England Country Facts for Kids

Learn some interesting information about England while enjoying a range of fun facts and trivia that's perfect for kids!

Read about the famous scientists England has produced, its islands, rivers, mountains, major cities, population and much more.

England is the most populated country in the United Kingdom. The other countries that make up the United Kingdom are Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

England is bordered by Wales to the west and Scotland to the north.


The population of England in 2011 was around 53 million.

The capital city of England is London. Other major cities include Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds.

England includes many small islands such as the Isle of Wight and Hayling Island.


There is only a 34 kilometre (21 mile) gap between England and France and the countries are connected by the Channel Tunnel which opened in 1994.

England was the first industrialized nation after the industrial revolution that began around 1760.

Famous English scientists include Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, Isaac Newtonand Stephen Hawking among many others.

The longest river in the United Kingdom is the River Severn. Located in England and Wales, it stretches around 354 kilometres (220 miles) in length.

The longest river found entirely in England is the River Thames, it flows through London and is slightly shorter than the River Severn at around 346 kilometres (215 miles) in length.

The largest lake in England is named Windermere.

The highest mountain in England is Scafell Pike, which stands at around 978 metres (3,209 ft) in height.

England has a large economy and uses the pound sterling as its currency.

English computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the World Wide Web.

There have been a number of influential English authors but perhaps the most well known is William Shakespeare, who wrote classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet.

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in England but others such as cricket and rugby have large followings.

The Summer Olympic Games have been held in London 3 times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

The official London home of the British monarch (king or queen) is Buckingham Palace.

source-www.sciencekids.co.n

England Land & People

Land & People
England is 74 times smaller than the USA, 59 times smaller than Australia and 3 times smaller than Japan. England is however 2.5 times more populous than Australia, and 1.5 times more populous than California. With 2.5 times less inhabitants than Japan, its density of population is slightly higher than the country of the rising sun.

The highest temperature ever recorded in England was 38.5°C (101.3°F ) in Brogdale, Kent, on 10 August 2003.

English people consume more tea per capita than anybody else in the world (2.5 times more than the Japanese and 22 times more than the Americans or the French).

Among the three ghosts said to haunt Athelhampton House, one of them is an ape.

The Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetlands Trust is the world's largest and most diversified wildfowl centre. It has the largest collection of swans, geese, and ducks on Earth, and is the only place where all six species of Flamingo can still be observed.

Mother Shipton's Cave near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, is England's oldest recorded tourist attraction. Its owner, Charles Slingsby, fenced off the site in 1630 and started charging visitors to gape at this so-called petrifying well. The mineral-rich water from this uncanny spring has the ability to give objects a stone-like appearance after a prolonged exposure.

English people have the highest obesity rate in the European Union (22.3% of men and 23% of women). They also have the highest percentage of overweight women (33.6%) and the 6th highest for men (43.9%).

source-http://www.eupedia.com/

England History & Monuments

Ancient times
Silburry Hill, in the English county of Wiltshire, is the largest man-made earthen mound in Europe. It was built about 4750 years ago.

The stone circle at Avebury is the largest in the world. It was built between 5300 and 4600 years ago and covers 11 ha (28 acres). The outer circle is surrounded by a bank and ditch long of 1.5 km (1 mile).

The so-called British Imperial system of measurement (English units in the USA) has its roots in Roman units. The Romans also counted in feet, which they divided in 12 inches (unciae in Latin, from which the English word is derived). 5 feet made a pace, and 1000 paces (mille passus) became a mile in English. The Roman gallon was the congius (worth 0.92 U.S. gallons). The word pint comes from Latin picta ("painted"), via the Old French pinte, and corresponded to a painted mark on a vessel indicating this measure. Other units like the pound only evolved in the Middle Ages.

Colchester in Essex is the oldest recorded town in Britain, as well as the first Roman town and Roman capital of Britain. Colchester Castle has the largest keep ever built in Europe, having a land area 50% bigger than the Tower of London.

The Fossdyke, connecting the River Trent at Torksey to Lincoln, is the oldest canal in Britain. It was built by the Romans around 120 CE and is still navigable today.


Middle Ages & Renaissance

York was the first English city to become settled permanently by the Danish Vikings (in 867) and the last to remain under Viking rule (until 954). It served as capital of the Danelaw under the name of Jorvik.


Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest royal residence in the world still in use. It was originally constructed in 1070 and rebuilt in stone in 1170.

Berkeley Castle is the oldest English castle still inhabited by the family who built it. The founder of the Berkeley family was Robert Fitzharding (c. 1095–1170). He started building the present castle from 1153.

Winchester was the first capital of England, from 827 to 1066. Winchester Cathedral, completed in 1070, has the longest nave of any medieval cathedral in Europe.

York Minster is Britain's largest medieval cathedral, has the largest Gothic nave in the country, and the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

The first building in the world to overtake the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was Lincoln Cathedral, completed in 1280. Had its spired not been destroyed by a storm in 1549, it would have remained the highest construction ever built in the world until 1884, when the Washington Monument was erected.

The world's largest and oldest chained library is in Hereford Cathedral, which also contained the best preserved of the four Mappa Mundi.

The mathematician Thomas Harriot (1560–1621) invented the symbols for "is less than" [<] and "is greater than" [>].

The county of Kent is home to England's oldest church (St Martin's in Canterbury), oldest school (the King's School, established in 600, also in Canterbury), and oldest brewery (Shepherd's Neame Brewery in Faversham, founded in 1698).

Founded in 1534, Cambridge University Press is the world's oldest printing and publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world.

Opened in 1660, the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London is the oldest museum in the United Kingdom, and one of the oldest in the world (possibly the first in Europe outside Italy). The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, inaugurated in 1683, was the world's first university museum.

Champagne was invented in England, not in France. In 1662 scientist Christopher Merret presented a paper to the Royal Society in London describing how the addition of sugar and molasses to wine make it brisk and sparkling. This method, now known as méthode champenoise, was adopted by Dom Pérignon over 30 years later to produce the first sparkling wine in Champagne.

18th century to present
The national anthem of the United States ("The Star-Spangled Banner") was composed by an Englishman, John Stafford Smith (1750-1836) from Gloucester.

The claim for the world's oldest working railway is disputed between Tanfield Railway in County Durham, which oldest section dates from 1725, and Middleton Railway in West Yorkshire, which has been working continuously since 1758.

The world's first modern encyclopedia was Chambers' Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, published in 1728 in London. It pre-dates the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D'Alembert by over two decades.

Established in 1734, Bennett's of Irongate in Derby is the oldest department store in the world, pre-dating by over 100 years the first department stores in the USA, France or other parts of Britain. It is still trading in the original building.

During the first three decades of the 19th century, West Cornwall produced two thirds of the world's copper. The smelting of copper ore was subsequently transferred to Swansea, in South Wales, which became the global centre for the trade during most of the century.

The Caen Hill Locks, a flight of 29 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal (between Bath and Reading) rising 72 m in 3.2 km, making it the steepest flight of locks in the world. The locks were built in the early 1800s.

It is in England that the first postage stamps appeared. The first Penny Post was invented by entrepreneur William Dockwra in the 1680's for delivery of packets within London. The first nation-wide stamp (and first adhesive stamp) was the Penny Black, introduced in 1840 as part of Rowland Hill's postal reforms. Because Britain was the first country to issue national stamps, British stamps still have the unique distinction of not mentioning the country's name on them.

The custom of afternoon tea was devised in 1840 by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, who felt the need for an extra meal between lunch and dinner. She began inviting her friends to join her, and the custom quickly spread around British society and throughout the British Empire. Britain's first tea room was opened in 1864 by the Aerated Bread Company at London Bridge.

In 1884, Charles Parsons invented the steam turbine, which made cheap and plentiful electricity possible. In 1894 he launched the first steam turbine-powered boat, the Turbinia, by far the fastest ship in the world at the time. The steam turbine engine revolutionised marine transport and naval warfare.

The statue of Anteros on Piccadilly Circus (1892) was the world's first statue to be cast in aluminium.

The world's first modern Olympic Games were not held in Athens in 1896, but in the small town of Much Wenlock(Shropshire) in 1850, which inspired French Baron Pierre Coubertin to launch the Athens Olympics half a century later.

The English invented and developed the world's earliest railways. In 1901, Hornby became the first maker of model railways. The British love of train also gave birth to Thomas the Tank Engine, originally in books in 1946, then on TV from 1984 onwards.

The man behind the construction of the world-famous Sydney Opera House was Sir Eugene Goossens (1893-1962), an English conductor and composer of Belgian origin, who was director of the NSW State Conservatorium of Music at the time.

The world's first electronic, digital, programmable computer was made at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in 1943-44. Nicknamed Colossus, it was used by British codebreakers to help read encrypted German messages during World War II. Colossus was kept a state secret until 1974, which is why Americans have been credited with the invention of computers.

The world's first drive through safari park opened at Longleat House (Wiltshire) in 1966.

Liverpool Cathedral, Britain's newest cathedral (completed in 1978), holds many records. It boasts the world's the largest (though not the highest) belltower, with the world's highest and heaviest peal of bells, and the largest organ in the UK. It is the second longest church on Earth after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and the biggest cathedral in England.

source-http://www.eupedia.com/

Fun and known facts about London

The City of London is the historical core of the English capital. It roughly matches the boundaries the Roman city of Londinium and of medieval London.


Opened in 1652, Pasqua Rosee's was the first coffee house in London. It was located on St Michael's Alley and burned down during the Great Fire of 1666.


Brought back from China by Dutch merchants, tea made its first appearance in London in September 1658, when the new beverage was advertised in a pamphlet by Thomas Garraway, a coffeehouse owner.

The Monument commemorating the Great Fire of London in 1666 is the tallest isolated stone column in the world. It rises to 62 m (202 ft) on Fish Hill, 62 m away from where the fire began, in a bakery in Pudding Lane.

St Paul's Cathedral was the tallest building (111 m/365 ft) in London from 1710 to 1962. It is the second largest church in the UK after Liverpool Cathedral. Its dome is the third largest in the world, and one of the highest. The towers of the cathedral contain the second largest ring of bells in the world. St Paul's also possesses Europe's largest crypt, where are buried, among others, Sir Chritopher Wren (the architect who rebuilt the City of London after the Great Fire), the painters Joshua Reynolds and J.MW. Turner, Lord Nelson, and the Duke of Wellington.


Founded in London in 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company is the world's oldest chartered company.

Another famous historical coffee house was Jonathan's Coffee-House, founded around 1680 by Jonathan Miles. It was frequented by politicians, writers, scientists (including Isaac Newton) and Huguenots from France. In 1698, it was used by John Castaing to post the prices of stocks and commodities - the first recorded organised trading in marketable securities in London. In the same year, other dealers expelled from the Royal Exchange for rowdiness migrated to Jonathan's. The coffee house effectively became the first London Stock Exchange and was renamed The Stock Exchange in 1773, until it was destroyed by fire in 1778.


Founded in 1694, the Bank of England was the first privately owned national bank in any country.


The Bethlehem Royal Hospital is world's oldest institution to specialise in mental illnesses. It was founded in 1247 near Bishopsgate as the Priory of St Mary Bethlehem. In 1800 the hospital moved to Lambeth in the building now housing the Imperial War Museum. It is now located in Beckenham, in South London, and works in close partnership with the King's College London Institute of Psychiatry. The word 'bedlam', meaning uproar and confusion, is derived from the hospital's original name.


The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, was formed by a Royal Charter in 1631 and remains the world's oldest horological institution. The company possesses the world's oldest collection of clocks and watches.


The world's first public street lighting with gas was installed in Pall Mall, London in 1807. In 1812, the London and Westminster Gas Light and Coke Company became the world's first gas company.


The world's oldest public zoo opened in London in 1828.


Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels's Communist Manifesto was first published (in German) in London's Liverpool Street by the German printer J.E. Burghard in 1848.


The world's first underground public lavatory opened in 1855 under the pavement next to the Bank of England.


Established in 1890, the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) was the first deep-level underground railway in the world. It was also the first major railway to use electric traction. It became the Northern Line of the London Underground.


Established in 1902, Ealing Studios in West London are the oldest continuously working film studios in the world.


At the the northern end of London Bridge, Adelaide House was the tallest office block in London at 43 m (141 ft) when it was completed in 1925. It was designed in a discreet Art Deco style with some Egyptian influences and was the first building in the City to employ the steel frame technique. It was also the first office building in the UK to have electric and telephone connections on every floor as well as a central ventilation system.


The Museum of London, which retraces the history of London from Prehistoric times to the present day, is the largest urban history museum in the world.


The Shard, a 72-storey skyscraper near London Bridge, is the tallest building in the European Union, standing at a height of 309.6 metres (1,016 ft). It was inaugurated on 5 July 2012, three weeks before the London Olympics.


In 2012 London became the first city to host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.


The ArcelorMittal Orbit, a 115-metre-high (377 ft) sculpture and observation tower in the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, is Britain's largest piece of public art. It is intended to be a permanent lasting legacy of London's hosting of the 2012 Summer Olympics.


London used to be the largest and most influential city in the world. With a population of 12 million, it is still the world's largest financial centre and Europe's largest city.


London Heathrow Airport is the world's busiest airports by international passenger traffic, and the third for total traffic.


In 2007, Inner London - West had a GDP per capita at PPP of (US$ 152,116) - the highest of any city on Earth. In 2010, Eurostat calculated that Inner London's GDP per capita stood at 328% of the EU27 average.

source-http://www.eupedia.com/

The HMS Belfast London

HMS Belfast was launched in 1938 and served with distinction in both the Second World War and the Korean War. She is now the only surviving example of the great fleets of big gun armoured warships built for the Royal Navy in the first half of the twentieth century. HMS Belfast is moored on the River Thames, with an idyllic location between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

On 5 August 1939 HMS Belfast was commissioned into the Royal Navy and just a month later she was at war. On 21 November 1939, whilst leaving the Firth of Forth, HMS Belfast was severely damaged by a German magnetic mine, the damage was so severe that it was almost three years before she was fit for action again. She continued to serve in active military engagements until 1952, including participation in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst the Normandy Landings and the Korean War. She remained in service until 1965.

With a London Pass you can enjoy free entry to the HMS Belfast – a saving of over £15 on the normal adult entry price. London Pass is great for sightseeing and holders benefit from the following:

- Free entry to over 60 top London attractions
- Optional Travelcard with unlimited use of all public transport zones 1 - 6
- Free 160+ page Guidebook to help you plan your trip
- Loads of special offers at restaurants and shops

It's really that easy, see for yourself how it works.

Discover the fascinating HMS Belfast and all of the best sights London has to offer with the London Pass.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Visit Chislehurst Caves London

One of the greatest things about London is that for visitors it is full of fascinating surprises – like the caves in Chislehurst, England with over 20 miles of dark and mysterious passageways hewn by end from the chalk.

Chislehurst in London is home to chalk caves that were mined by hand for over 8000 years. A tour of these caves is an exciting way to see how Britons have impacted on their environment over thousands of years.

Mined for the use of flint and lime, the mines were in use right up to the 1830s, and have been used both as a tourist attraction and even as an ammunitions depot during the First World War! The fascinating history of these London caves was initially divided into Saxon, Druid and Roman times, but with newer intertwining passageways opened up, the caves now provide a passage through time right up to the present day.

In recent times Chislehurst Caves have been used as evocative outside location for such television programmes as Doctor Who and Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) and as such are visited by both film and history fans. The caves remain a source of fascination for all ages and a major London tourist attraction for anyone who is interested in geology.

Visit London Zoo

Opened in 1847, the London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Today it houses over 760 different species of animal and is the only zoo in London where you can experience big animals such as gorillas and giraffes.

Explore the “Into Africa” exhibit where you can come face to face with some of Africa's most unusual animals including zebras and hunting dogs, or try “Meet The Monkeys” an exciting walk-through experience. Other top exhibits include the Butterfly Paradise, where you can enjoy myriad species of butterfly as they fly around you.


Make sure you don't miss feeding time at the Penguin enclosure and find out more about these popular creatures from the zoo's experienced keepers. Penguin Beach, with a significantly larger pool complete with underwater viewing areas visitors will be able to close to the Penguins like never before.

New in 2013, Tiger Territory is a multi-sensory experience taking visitors deep into the world of these magnificent and majestic creatures.

With over 12,000 animals to see and incredible animal displays taking place throughout the day (including feeds and keeper talks) no visitor leaves disappointed.

Rainforest Life is London’s only living rainforest, where visitors can meet a variety of beautiful rainforest species including marmosets, tamarins and sloths. In the all-new ‘Night Life’ area you will discover the bats, rats and nocturnal wonders like the Slender Loris, armadillos and Potto the live in these murky conditions.

Learn more about London Zoo in our Interview with a Zoo Keeper on our London Pass Blog.

You can visit the London Zoo for free with a London Pass - a fantastic saving of £23 for adults and over £16 for children.

Note: Children aged 3-4 will be charged on entrance fee for London Zoo.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Visit London Wetland Centre

Encounter a rich variety of wildfowl and wetland wildlife at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes.

Widely regarded as the best urban site in Europe to watch wildlife, the London Wetland Centre is one of Britain's most ambitious and exciting wildlife projects with 105 acres of lakes, ponds and marshes to explore.

Located on the banks of the River Thames in the Barnes wetland, this award-winning London attraction and Site Of Special Scientific Interest is home to many species of wildlife including bitterns, kingfishers and a colony of endangered water voles.

The London Wetland Centre is made up of a range of different habitats interlinked by 3.4 kilometres of pathway and bridges – 99% of which is wheelchair accessible with a state-of-the-art visitor centre.

The centres wardens are on hand to take visitors on guided walks sharing their expert knowledge of the local wildlife.

It's a perfect London attraction for kids; if you're looking for more wildlife attractions to visit with your London Pass why not try London Zoo in Regent's Park or travel further down the Thames and experience one of the most beautiful gardens in the world at Kew – both offer free entry to London pass holders.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

The London Bridge Experience

Explore the underground tombs of London Bridge and brave the haunting tales of the city's notorious past at the London Bridge Experience

The London Bridge Experience is a unique and interactive journey through the deep, dark history of London. Travel through time and take a light-hearted look at 2000 years’ worth of history within London Bridge and the surrounding area. Watch Boudicca fight her battles against the Romans, get twisted up in the fates of traitors and their treachery but beware to keep your head! Be engulfed in the powerful Great London Fire and follow the gruesome and gory tales of Jack the Ripper. Finally, for those who dare, enter the bowels of the Bridge and be terrified, tormented and tricked within The Tombs.

Highlights:

Scariest attraction in London

Rich history of gruesome, gory Britain

Interactive experience with real life actors and animation

Two part attraction; The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs

Did you know:

The legend of the disfigured Mastern Brother’s vengeful murders haunts London with the killings of four men on Tower Bridge

Workers at The London Bridge Experience have heard eerie children’s cries and have witnessed poltergeist activity whilst on shift

The Great Fire of London (1666) has no official death toll, but the heat of the fire may have cremated many Londoners, leaving their remains unrecognisable

The murders of Jack the Ripper have inspired many studies and analyses of his case, the term has now been coined Ripperology

Many phantom cries can be heard at London Bridge rumoured to be ‘traitors’, whose heads were dipped in tar and stuck on pikes, executed between 1305 and 1660

Don’t miss:
The London Bridge Experience can teach you about life in London from the Roman times, to the fierce battles of Queen Boudicca and 19th century pick pocketing thieves. Discover the darkness of a disused railway tunnel, the traitor’s Gate House and the Chapel of Thomas Beckett.

A former 16th century plague pit, the London Tombs prides itself on its unbeatable scare-factor. From terrifying tales and true stories, explore the gruesome past of London Bridge with a spine-tingling adventure into the depths of the tomb.

Top Tip: Guardian Angel Tours are available for younger visitors (under 11's) to protect them from anything too frightening!
How to get there:

- London Bridge Underground (jubilee and northern lines, national rail network)

- London Bridge Experience is situated in zone 1 of the London Transport Network so your travel will be included in your package if you opt for The London Pass with Travel

Make the most of your London Pass:
- With The London Pass you can visit over 60 top attractions in London for Free. Discover more of London for less with The London Pass.

- Add on a Travelcard to take care of all your transport needs

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre London

Visit the reconstruction of Shakespeare's historic 16th century playhouse and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the open-air Globe Theatre

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an open-air playhouse built as a reconstruction of the building where the great playwright penned many of his plays. The Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition introduces visitors to all aspects of the Globe, historical and contemporary, including Sam Wannamaker's epic struggle to recreate the theatre from the 1599 original.

Highlights:

Reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse built In 1599
Authentic timber frame building with an open-air stage
To maintain the true sense of a Shakespearean play and experience, there are no spotlights, microphones, speakers or amplification and all music is performed live on period instruments

Did you know:

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets during his lifetime – this works out as an average 1.5 plays a year since he first started writing in 1589

As well as being a playwright, Shakespeare was an accomplished actor, family man, property owner and manager of an acting company and theatre

The original theatre burnt down in 1613 because of a miss-fired cannon during a Henry VIII performance

His plays are associated with the Elizabethan times, yet most of his popular works were written in the Jacobean era

Although he was a famous playwright in London, in his hometown of Stratford he was a well-known businessman and property owner

At his grave in Stratford-upon-Avon, he put a curse on his epitaph daring anyone to move his bones to give way for more grave space, as was common at the time

Don't miss:
Exhibitions
There are a number of temporary and permanent exhibitions and galleries at the Globe throughout the year. Among these include ‘The Festival in Focus’, photographs of over 600s performers captured on stage, audience reactions and behind the scenes stories. Created by a group of leading theatre photographers it is an honest and insightful portfolio of the diverse and vibrant performances at the Globe.

Open air stage
The stage is open to the elements which can make drizzly performances in the summer even more exciting (no umbrellas allowed!) With a lack of spotlights, microphones and speakers you are encouraged to interact with the actors through realistic staging and authentic props. The seating consists of covered wooden benches and the yard is standing only.

Sam Wannamaker Theatre
The Sam Wannamaker Theatre is the site’s indoor Jacobean theatre, a simulacrum of the 16th century Blackfriars Theatre, on the opposite bank of the Thames. Having recently opened, it has a packed all-year-round programme including productions of Julius Caesar, Anthony & Cleopatra, A Bach Family Celebration and many more exhibitions and events.


How to get there:
- Southwark underground (jubilee line)

- Mansion House (district and circle lines)
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is situated in zone 1 of the London Transport Network so your travel will be included in your package if you opt for The London Pass with Travel
Make the most of your London Pass:

- With a London Pass you can experience this stunning theatre and tour completely free, saving you £13.50

- Explore the Southbank for great views over the river

Closures: 12th October

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Districts of London

Central London

City of London (the "Square Mile")

The City of London is the principal financial district not only of London, but of the UK and Europe. The City also has its own police force, the City of London police.

The West End
To the west and north of Trafalgar Square is the West End, the main shopping and entertainment district in London. Most of London's major theatres are located here, as is the Royal Opera House.


Shopping (Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street)

Oxford Street is one of the best known shopping streets in the world. Running from Tottenham Court Road in the east to Marble Arch in the west, via Oxford Circus where it crosses Regent Street, it is home to many large department stores and shops (Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer).

Covent Garden
Soho and Covent Garden are lively areas with a huge variety of shops, restuarants, cafes and bars. Further west are residential areas broken up by areas of green parkland, such as Hyde Park, Kenssington Gardens and Regent's Park.

West London
West London includes many of the traditionally fashionable and expensive residential areas such as Notting Hill, made famous by a film of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Nearby is the famous antique market at Portobello Road. Kensington and Chelsea are the most expensive places to live in the country. The area is also famous for the Kings Road, a distinguished and attractive shopping street and thoroughfare.

Further to the west, at White City, near Shepherd's Bush, is the principal operating centre for the BBC while in the extreme west, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, lies Heathrow Airport.

East London
The East End ( The East End of London)

The East End was formerly the centre of London'd docks and heavy industry. The area was heavily bombed during World War Two (1939-45).

The East End has many of places of interest including many of London's markets, (for example Columbia Road Flower Market, Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Market, Petticoat Lane Market).

The East End is an area of uncertain delimitations. It abounds with legend, sentimentality and cockneys.

A large majority of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in the Old Park in Stratford in East London. Events were also held in other venues across London and the UK (England, Scotland and Wales).

Docklands
Docklands is a thriving and vibrant area with a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs and wine bars.

South London
South London is a multi-cultural area of nearly 2 million people.

London Eye
South London includes the historic towns of Greenwich and Wimbledon

Greenwich is on the banks of the Thames where the river broadens into a wide meandering reach of muddy water. It is an historic neighbourhood and boasts a fine park and the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It is also has a popular market.

Brixton, Camberwell and Peckham are home to many families (and their descendants) who immigrated to London from the West Indies during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, sometimes known as Afro-Carribeans.

North London
North London includes suburbs such as Hampstead and Highgate which retain a village atmosphere.

North London is more hilly than the south, and many of the hills give excellent views across the city. Large parks include Hampstead Heath, which includes Parliament Hill, noted for its fine views over the city, and the Hampstead bathing ponds; and Alexandra Park, site of Alexandra Palace.

The History of London

People have lived in the London area for more than 5,000 years, but instead of a city, there used to be forests and marshes.

The legend of how London began

Legend says that London was founded not by the Romans of the 1st century AD, but in a far more ancient time by Brutus the Trojan, around 1070 BC, about 1000 years before the Roman invasion.

Brutus was the great-grandson of Aeneas, a Trojan prince who was one of the few survivors after the Greeks burnt Troy to the ground.

Following the destruction of the city of Troy, the inhabitants set off to find new lands. According to a 12th-century monk named Geoffrey of Monmouth, when Brutus lands in Britian it's inhabited by a race of giants led by Gog and Magog. After wrestling them into submission, Brutus chains them to the doors of his palace, he builds on the site where the Guildhall is today.

Drawings of the old wooden statues of Gog and Magog
Wooden statues of Gog and Magog stood guard outside the entrance of the Guidhall until they were destroyed in an air raid in 1940. Today, Gog and Magog are considered as the traditional guardians of the City of London, and images of the two have been carried in the Lord Mayor’s Show since the reign of Henry V (1412-1422).

Effigies of Gog and Magog carried at the 2007 Lord Mayors Show

source-http://www.projectbritain.com/

Top 10 Places to Visit in London

London attracts very large numbers of visitors and tourists and can be an expensive place to visit. However, there is still much you can see and do for free.

Tourist attractions are mainly in Central London. Plan your day well. London is a big place and if you are not careful you may find yourself spending most of the day travelling.

It's worth booking or getting tickets in advance for any major attractions - including The Tower of London - which will save you a lot of time - sometimes the queues can take hours - you can usually book online at the website of the attraction.

Top 10 Places to Visit in London

The most popular and our favourite attractions are:

Take a ride on the London Eye
The big wheel which gives you a panoramic view of London. It is the world's highest observation wheel and offers passengers spectacular views of over 55 of London's most famous landmarks - all in just 30 minutes.

Changing of the guard
Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards at Whitehall. I prefer Whitehall as you can get closer to the guards.

See a Musical - They're amazing

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Home to the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London is over a thousand years old.

Hamleys

The worlds biggest toy store

Shop at Picadilly Circus
Follow this link to watch a video

Covent Garden
Street entertainment, shopping and nightlife

Museums and Art Galleries
British Museum - Best museum for history and its FREE

Madam Tussauds - Wax models of the famous
Buckingham Palace

Home of the Royal Family
Take a trip down the Thames to Greenwich

See many  sites along the river. Greenwich is the home of Greenwich Mean Time

source-http://www.projectbritain.com/ 

Fascinating And Quick facts about london

London is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together.
They are:

the City of London, know simply as 'the City' which is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It is also known as the Square Mile (2.59 sq km/1 sq mi). It was the original Roman settlement (ancient Londinium), making it the oldest part of London and already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.

the City of Westminster, where Parliament and most of the government offices are located. Also Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal family are located there too.

Together they all make up a region known as Greater London.

Interesting facts about londonBig Ben

London is the biggest city in Britain and in Europe.

London occupies over 620 square miles

London has a population of 7,172,036 (2001)

About 12 per cent of Britain’s overall population live in London

London has the highest population density in Britain, with 4,699 people per square kilometre,

London is in the southeast of England.

London is the seat of central government in Britain.

The tallest building in London is the Canary Wharf Tower.

London was the first city in the world to have an underground railway, known as the 'Tube'.

Some of the most important people from countries all over the world visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

There are over 100 theatres in London, including 50 in the West End. London theatre accounts for 45% of all UK theatre admissions and over 70% of box-office revenues. Source: GLA Economics

Upcoming events In London

Events

The Mayor organises a yearly programme of eight core events to celebrate London’s culture and communities: St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, Feast of St George, Vaisakhi Festival, Eid, Diwali Festival, African Festival, Liberty Festival and New Year’s Eve Fireworks. He also supports a range of other events, exhibitions at City Hall and celebrations across London.

Upcoming events

MOPAC Roadshows

8 September 2014 to 16 December 2014

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is revisiting every London borough in 2014 with senior Metropolitan Police officers to talk about local policing and answer your questions.

Made in Tottenham

Wednesday, 3 December 2014 - 8:00am to Friday, 9 January 2015 - 5:30pm

This exhibition profiles ten young entrepreneurs from Tottenham, north London. After leaving education they started their own businesses in the area.

Christmas in Trafalgar Square 2014

Thursday, 4 December 2014 - 6:00pm to Tuesday, 23 December 2014 - 6:00pm

This festive season, the Mayor is bringing you a jam-packed line up of seasonal joy in London.

Think nobody should live on London's streets?

10 December 2014 - 8:00am to 9:30am

Crisis and the Mayor of London's Rough Sleeping Group invite London councillors to hear about homelessness on the capital's streets.

Mayor's Christmas Carol Service 2014

Monday, 15 December 2014 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Everyone’s invited to the Mayor’s annual festive carol service at Southwark Cathedral.

Come along and sing a selection of the nation’s favourite carols.

Chanukah in the Square

Tuesday, 16 December 2014 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Come and see the Menorah lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 16 December. Chanukah in the Square celebrates the Jewish festival of lights.

London NYE Fireworks 2014

31 December 2014

To make sure London’s NYE Fireworks stays safe and fun for all, this year’s celebrations are ticketed. Find out more.

All London Green Grid Seminar - 'Green infrastructure and river corridors'

20 January 2015 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

Much of London's green space network is shaped by the city's river corridors.

https://www.london.gov.uk