Changes

==Government of London==

==Government of London==

London is governed by the Mayor of London (currently Conservative party member [[Boris Johnson]]), a post not to be confused with that of Lord Mayor of London, which is a largely ceremonial role relating solely to the small [[City of London]] district. Boris Johnson was reelected in 2012 with over 55% of the final vote, beating out Labour candidate Ken Livingstone, the BNP candidate Nick Griffin and Liberal Democrat candidate Gordon Freeman. The mayor's executive is subject to scrutiny by the locally elected [[Greater London Assembly]]<ref>http://www.london.gov.uk/</ref>. Most matters relating to local government - local planning control, housing, education, libraries and arts, refuse collection, etc. - are controlled by London's 33 local authorities: 32 London Boroughs, and the [[City of London]] Corporation<ref>http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=8788&cat=989</ref>.

London is governed by the Mayor of London (currently Conservative party member [[Boris Johnson]]), a post not to be confused with that of Lord Mayor of London, which is a largely ceremonial role relating solely to the small [[City of London]] district. Boris Johnson was reelected in 2012 with over 55% of the final vote, beating out Labour candidate Ken Livingstone, the BNP candidate Nick Griffin and Liberal Democrat candidate Gordon Freeman. The mayor's executive is subject to scrutiny by the locally elected [[Greater London Assembly]].<ref>http://www.london.gov.uk/</ref> Most matters relating to local government - local planning control, housing, education, libraries and arts, refuse collection, etc. - are controlled by London's 33 local authorities: 32 London Boroughs, and the [[City of London]] Corporation.<ref>http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=8788&cat=989</ref>

[[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]]. The [[London Underground]] (London's subway system, also known as the Tube) is the oldest in the world.

Notable landmarks include the [[Houses of Parliament]], The [[London Eye]],  [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[Westminster Abbey]]. The [[London Underground]] (London's subway system, also known as the Tube) is the oldest in the world.