><br /><li><i><a title="Minder" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minder">Minder</a></i><br /><li><i><a title="Only Fools and Horses" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Fools_and_Horses">Only Fools and Horses</a></i><br /><li><i><a title="Men Behaving Badly" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_Behaving_Badly">Men Behaving Badly</a></i><br /><li><i><a title="Spooks" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooks">Spooks</a></i><br /><li><i><a title="Ultraviolet (TV miniseries)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_(TV_miniseries)">Ultraviolet</a></i> </li></ul><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="The crosses the - sequence showing the bridge opening" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tower_bridge.jpg"><img height="186" alt="The crosses the - sequence showing the bridge opening" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/300px-Tower_bridge.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:Tower_bridge.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tower_bridge.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>The <a title="Tower Bridge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge">Tower Bridge</a> crosses the <a title="River Thames" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames">River Thames</a> - <a title="Image:Tower bridge opening.jpg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tower_bridge_opening.jpg">sequence showing the bridge opening</a></div></div></div><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=26">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="See_also" name="See_also"></a></p><br /><h2>See also</h2><br /><ul><br /><li><a title="Hidden London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_London">Hidden London</a><br /><li><a title="List of churches and cathedrals of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_and_cathedrals_of_London">List of churches and cathedrals of London</a><br /><li><a title="List of heads of London government" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_London_government">List of heads of London government</a><br /><li><a title="List of places in London, England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_in_London,_England">List of places in London, England</a><br /><li><a title="London in fiction" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_in_fiction">London in fiction</a><br /><li><a title="London markets" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_markets">London markets</a><br /><li><a title="London postal district" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_postal_district">London postal districts</a><br /><li><a title="Mayor of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_London">Mayor of London</a><br /><li><a title="Subterranean London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subterranean_London">Subterranean London</a><br /><li><a title="Subterranean rivers of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subterranean_rivers_of_London">Subterranean rivers of London</a><br /><li><a title="Tall buildings in London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_buildings_in_London">Tall buildings in London</a><br /><li><a title="University of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_London">University of London</a><br /><li><a title="Wikipedia:List of images/Places/Europe/United Kingdom/Cities/London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_images/Places/Europe/United_Kingdom/Cities/London">Photographs of London</a> </li></ul><br /><div class="editsection" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">[<a title="London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London&action=edit&amp;section=27">edit</a>]</div><br /><p><a id="External_links" name="External_links"></a></p><br /><h2>External links</h2><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="A simulated-colour satellite image of west London taken on 's satellite" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Landsat.jpg"><img height="300" alt="A simulated-colour satellite image of west London taken on 's satellite" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5b/300px-London_Landsat.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:London_Landsat.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Landsat.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>A simulated-colour satellite image of west London taken on <a title="NASA" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA">NASA</a>'s <a title="Landsat 7" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsat_7">Landsat 7</a> satellite</div></div></div><br /><div class="thumb tright"><br /><div style="WIDTH: 302px"><a class="internal" title="London's geographic location" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:LocationLondon.jpg"><img height="344" alt="London's geographic location" src="http://commons.wikimedia.org/upload/thumb/c/c4/300px-LocationLondon.jpg" width="300" longdesc="/wiki/Image:LocationLondon.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="thumbcaption"><br /><div class="magnify" style="FLOAT: right"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:LocationLondon.jpg"><img height="11" alt="Enlarge" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></a></div>London's geographic location</div></div></div><br /><ul><br /><li><a class="extiw" title="wikitravel:London" href="http://wikitravel.org/en/article/London">Travel guide to <i>London</i></a> from <a title="Wikitravel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikitravel">Wikitravel</a><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://london.openguides.org/" href="http://london.openguides.org/" rel="nofollow">The Open Guide to London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://london.openguides.org/</i>)</span> is a project to document all of London in a <a title="Wiki" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki">wiki</a>.<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.englandguide.co.uk/London" href="http://www.englandguide.co.uk/London" rel="nofollow">London Guide</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.englandguide.co.uk/London</i>)</span> London Guide on Englandguide.co.uk<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/england/london" href="http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/england/london" rel="nofollow">World66 Guide to London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/england/london</i>)</span> A travel guide written by its users.<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://books.guardian.co.uk/firstchapters/story/0,6761,544022,00.html" href="http://books.guardian.co.uk/firstchapters/story/0,6761,544022,00.html" rel="nofollow">First chapter of the book "London: The Biography"</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://books.guardian.co.uk/firstchapters/story/0,6761,544022,00.html</i>)</span> by <a title="Peter Ackroyd" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ackroyd">Peter Ackroyd</a><br /><li>Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority official web site for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. <a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.london.gov.uk/</a><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img id=10917" href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=10917" rel="nofollow">London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=10917</i>)</span> at <a title="NASA" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA">NASA</a>'s <a title="Earth Observatory" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Observatory">Earth Observatory</a><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.thefoodplace.com/uk/London/" href="http://www.thefoodplace.com/uk/London/" rel="nofollow">Directory of restaurants and places to eat in London listed by postcode</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.thefoodplace.com/uk/London/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/users/richardc/london2.ps" href="http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/users/richardc/london2.ps" rel="nofollow">An Explanation of the Name of London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/users/richardc/london2.ps</i>)</span> <small>(PostScript file)</small><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.thisislondon.com/" href="http://www.thisislondon.com/" rel="nofollow">London from Evening Standard</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.thisislondon.com/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.asinah.org/weather/EGLL.html" href="http://www.asinah.org/weather/EGLL.html" rel="nofollow">London Weather Forecast</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.asinah.org/weather/EGLL.html</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.london-eating.co.uk/" href="http://www.london-eating.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">London Restaurants Guide</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london-eating.co.uk/</i>)</span>.<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.london-drinking.com/" href="http://www.london-drinking.com/" rel="nofollow">London Bars and Pubs Guide</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london-drinking.com/</i>)</span>.<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.netlondon.com/" href="http://www.netlondon.com/" rel="nofollow">NetLondon.com</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.netlondon.com/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.londontown.com/directory/" href="http://www.londontown.com/directory/" rel="nofollow">more London Directories</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.londontown.com/directory/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/" href="http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/" rel="nofollow">Transport for London Site</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/" href="http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/" rel="nofollow">London Underground</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/</i>)</span> <small>The Tube</small><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://hotels.iib.co.uk/hotel/city/United-Kingdom/London.html" href="http://hotels.iib.co.uk/hotel/city/United-Kingdom/London.html" rel="nofollow">Hotels in London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://hotels.iib.co.uk/hotel/city/United-Kingdom/London.html</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.2pl.com/London/bs-1250300001.htm" href="http://www.2pl.com/London/bs-1250300001.htm" rel="nofollow">London Hotels</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.2pl.com/London/bs-1250300001.htm</i>)</span> <small>2PL Network</small><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.londinium.com" href="http://www.londinium.com/" rel="nofollow">The Londinium directory of London</a> <span class="urlexpansion">(<i>http://www.londinium.com</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.urbanpath.com" href="http://www.urbanpath.com/" rel="nofollow">Urban Path: Nice things in London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.urbanpath.com</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.londonhotelseye.com/" href="http://www.londonhotelseye.com/" rel="nofollow">London Hotels</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.londonhotelseye.com/</i>)</span><br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityProfiles/London/index.htm" href="http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityProfiles/London/index.htm" rel="nofollow">LoveMyTown - City of London</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityProfiles/London/index.htm</i>)</span> civic pride facts and organisations in London<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.londonfreelist.com/home.asp" href="http://www.londonfreelist.com/home.asp" rel="nofollow">London Free List</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.londonfreelist.com/home.asp</i>)</span> Free and very cheap things to do in London.<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london plan/lon plan 1.pdf" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_1.pdf" rel="nofollow">[7]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_1.pdf</i>)</span> The London Plan - from the Mayor of London (abbreviated)<br /><li><a class="external" title="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london plan/lon plan all.pdf" href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_all.pdf" rel="nofollow">[8]</a><span class="urlexpansion"> (<i>http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/london_plan/lon_plan_all.pdf</i>)</span> The London Plan 2004 - from Mayor of London (full) </li></ul><br /><p><br clear="all"></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10764250-110811073949349273?l=about-london.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>maharajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116245622427915320noreply@blogger.com2