Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about London?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about London facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About London
1 – London is the economic, political, and cultural capital of the United Kingdom.
2 – The River Thames runs through central London, making it an important transport hub.
3 – The Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in all of England. Other famous landmarks in London including Buckingham Palace, Harrods (the world’s largest department store), Piccadilly Circus,Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge.
4 – London’s population is about 8.9 million people, but it is forecast to grow to 10 million by 2030.
5 – The city has a long history and culture that stretches back hundreds of years. It is one of the oldest, having been founded by the Romans back in 43 AD.
More Facts About London
6 – In 1851 it had a population density of 6500/km² (16000/sq mi) which made it one of the most densely populated places on earth at the time.
7 – The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.
8 – Queen Elizabeth II has been monarch for 70 years and counting, making her the longest reigning British monarch ever.
9 – There are over 300 languages spoken in London, making it one of the most linguistically diverse cities on Earth.
10 – The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror to protect his palace and store prisoners.
More Facts About London
11 – London’s most famous landmark, Big Ben, is actually named after Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the rebuilding of it after it caught fire in 1834.
12 – The British Museum houses many treasures including an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus from 1550 BC which weighs 240 tonnes and measures 13 metres long by 3 metres high by 2 metres wide.
13 – The word “London” is derived from an Old English term meaning “border town.”
14 – The tallest London building is The Shard (at 310m). Other tall buildings include 22 Bishopsgate (278m), TwentyTwo (278m), One Canada Square (235m), Heron Tower (230m) and The Leadenhall Street Building (224m).
15 – Big Ben – which stands at 315 feet tall – is located near Westminster Palace and has been home to many important events throughout history such as Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony and Winston Churchill’s funeral procession.
More Facts About London
16 – London was founded by the Romans in 43AD as a trading post for goods and services from continental Europe. Back then it had a population of 50,000 by the third century.
17 – In 1801, it became a part of the United Kingdom as a result of Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland.
18 – The first monarchs to occupy what would become known as the Palace were Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901) and her consort Prince Albert (1819- 1861).
19 – The first university in Britain to allow women to study was London University.
20 – London has six international airports which include Heathrow, City, Southend, Luton, Gatwick and Stansted.
More Facts About London
21 – London’s motto is “Superbia in Proelia” which means “Pride In Battle.”
22 – Famous people who have lived or worked in London include Charles Dickens (writer), Sir Isaac Newton (scientist) and John Lennon (musician).
23 – London has hosted the Olympics three times – in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
24 – London has the oldest underground system in the world (1863) that was once used by steam trains. Electric trains were later introduced in 1890.
25 – One-fifth of all British economic activity takes place in Greater London’s 32 boroughs.
Bonus Facts
In 1829, Charles Dickens opened a school for poor children – this was called Dicken’s Little School of Charitable Knowledge.
