London — Capital of the United Kingdom
Roman Londinium, Viking raids, the Black Death, the Great Fire, the Blitz — and still standing. How well do you know the city that once ruled a quarter of the world?
About London — Capital of the United Kingdom
London (population 9 million) is the capital of the United Kingdom and one of the world's most visited and influential cities. Founded by the Romans as Londinium around 43 AD at a strategic crossing of the Thames, it became the largest city in the Roman province of Britannia. After Roman withdrawal, London declined before reviving as a Viking and then Norman city; the Tower of London was begun by William the Conqueror in 1066. By the 18th century London was the largest city in the world and the capital of the British Empire — a trading and financial centre whose influence reached every continent.
The Great Fire of London (1666) destroyed most of the medieval city, leading to its rebuilding by Christopher Wren, who designed 51 churches including St Paul's Cathedral. The city survived the Blitz (1940–41) — German bombing raids that killed over 43,000 civilians — and emerged as a cultural capital in the post-war era. London is home to the British Museum (the world's first public national museum), the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben. The London Underground, opened in 1863, was the world's first metro system.