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[[Image:Tower bridge London.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Tower Bridge.]]  

[[Image:Tower bridge London.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Tower Bridge.]]  

'''London''' is the capital of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]] and is the second largest city in [[Europe]] after [[Moscow]]. It includes both the [[City of London]] (the Square Mile) and [[Greater London]]. London was the host city of the 2012 [[Olympic Games]], having previously hosted the games in 1908 and 1948, making it the only city to have hosted the games three times.

'''London''' is the capital of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]] and is the third most populous city in [[Europe]] after [[Istanbul]] and [[Moscow]]. It includes both the [[City of London]] (the Square Mile) and [[Greater London]]. London was the host city of the 2012 [[Olympic Games]], having previously hosted the games in 1908 and 1948, making it the only city to have hosted the games three times.

==History==

==History==

In 871, the English king of [[Wessex]], Alfred, fought the Danes for control and regained most of the city, although the Danes retained the eastern-most section, which today corresponds to the East End.  

In 871, the English king of [[Wessex]], Alfred, fought the Danes for control and regained most of the city, although the Danes retained the eastern-most section, which today corresponds to the East End.  

In 1666 the city was nearly destoyed by the Great Fire. Starting on Pudding Lane in a bakers shop the small fire spread to engulf nearly 80% of the city. Despite the massive loss of property loss of life was minimal. With estimates ranging from a 2 to 16.  

In 1666 the city was nearly destroyed by the Great Fire. Starting on Pudding Lane in a bakers shop the small fire spread to engulf nearly 80% of the city. Despite the massive loss of property loss of life was minimal. With estimates ranging from a 2 to 16.  

In the [[Renaissance]], London became a centre of learning and culture, though the rise of [[Puritans|Puritanism]] in the late 16th century temporarily stifled much art and culture within the city centre. A lot of what Puritans deemed 'unacceptable' moved to the South Bank (the land lying on the south-side of the River Thames). [[Shakespeare's Globe theatre]] was located in this area.

In the [[Renaissance]], London became a centre of learning and culture, though the rise of [[Puritans|Puritanism]] in the late 16th century temporarily stifled much art and culture within the city centre. A lot of what Puritans deemed 'unacceptable' moved to the South Bank (the land lying on the south-side of the River Thames). [[Shakespeare's Globe theatre]] was located in this area.

[[File:London1.jpg|thumb|550px|The City of London]]

[[File:London1.jpg|thumb|550px|The City of London]]

==Popular Perception==

==Popular perception==

Although London is frequently depicted in the American media as a quaint and historic city perpetually shrouded in fog, the reality is that London is a modern city at the cutting edge of developments in [[architecture]], transport, commerce, industry and entertainment, and fog is a rare occurrence. In fact, London is considered by many to be the financial capital of the world as well as the theater capital of the world, and one of the world's premier cities,<ref>{{cite web | last = Z/Yen Limited | title = The Competitive Position of London as a Global Financial Centre | publisher = CityOfLondon.gov.uk | date = November 2005 | url = http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/131B4294-698B-4FAF-9758-080CCE86A36C/0/BC_RS_compposition_FR.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-17}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citymap.html The World According to GaWC], GaWC, [[Loughborough University]]</ref> a position bolstered by the fact that it contains rich and diverse cultures, due to many waves of immigration since the 17th century. According to the 2011 census, 55.1% of the population of London are not White British making it majority-minority.

Although London is frequently depicted in the American media as a quaint and historic city perpetually shrouded in fog, the reality is that London is a modern city at the cutting edge of developments in [[architecture]], transport, commerce, industry and entertainment, and fog is a rare occurrence. In fact, London is considered by many to be the financial capital of the world as well as the theater capital of the world, and one of the world's premier cities,<ref>{{cite web | last = Z/Yen Limited | title = The Competitive Position of London as a Global Financial Centre | publisher = CityOfLondon.gov.uk | date = November 2005 | url = http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/131B4294-698B-4FAF-9758-080CCE86A36C/0/BC_RS_compposition_FR.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-17}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citymap.html The World According to GaWC], GaWC, [[Loughborough University]]</ref> a position bolstered by the fact that it contains rich and diverse cultures, due to many waves of immigration since the 17th century. According to the 2011 census, 55.1% of the population of London are not White British making it majority-minority.

Notable landmarks include the [[Houses of Parliament]], The [[London Eye]], [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[Westminster Abbey]].  

Notable landmarks include the [[Houses of Parliament]], The [[London Eye]], [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[Westminster Abbey]].  

[[File:Olimpic Games Trafalgar Square London.JPG|thumb|left|Olympic rings, Trafalgar Square.]]

[[File:Olimpic Games Trafalgar Square London.JPG|thumb|left|Olympic rings, Trafalgar Square.]]

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