Chapter 4 Cities
London ● Cardiff ● Edinburgh Belfast ● Birmingham Manchester ● Liverpool
London
London is the capital of England and of Great Britain, the political center of the Commonwealth, and a major port. With a population of just under eight million, London is Europe's largest city, spreading across an area of about 1,610 square kilometers from its core on the River Thames.
London, which is divided into 33 boroughs, is in fact two cities - 'The City of London' usually just called 'The City', and 'Westminster', which lies to its west. The City of London is located at the center of the metropolitan area and covers an area of 1.6 square kilometers. It serves as the financial center of the country, including the bank of England, insurance companies and stock exchanges. Westminster is the political center of the country.
London is not only the UK's capital, but is also the strongest performing economic area in Britain. Home to the European headquarters of 33 percent of the world's largest companies, with an economy that is larger than that of several European nations, London is widely regarded as the primary location in Europe for business.

The history of London can be traced back to the first century when the Romans invaded England in 55B.C. Ethnically London is also Europe's most diverse metropolis: around two hundred languages are spoken within its confines, and more than thirty percent of the population is made up of first-, second- and third-generation immigrants.
Tourism is another important industry for London with typical yearly expenditure by tourists being in the region of £ 7-10bn ($11.7 - $16.8 billion).
The financial and business services are at the center of London's economy and together employ in the region of one-third the total Greater London workforce. With more overseas company listings than any other exchange, the London Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, accounting for more than 32 per cent of global turnover - more than the combined contribution of New York and Tokyo
London is also home to several other thriving industries including arts and fashion, film, media, design, law and computing. Around 85 percent of UK fashion designers and 70 percent of the UK film and television companies are based in London.
London is a thrilling place . Thanks to the national lottery and the millennium-oriented funding frenzy, every one of London's world-class museums, galleries and institutions has been reinvented, from the Royal Opera House to the British Museum.