London is political, cultural as well as economic capital of Great Britain. It is one of the most influential capitals in the world and one of the most populous cities in the European Union with more than 9 million people living in it.
Unbelievable as it may seem but locals comprise only about 50% of the total population. Therefore, the cultural and language divergence of the city is quite understandable. Even though English is the official language, about 300 other languages are spoken in London on a daily basis.
Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to London in order to plunge themselves in its unique atmosphere and see awesome places of interests with their own eyes.
No matter how old you are or what travelling experience you have, while in this city you will definitely find something to see and to do. You are looking for opportunities to enrich your knowledge in terms of history? London has a long and fascinating history to tell. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace are only few of the places you need to visit. Organized excursions and museums also provide an opportunity to discover the rich history of the city and learn more about the process of its development and change.
Those who want to feel the artistic vibes of the city will definitely enjoy visiting Piccadilly theatre, the Royal Opera House and Dominion theatre. It’s impossible to list them all here since there are approximately 200 theatres in London.
You are the one who prefers getting acquainted with a new city and country through meals and drinks? If so, you won’t be disappointed in the choice of pubs, restaurants and cafes in the city of London. As mentioned before, the city is home to people of various nationalities. They have their own traditions, customs and cuisines. In total, there are up to 70 cuisines presented in local restaurants.
Ready to know more? Here we go:
10 Facts You May Not Know About London
1. Date of foundation
The exact date of the city’s foundation is unknown. Historians say that it was founded somewhere around 50 AD. During the course of history, the city’s name changed at least 4 times. The first name (that was given to the city by the Romans) was Londinium.
2. Variety of accents
Locals living in different districts of the city have different accents. Foreigners don’t hear much difference while locals can hear and determine these peculiar accents very well, an interesting fact about London!
3. Living in this city can literally cost a fortune
London continues to rank high in the list of top 10 most expensive cities to live in. Since the cost of apartments and houses is very high, the majority of locals prefers to rent rather than to buy them. It’s common for people here to pay a rent for all their lives.
As a rule, apartments available for sale are quite small and located in old buildings. One more thing to remember if you decide to move here is that the apartments are not equipped with a washing machine. It shouldn’t be a big problem since a laundry can be found almost on every street.
4. Fast food
American fast-food is gaining popularity in cities all over the world. However, London does not follow the trend. The most popular fast-food here are meals of Indian cuisine.
5. Rains
Many people got accustomed to the idea of London being a very rainy city. That’s more a myth than reality. In fact, in Rome and Milan, it rains more often than in London, a not well-known fact about London.
The peak temperature in summer is 20 degrees above zero while in winter the temperature rarely falls below zero. Considering this, a conclusion about relatively warm winters can be made.
6. Newspaper preference
Despite the fact that we now have the benefit of online newspapers, the majority of Londoners still prefers to read printed versions of newspapers. People usually leave the newspaper they have read in one of the underground railway carriages. This way the newspaper can be read by someone else.
7. Alternative names
London and the island of Great Britain is often referred to as “Albion”. Many people believe that the city is foggy. The stereotype appeared in the period of rapid local industries development. Back then the city was often hidden under a “dome” of thick smog. Nowadays it’s all different. Thick fog is a rare occurrence that happens only during the cold time of a year.
8. Olympic Games
London is the only city in the world that has hosted Olympics as many as 3 times, an interesting fact about London. The Olympics in London took place in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
9. Population
London is stated to be the second most populated city in Europe. The first place belongs to Moscow.
10. Underground
London is the first city in which underground tunnels were built. Nowadays the system consists of 11 lines and 270 stations. Everyday the Lendon Underground is used by 5 million people.
The railway carriages serving one of the lines are fully automated.
As you can see, London has a lot to offer to a perspective tourist or a passionate adventurer. These are only some of the facts to know. The rest is up to you. Hope the article inspired you to plan a trip and discover the city for yourself. No words can provide a 100% true depiction of any city since we all perceive the world differently. That’s why they say that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Remember the saying? It applies to London in more ways than you can imagine.
Whether you have or have not gone to London, the city will always entertain and amaze you in the best ways possible.
I hope that this article on London Facts was helpful! If you are interested, visit the City Facts Page!
