London
Greater London
Top: City of London skyline, Middle: Palace of Westminster, Bottom left: Tower Bridge, Bottom right: Tower of London.
London region shown within the United Kingdom
Coordinates: 51°30′28″N 00°07′41″W / 51.50778, -0.12806
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	London
Districts	City and 32 boroughs
Settled by Romans	as Londinium c. AD 50
Government
- Regional authority	Greater London Authority
- Regional assembly	London Assembly
- Mayor	Boris Johnson (Con)
- HQ	City Hall
- UK Parliament  - London Assembly  - European Parliament	74 constituencies 14 constituencies London constituency
Area
- Greater London	609 sq mi (1,577.3 km²)
Elevation [1]	79 ft (24 m)
Population (2006 est.)[2][3][4][5][6]
- Greater London	7,355,400
- Density	12,331/sq mi (4,761/km²)
- Urban	8,278,251
- Metro	13 063 441
- Demonym	Londoner
- Ethnicity (2005 Estimates[7])	Ethnic groups 69.6% White 58.2% White British 2.6% White Irish 8.8% Other White   12.9% South Asian 6.4% Indian 2.2% Pakistani 2.2% Bangladeshi 2.0% Other South Asian   10.8% Black 4.4% Black Caribbean 5.5% Black African 0.8% Other Black   3.4% Mixed 1.0% White & Black Caribbean 0.5% White & Black African 0.9% White & South Asian 0.9% White & Other   3.3% East Asian and Other 1.4% Chinese 1.9% Other
Time zone	GMT (UTC0)
- Summer (DST)	BST (UTC+1)
Post code	Various
Website: www.london.gov.uk

London (pronunciation (help· info); IPA: /ˈlʌndən/) is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.^[8] An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans.^[9] Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival.^[10] The city's core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries; but since at least the 19th century the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis that has developed around it.^[11] Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of England^[12] and the Greater London administrative area,^[13] with its own elected mayor and assembly.^[14] Look up London in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state Constituent country Region Greater London Status City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor David Lewis  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - Total 1. ... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... For the bridge of the same name in California, see Tower Bridge (California). ... For other uses, see Tower of London (disambiguation) Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, on the north bank of the River Thames. ... Image File history File links London_(European_Parliament_constituency). ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged, gives an overview of states around the world with information on the extent of their sovereignty. ... // Constituent country is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a historical, currently non-legally officially recognised country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state Constituent country Region Greater London Status City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor David Lewis  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - Total 1. ... The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Londinium redirects here, for other uses see Londinium (disambiguation) This article covers the history of London during the Roman period from around 47 AD when the Roman city of Londinium was founded, to its abandonment during the 5th century. ... Look up Circa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Latin word circa, literally meaning about, is often used to describe various dates (often birth and death dates) that are uncertain. ... AD redirects here. ... The Greater London Authority (GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. ... Regional Assembly is a title which has universally been adopted by the English bodies established as regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. ... The London Assembly is an elected body that supervises the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964, better known as Boris Johnson)[2] is a British politician and the current Mayor of London; he is also a journalist and author, formerly serving as editor of The Spectator. ... The new logo of the Conservative Party The Conservative Party is the largest centre right political party in the United Kingdom. ... City Hall, taken from the high walkway on Tower Bridge The interior of City Hall City Hall in London, informally known as the Leaning Tower of Pizzas or Fosters Nutsack (see also 30 St Mary Axe), is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... The adminstrative region and ceremonial county of Greater London, together with the enclave of the City of London, is divided into 74 Parliamentary constituencies (all Borough constituencies). ... Greater London is divided into a number of constituencies for London Assembly elections. ... London is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Cities with at least a million inhabitants in 2006 An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... UK Census 2001 logo A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001. ... Whites redirects here. ... White British is an ethnic classification used in the United Kingdom Census 2001, 92. ... Irish Britons are residents of Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) whose birth place and/or ancestry originates in the island of Ireland. ... White Other is a term used in the UK census to describe white persons of non-British descent. ... The term British Asian is used to denote a person of Southern Asian ancestry or origin, or sometimes Western Asian origin, who was born in or was an immigrant to the United Kingdom. ... British Indians (also Indian British or Indian Britons) are citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in the South Asian country of India. ... The term Pakistani Briton is used to denote a person of Pakistani ancestry or origin, who was born in or was an immigrant to the United Kingdom. ... The term British Asian is used to denote a person of Southern Asian ancestry or origin, or sometimes Western Asian origin, who was born in or was an immigrant to the United Kingdom. ... See also: British African-Caribbean community, Caribbean British, British Asian,Britsh Mixed Black British is term which has had different meanings and uses as a racial and political label. ... The Leicester Caribbean Carnival The British African-Caribbean (Afro-Caribbean) community are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background, and whose ancestors were indigenous to Africa. ... African British is a term used to describe all British nationals with antecedents originating directly from Africa. ... See also: British African-Caribbean community, Caribbean British, British Asian,Britsh Mixed Black British is term which has had different meanings and uses as a racial and political label. ... British Mixed is the term given to Britons of mixed race/ethnic descent. ... British Mixed is the term given to Britons of mixed race/ethnic descent. ... British Mixed is the term given to Britons of mixed race/ethnic descent. ... British Mixed is the term given to Britons of mixed race/ethnic descent. ... British Mixed is the term given to Britons of mixed race/ethnic descent. ... British Orientals are people described as Chinese or other in the British census, and primarily originate from countries in East and Southeast Asia, such us the Peoples Republic of China, the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand. ... The 2001 UK Census ethnic groups include White British, White Other, Mixed Race, Asian British, Black British and Chinese or other ethnic group. ... The 2001 UK Census ethnic groups include White British, White Other, Mixed Race, Asian British, Black British and Chinese or other ethnic group. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... GMT redirects here. ... // Greenwich Mean Time Western European Time Burkina Faso Bouvet Island Côte dIvoire The Gambia Ghana Greenland northeastern Danmarkshavn and surrounding area Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iceland Liberia Mali Mauritania Morocco Saint Helena (including Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha) São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Sierra Leone Togo... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving British Summer Time (BST) is the changing of the clocks in effect in the United Kingdom and Irish Summer Time (IST) in Republic of Ireland between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October each... Central European Time West Africa Time British Summer Time* Irish Summer Time* Western European Summer Time* Category: ... The London postal districts are divisions of the London post town in England and are primarily used for the direction of mail. ... Image File history File links En-uk-London. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... [[Media:Italic textLondon has a recorded history that goes back over 2,000 years. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement in England dating from the early 16th century to the early 17th century. ... A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ... Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin San Sebastian Church in Manila, Philippines made entirely of steel. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state Constituent country Region Greater London Status City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor David Lewis  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - Total 1. ... A conurbation is an urban area comprising a number of cities, towns and villages which, through population growth and expansion, have physically merged to form one continuous built up area. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... The London Assembly is an elected body that supervises the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ...

London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres,^[15] and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city.^[16] London boasts four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[17] The city is a major tourist destination both for domestic and overseas visitors.^[18] In economics, a business (also called firm or enterprise) is a legally recognized organizational entity designed to provide goods and/or services to consumers or corporate entities such as governments, charities or other businesses. ... The field of finance refers to the concepts of time, money and risk and how they are interelated. ... The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... For other uses, see Politics (disambiguation). ... A stilt-walker entertaining shoppers at a shopping centre in Swindon, England Entertainment is an activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although in the case of a computer game the audience may be only one person). ... For other uses, see Fashion (disambiguation). ... The Arts is a broad subdivision of culture, comprised of many expressive disciplines. ... “World city” redirects here. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... The Anglican church of St. ... For other uses, see Tower of London (disambiguation) Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, on the north bank of the River Thames. ... This article is about Greenwich in England. ... For other places with the same name, see Royal Botanical Gardens (disambiguation). ...

As of 2006, it has an official population of 7,512,400 within the boundaries of Greater London^[2] and is the most populous municipality in the European Union.^[19] As of 2001, the Greater London Urban Area has a population of 8,278,251^[3] and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of between 12 and 14 million.^[4][5] Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... This list includes the most up-to-date official census figures or census estimates with regards to the population of the largest cities in the European Union. ... The Greater London Urban Area is the conurbation or continuous urban area based around London, in south east England with an estimated population of 8,505,000,[1] The urban area measured 1,623. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

Main articles: History of London and Etymology of London

See also: Fortifications of London

The etymology of London remains a mystery. The earliest etymological explanation can be attributed to Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae. The name is described as originating from King Lud, who had allegedly taken over the city and named it Kaerlud. This was slurred into Kaerludein and finally London. Many other theories have been advanced over the centuries, most of them deriving the name from Welsh or British, and occasionally from Anglo-Saxon or even Hebrew. [[Media:Italic textLondon has a recorded history that goes back over 2,000 years. ... The etymology of London is virtually unknown. ... The Fortifications of London are extensive and mostly well maintained. ... Etymologies redirects here. ... Geoffrey of Monmouth (in Welsh: Gruffudd ap Arthur or Sieffre o Fynwy) (c. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: History of the Kings of Britain Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae (English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written around 1136. ... Lud was a legendary king of the Britons as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. ... The etymology of London is virtually unknown. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Hebrew redirects here. ...

In 1998, Richard Coates, a linguistics professor, criticised these suggestions, and proposed that the name derives from the pre-Celtic *plowonida, which roughly means "a river too wide to ford".^[20] He suggested that the Thames running through London was given this name, and the inhabitants added the suffix -on or -onjon to their settlement.^[20] Proto-Indo-European *p was regularly lost in proto-Celtic, and through linguistic change, the name developed from Plowonidonjon to Lundonjon, then contracted to Lundein or Lundyn, Latinised to Londinium, and finally borrowed by the Anglo-Saxons as Lundene.^[21] Richard Coates is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West of England, and formerly President of the English Place-Name Society. ... For the journal, see Linguistics (journal). ... Several places exist with the name Thames, and the word is also used as part of several brand and company names Most famous is the River Thames in England, on which the city of London stands Other Thames Rivers There is a Thames River in Canada There is a Thames... The Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) is the hypothetical common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans. ... The Proto-Celtic language, also called Common Celtic, is the putative ancestor of all the known Celtic languages. ... The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ...

Runestone Dr 337 raised in memory of two Vikings who died in London. Westminster Abbey is one of London's oldest and most important buildings.

Although there is evidence of scattered Brythonic settlements in the area, the first major settlement was founded by the Romans in AD 43 as Londinium, following the Roman conquest of Britain.^[22] This Londinium lasted for just seventeen years. Around 61, the Iceni tribe led by Queen Boudica stormed this first London, burning it to the ground.^[23] The next, heavily-planned incarnation of the city prospered and superseded Colchester as the capital of the Roman province of Britannia in 100. At its height in the 2nd century, Roman London had a population of around 60,000. The city started a slow decline in the 3rd century because of trouble in the Roman Empire, and by the 5th century the city was largely abandoned.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,704 × 2,272 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,704 × 2,272 pixels, file size: 1. ... The distribution of runestones that mention England or locations in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... This article is about the ancient ethnic groups of Great Britain. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... AD redirects here. ... Londinium redirects here, for other uses see Londinium (disambiguation) This article covers the history of London during the Roman period from around 47 AD when the Roman city of Londinium was founded, to its abandonment during the 5th century. ... Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... Londinium may refer to: An ancient Roman name for London (see History of London) Londinium (movie) A song by Catatonia A fictional planet in the TV show Firefly, (see moons and planets in Firefly) Londinivm, a free MMORPG. Londinium (album), an album by the band Archive This is a disambiguation... The Iceni or Eceni were a Brythonic tribe who inhabited an area of Britain corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The Cenimagni, who surrendered to Julius Caesar during his second expedition to Britain in 54 BC, may have... A sculpture depicting Boudica, the warrior queen of the Iceni who led the revolt against the Romans in AD 61, and her daughters, commissioned by Prince Albert and executed by Thomas Thornycroft, stands near Westminster Pier, London Boudica (also spelt Boudicca, formerly better known as Boadicea) (d. ... Londinium may refer to: An ancient Roman name for London (see History of London) Londinium (movie) A song by Catatonia A fictional planet in the TV show Firefly, (see moons and planets in Firefly) Londinivm, a free MMORPG. Londinium (album), an album by the band Archive This is a disambiguation... For other places with the same name, see Colchester (disambiguation). ... Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... For other uses, see Britannia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

By the 600s, the Anglo-Saxons had created a new settlement called Lundenwic approximately 1,000 yards (0.91 km) upstream from the old Roman city, around what is now Covent Garden.^[24] It is likely that there was a harbour at the mouth of the River Fleet for fishing and trading, and this trading grew until the city was overcome by the Vikings and forced to relocate the city back to the location of the Roman Londinium to use its walls for protection.^[25] Viking attacks continued to increase around the rest of South East England, until 886 when Alfred the Great recaptured London and made peace with the Danish leader, Guthrum.^[26] The original Saxon city of Lundenwic became Ealdwic ("old city"), a name surviving to the present day as Aldwych, which is in the modern City of Westminster. The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... This article deals with the history of London during the Anglo-Saxon period. ... Covent Garden is a district in London, located on the easternmost parts of the City of Westminster and the southwest corner of the London Borough of Camden. ... Entrance to the Fleet River, Samuel Scott, c. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... Guthrum (d. ... Aldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London. ... The City of Westminster is a borough of London, England with city status. ...

In a retaliatory attack, Ethelred's army achieved victory by pulling down London Bridge with the Danish garrison on top, and English control was re-established. Canute took control of the English throne in 1017, controlling the city and country until 1042, when his death resulted in a reversion to Saxon control under his pious stepson Edward the Confessor, who re-founded Westminster Abbey and the adjacent Palace of Westminster.^[27] By this time, London had become the largest and most prosperous city in England, although the official seat of government was still at Winchester. For other uses, see London Bridge (disambiguation). ... The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... St Edward the Confessor or Eadweard III (c. ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... The seat of government is the location of the government for a political entity. ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ...

Map of London in 1300, showing the medieval boundaries of the City of London.

Following a victory at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror, the then Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England in the newly-finished Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.^[28] William granted the citizens of London special privileges, while building a castle in the south-east corner of the city to keep them under control. This castle was expanded by later kings and is now known as the Tower of London, serving first as a royal residence and later as a prison.^[29] A map of London in 1300 from a historical atlas by William R Shepherd. ... A map of London in 1300 from a historical atlas by William R Shepherd. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state Constituent country Region Greater London Status City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor David Lewis  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - Total 1. ... Belligerents Normans supported by: Bretons (one third of total), Flemings, French Anglo-Saxons, the Þingalið Commanders William of Normandy, Odo of Bayeux Harold Godwinson † Strength 7,400-8,400 (maximum 2,200 cavalry, 1,700 archers, 4,500 men-at-arms) 7,500 (2,000 housecarls, 5,500 fyrd) Casualties... William I ( 1027 – September 9, 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087. ... Elizabeth II the current Duke of Normandy. ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... For other uses, see Tower of London (disambiguation) Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, on the north bank of the River Thames. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ...

In 1097, William II began the building of Westminster Hall, close by the abbey of the same name. The hall proved the basis of a new Palace of Westminster, the prime royal residence throughout the Middle Ages.^[30][31] Westminster became the seat of the royal court and government (persisting until the present day), while its distinct neighbour, the City of London, was a centre of trade and commerce and flourished under its own unique administration, the Corporation of London. London grew in wealth and population during the Middle Ages. In 1100 its population was around 18,000, by 1300 it had grown to nearly 100,000.^[32] However disaster struck during the Black Death in the mid-14th century, when London lost nearly a third of its population. Apart from the invasion of London during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381,^{[citation needed]} London remained relatively untouched by the various civil wars during the Middle Ages, such as the first and second Barons' Wars and the Wars of the Roses.^{[citation needed]} William II (c. ... Clock Tower and New Palace Yard from the west The Palace of Westminster, on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, London, is the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which form the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Coat of arms of the City of London Corporation as shown on Blackfriars station. ... This article concerns the mid fourteenth century pandemic. ... Peasants revolt redirects here. ... Combatants Pro-Angevin forces Pro-Capetian forces, and Kingdom of France Commanders Hubert de Burgh Prince Louis The First Barons War (1215–1217) was a combination of a civil war in England between the forces of a number of rebellious barons and King John, and a foreign invasion invited by... The Second Barons War (1264–1267) was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of rebellious barons lead by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward (later Edward I of England). ... Lancaster York For other uses, see Wars of the Roses (disambiguation). ...

The Great Fire of London destroyed many parts of the city in 1666.

After the successful defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, political stability in England allowed London to grow further.^{[citation needed]} In 1603, James VI of Scotland came to the throne of England, essentially uniting the two countries. His enactment of harsh anti-Catholic laws made him unpopular, and an assassination attempt was made on 5 November 1605—the well-known Gunpowder Plot.^[33] Image File history File links Great_Fire_London. ... Image File history File links Great_Fire_London. ... Detail of painting from 1666 of the Great Fire of London by an unknown artist, depicting the fire as it would have appeared on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf. ... Belligerents Kingdom of England Dutch Republic Spain Kingdom of Portugal Commanders Elizabeth I of England Charles Howard Francis Drake Philip II of Spain Duke of Medina Sidonia Strength 34 warships 163 armed merchant vessels 30 Dutch flyboats 22 galleons 108 armed merchant vessels Casualties and losses 50–100 dead[1... James VI and I King of England, Scotland and Ireland James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ... Anti-Catholicism is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at Catholics or the Catholic Church. ... Assassin and Assassins redirect here. ... A contemporary sketch of the conspirators. ...

Plague caused extensive problems for London in the early 17th century, culminating in the Great Plague in 1665–1666. This was the last major outbreak in England, possibly thanks to the disastrous fire of 1666.^[34] The Great Fire of London broke out in the original City and quickly swept through London's wooden buildings, destroying large swathes of the city.^[34] A first hand narrative of both plague and fire was provided by Sir Samuel Pepys.^[34] Rebuilding took over ten years, largely under direction of a Commission appointed by King Charles II and chaired by Sir Christopher Wren.^[35][36][37] This article concerns the mid fourteenth century pandemic. ... A bill of mortality for the plague in 1665. ... Detail of painting from 1666 of the Great Fire of London by an unknown artist, depicting the fire as it would have appeared on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf. ... Samuel Pepys, FRS (23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, who is now most famous for his diary. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... Sir Christopher Wren, (20 October 1632–25 February 1723) was a 17th century English designer, astronomer, geometrician, and the greatest English architect of his time. ...

A London street hit during the Blitz of World War II.

Following London's growth in the 18th century, it became the world's largest city from about 1831 to 1925.^{[citation needed]} Rising traffic congestion on city centre roads led to the creation of the world's first metro system—the London Underground—in 1863, driving further expansion and urbanisation.^[38] London's local government system struggled to cope with the rapid growth, especially in providing the city with adequate infrastructure. Between 1855 and 1889, the Metropolitan Board of Works oversaw infrastructure expansion. It was then replaced by the County of London, overseen by the London County Council, London's first elected city-wide administration. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 572 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,968 × 1,406 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 572 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,968 × 1,406 pixels, file size: 1. ... ‹ The template below (Citations missing) is being considered for deletion. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... “Mass Transit” redirects here. ... The London Underground is a rapid transit system that serves a large part of Greater London and some neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. ... Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a state. ... The Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) was the principal instrument of London-wide government from 1855 until the establishment of the London County Council in 1889. ... The County of London was an administrative county and ceremonial county of England from 1889 to 1965. ... London County Council emblem is still seen today on buildings, especially housing, from that era London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London from 1889 until 1965, when it was replaced by the Greater London Council. ...

The Blitz and other bombing by the German Luftwaffe during World War II killed over 30,000 Londoners and destroyed large tracts of housing and other buildings across London. The rebuilding during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s was characterised by a wide range of architectural styles and has resulted in a lack of architectural unity that has become part of London's character.^[39] In 1965 London's political boundaries were expanded to take into account the growth of the urban area outside the County of London's borders. The expanded area was called Greater London and was administered by the Greater London Council. ‹ The template below (Citations missing) is being considered for deletion. ...   (German IPA: ) is a generic German term for an air force. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Architectural style is a way of classifying architecture largely by morphological characteristics - in terms of form, techniques, materials, etc. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Arms of the Greater London Council The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. ...

An eco revival from the 1980s onwards re-established London's position as a pre-eminent international centre. However, as the seat of government and the most important city in the UK, it has been subjected to bouts of terrorism. Provisional Irish Republican Army bombers sought to pressure the government into negotiations over Northern Ireland, frequently disrupting city activities with bomb threats—some of which were carried out—until their 1997 cease-fire.^[40] More recently, a series of coordinated bomb attacks were carried out by Islamic extremist suicide bombers on the public transport network on 7 July 2005—just 24 hours after London was awarded the 2012 Summer Olympics.^[41] Terrorist redirects here. ... The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann) (IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the Army or the RA.[2]) is an Irish Republican, left wing[3] paramilitary organisation that, until the Belfast Agreement, sought to end Northern... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... This article is about the constituent country. ... Bomb threat hoax post on the 4chan imageboard by Jake Brahm, dated September 18, 2006. ... The 7 July 2005 London bombings (also called the 7/7 bombings) were a series of coordinated terrorist bomb blasts that hit Londons public transport system during the morning rush hour. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common standards of ethics and reciprocity. ... A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ... The International Olympic Committee (IOC) accepted nine cities as applicants to bid on hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics. ... London 2012 redirects here. ...

Governance

See also: List of heads of London government

City Hall at night, headquarters of the Greater London Authority.

// General Purpose Authorities Chairmen of the Metropolitan Board of Works Sir John Thwaites (December 22, 1855 - August 8, 1870) (died in office) James Macnaghten Hogg (November 18, 1870 - March 21, 1889) Leaders of the London County Council The post of Leader was only officially recognised in 1933. ... City Hall, London Background info: This picture was a complete fluke. ... City Hall, London Background info: This picture was a complete fluke. ... City Hall, taken from the high walkway on Tower Bridge The interior of City Hall City Hall in London, informally known as the Leaning Tower of Pizzas or Fosters Nutsack (see also 30 St Mary Axe), is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... The Greater London Authority (GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. ...

Local government

Logo of the Greater London Authority

Main articles: Local government in London and History of local government in London

The administration of London is formed of two tiers — a city-wide, strategic tier and a local tier. City-wide administration is coordinated by the Greater London Authority (GLA), while local administration is carried out by 33 smaller authorities.^[42] The GLA consists of two elected parts; the Mayor of London, who has executive powers, and the London Assembly, who scrutinise the Mayor's decisions and can accept or reject his budget proposals each year. The GLA was set up in 2000 to replace the similar Greater London Council (GLC) which had been abolished in 1986.^[43] The headquarters of the GLA and the Mayor of London is at City Hall; the Mayor is Boris Johnson. The 33 local authorities are the councils of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation.^[44] They are responsible for local services not overseen by the GLA, such as local planning, schools, social services, local roads and refuse collection. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... London is a region of England. ... The history of local government in London, England can be broken down into a number of periods: History of local government in the United Kingdom History of London ^ a b Barlow, I., Metropolitan Government, (1991) ^ Saint, A., Politics and the people of London: the London County Council (1889-1965), (1989... The Greater London Authority (GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... The London Assembly is an elected body that supervises the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... Arms of the Greater London Council The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. ... City Hall, taken from the high walkway on Tower Bridge The interior of City Hall City Hall in London, informally known as the Leaning Tower of Pizzas or Fosters Nutsack (see also 30 St Mary Axe), is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964, better known as Boris Johnson)[2] is a British politician and the current Mayor of London; he is also a journalist and author, formerly serving as editor of The Spectator. ... The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. ... Coat of arms of the City of London Corporation as shown on Blackfriars station. ... Social Workers are concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their human impacts. ...

National government

London is the home of the Government of the United Kingdom which is located around the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.^[45] Many government departments are located close to Parliament, particularly along Whitehall, including the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street.^[46] The British Parliament is often referred to as the "Mother of Parliaments" (although this sobriquet was first applied to England itself by John Bright)^[47] because it has been the model for most other parliamentary systems, and its Acts have created many other parliaments. London is represented in the national Parliament by 74 Members of Parliament (MPs) who correspond to local parliamentary constituencies.^{[citation needed]} For a list of London constituencies, see List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London. Of these 74 MPs, 44 are from the Labour Party, 21 are Conservatives, 8 are Liberal Democrats and one is from the RESPECT party. The agencies responsible for the government of the United Kingdom consist of a number of ministerial departments (usually headed by a Secretary of State) and non-ministerial departments headed by senior civil servants. ... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... A sobriquet is a nickname or a fancy name, usually a familiar name given by others as distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation. ... John Bright John Bright (November 16, 1811–March 27, 1889), was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. ... Type Lower House Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader Theresa May, (Conservative) since May 5, 2005 Members 659 Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... In the United Kingdom each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly. ... The adminstrative region and ceremonial county of Greater London, together with the enclave of the City of London, is divided into 74 Parliamentary constituencies (all Borough constituencies). ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, is a liberal political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; the two parties had already been in an alliance for seven years prior to this, since not long... Respect – The Unity Coalition is a left wing political party in England and Wales founded on January 25, 2004 in London. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of London