London, UK

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom having an estimated population of over 8 million residents. Located on the banks of the Thames River, the area around London has been inhabited since as early as 4500BC. London gains its name from a Roman settlement built in the area around 43AD called Londinium. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, London was essentially abandoned until around 680AD when the old location of London revived and became a major port again. Growth continued until London was the largest town in England in the 11th century. Today the English seat of power still rests in London where its storied history and beautiful surroundings make it one of the most visited cities in the world.

Due to the cities longevity, the architecture within London cannot really be classified as any one style. Sadly in 1666 a large fire raged through London destroying much of the ancient buildings; however in the heart of London a few trace Roman structures remain to this day. London contains many grand houses and public buildings that are constructed from Portland stone which is a gray limestone used in construction all over the British Isles for hundreds of years.

Several iconic buildings are located in London including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower), and Buckingham Palace. The Tower of London was built during the Norman invasion of England near the end of 1066 AD, and is located on the north side of the Thames River near the center of London.

Gaining its name from the white tower built by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London quickly became a symbol of oppression to the general populous. Expanded several times in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Tower of London has been used as an armory, treasury, royal mint, and currently is housing the United Kingdom’s famous Crown Jewels.

Located in the north end of the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben is often referred to as “the clock” or “the clock tower”. Built in 1858, during its 150th anniversary Big Ben was officially renamed to Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Built in the Neo-gothic style, Elizabeth Tower has become the iconic symbol of London.

Primarily built in the area of Leicester Square, the entertainment district of London houses premier locations such as Piccadilly Circus, The Royal Ballet, the National Ballet, the Royal Opera and the National Opera, along with many different movie theaters, bars, clubs and restaurants.

London is home to many different museums and galleries, prominent among these is the British Museum which was built in 1753 and originally contained antiquities, natural history specimens, and the England’s extensive collection of literature. Today the British Museum contains over 7 million artifacts and is known worldwide for its various historical collections and paintings. Near the end of the 19th century, a cultural and scientific quarter was developed and houses three major national museums the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum.