As modern as it is punctual, the capital of England can share, in one street, an ode to the past and a celebration of the contemporary.
London refers to the past. And not only through Big Ben, one of the main tourist spots of England and of the United Kingdom, or through the punctuality that is a strong cultural trait of Londoners. London is known for breaking the barriers of time. Founded by the Roman Empire as Londinium, the city that for two millenniums has been one of the most important in Europe and in the world, preserves its traditions not only in its local customs, but also in its geography, medieval boundaries, and centuries-old buildings. As well as in its dual form of Government: from the millennial monarchy – with respect for the Queen and the Royal Family – to its avant-garde Parliament.
Considered a Global City (together with New York and Tokyo) for its importance to the world’s economic system, it is home to the headquarters of over half of the 100 major companies in the United Kingdom, and over 100 among the most powerful European countries. However, its world influence goes way beyond the economy. In the country that originated football, the most popular sport in the world, it also hosts the Wimbledon tournament, the world’s oldest tennis tournament, considered the most prestigious of the tournaments that comprise the Grand Slam. The city has also hosted the Olympic Games three times, in1908, 1948, and 2012.
With a population of over 7.5 million inhabitants, London is plural: it’s estimated that more than 300 languages are spoken in its territory, which shelters different ethnicities, cultures and religions. All of this influences its global importance with relation to fashion, culture, media, and arts in general. With regard to music, for instance: though the Beatles were born in Liverpool, it was in London that they became eternal. More precisely, on Abbey Road, known as the Beatles’ street, a mecca for their fans, since it holds the studio where they recorded throughout the whole of their career. The place is one of the unmissable spots to visit and to reproduce the famous photo of them on the crosswalk.
But we can’t think of London without mentioning its efficiency, especially as regards transportation. Even though the best known transports are the charming red double decker buses, or even the famous taxis, known as black cabs, the capital’s incredible structure comes from other vehicles, beginning with the London Underground, which has the most extensive subterranean train network in the world. The same can be said of London’s airport, Heathrow, the busiest on the planet with relation to international flights, and the city’s air space compared to other cities.
Among the unmissable tours in London, we find its four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the Palace of Westminster, and Greenwich. The first one is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress – the Tower of London, situated on the banks of the River Thames and holding a vast collection related to the history of England. Next come the beautiful Kew Gardens, the most extensive, ancient and prestigious botanical gardens in the world, situated on the outskirts of southwest London.
As for the Palace of Westminster, it is the meeting place for the Houses of Parliament, one of the largest constructions of its type in the world, and holds the Victoria Tower, the Saint Stephen Tower and the Elizabeth Tower – which is the most popular, known as the Clock Tower, or simply Big Ben. Last of all, according to UNESCO’s listing of the quartet, comes Greenwich, a district in southeast London where we find the Royal Observatory of London, the exact location of the Greenwich Meridian – with longitude 0⁰0’0” E/W, which serves as the basis for the world’s standard time zone system.
Among other places that mustn’t be neglected on a visit to London, we find Buckingham Palace, the official residence and workplace of the Royal Family. Besides hosting some of the country’s most important ceremonies, it’s there that occurs the famous daily ceremony of the changing of the guard. The London Eye, inaugurated on the passage from 1999 to 2000, is one of London’s busiest tourist spots. The observation Ferris Wheel is situated on the south bank of the River Thames, near Parliament, and is, for Londoners, the symbol of the beginning of the new millennium.
Take a walk in Piccadilly Circus, one of the busiest and most important places in London, surrounded by bright billboards and commercial centers. Last of all, go to London’s Tower Bridge, featured in many books and films, one of the most visited spots in London, and a basic piece in the puzzle of London’s traffic. On its walkways, visit the Tower Bridge Experience, a permanent exposition of the history of the bridge.
