London is the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom. It is located in the part of Great Britain called England. It has a population of about 10 million. The first settlement was founded in AD 43 near the River Thames as a Roman settlement. London is one of the world's leading financial and insurance centers, as well as an important industrial city.

London is a multiracial city. London is one of the largest ports in the United Kingdom. London attracts millions of visitors each year, and tourism is a major industry. London is linked with all parts of the country by roads and railroads. Transportation within the city is a system of subways and transportation by bus. The principal airport is at Heathrow, to the west of the city center.

Because of London's long history as Britain's leading city, the major educational and cultural institutions are there located. The University of London is the largest institution of higher education in the United Kingdom. Several orchestras and other musical groups as well as ballet, opera, and theater companies perform in the city's many halls, e.g. Covent Garden, the Barbican Centre, and Royal Festival Hall. London is also a center of sports, especially tennis (the Wimbledon).

One of London's oldest landmarks is the Tower of London, the former royal residence located along the Thames was begun by William the Conqueror and later served as a prison. Tower Bridge, a typical Victorian structure, crosses the Thames beside the Tower. To the west there lies the City of London, its financial district. The 17th-century Saint Paul's Cathedral (connected with a name of Sir Christopher Wren) is located there, and the Bank of England too. One of the bridges flanking the City is Tower Bridge. West of the City, the Westminster is located on the west bank of the river. The Houses of Parliament are topped by the famous clock tower, Big Ben. Westminster Abbey stands beside them. The Downing Street 10, is the residence of the British prime minister. Trafalgar Square contains the famous statue of Lord Nelson, commemorating his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. The Mall, a long road cutting through Saint James's Park, ends at Buckingham Palace, the residence of the royal family. The shopping district is concentrated of Regent and Oxford streets and Piccadilly. North and east of Piccadilly Circus lies the theater district. Regent's Park (the site of London Zoo) is located to the north of this general area, and to the west is Hyde Park, where the Marble Arch and Speaker's Corner are found. Kensington Gardens adjoins Hyde Park on the west.

The important place is also Greenwich, the observatory, where the prime meridian is marked.