TRAVEL GUIDE TO LONDON, BRITAIN BY EUROPE-CITIES

London is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England. and with a popultation of over seven million if one of the biggest European cities. London is a mix of nationalities, languages, cultures and religions. A typical Londoner can be considered, a smart yuppie from Kensigton Avenue and a Pakistani owner of a fast food bar on the East End. London has several, diversified faces differing from one district to another. Asise the English tradiotion, wich derives from past centuries, stand the new trends. The city has become renowned for its club life and DJ's, who are desireable at clubs in continental Europe, eager to follow the trends set by London.

First of all London has a history that goes back 2,000 years. During this time, it has experienced plague, devastating fire, civil war, overwhelming aerial bombardment, and terrorist attacks, yet, it has still grown from nothing to become one of the mercantile capitals of the western world.

The name London is supposedly of celtic descent. The city of London was most probably founded by the Roman Caesar Claudius around 50 AD. At that time London grew due to its strategic position on the Thames. It is believed to have become the capital of the Roman province of Britannia in the early second century. After being abandoned for several centuries, its key location on the Thames determined that by the 7th century Saxons had revived settlement in the area. In 1066 William the Conqueror found a city that was, without doubt, the richest and largest in the kingdom, already then the most relevant institutions: the parliament, the monarchs residence were found in London. Additionally King William raised the White Tower, part of the Tower of London, and confirmed the city's independence and right to self-government.

London has had a history of disasters striking the city with awful viciousness. In 1348 a massive plague burst in the London area. When it was finally conquered after almost three decades of controlling the life and death of Londoners, the population was halved. Tudor and Jacobean parts of London were virtually destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666.

Nevertheless since the reign of Elizabeth in the XVIIth the city has flourished in fields of art, literature as well as politically. As the centre of the British Empire, it was becoming ever richer and more important. Georgian architects replaced the last of medieval London developing municipal sites such as residential squares, parks and halls. As a result of the Industrial Revolution and rapidly expanding commerce, the population exploded again in the 19th century and for the first time reached one million, creating a vast expanse of Victorian suburbs. Although Britain was an active side of the World War I it was left unharmed. The tables turned in the first half of the 20th century, when World War II destroyed many of the gains achieved by the previous century. Georgian and Victorian London were devastated by the Luftwaffe in World War II with carpet bombings. After the war, ugly housing and low-cost developments were thrown up on the bomb sites. Recently new investments have been made, resulting in such sites as the Millennium Dome, London Eye and Tate Modern.

London regained its swinging reputation in the 1990s, becoming a popular city of clubs, pop, style and media names. A vibrant, multi-cultural city, London embraces the diverse cultures of its population. Whether it's reflected in the food, colorful street markets, music or at one of the city's many festivals, in London you can mix with the world. The city boasts a varied and thriving social scene with thousands of pubs, bars, clubs, cinemas and venues to choose from.

London Tourist Information