| Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the
world’s great cities. Located in the southeast of England,
on the River Thames, it is the capital of the United Kingdom and
has been the heart of its political, cultural and business life
for centuries. The now sprawling metropolis is a far cry from
the scrabble of dwellings that first sprouted up to house river
traders during their voyages towards the sea. It was the Romans
who really kick-started the city, by establishing ‘Londinium’
as an important fortress town, guarding the Thames and protecting
against any Celtic tribes trying to invade the then untamed island.
The Romans brought with them forts, roads and the rule of law,
prompting Roman historian Tacitus to boast of an AD60 city ‘filled
with travellers and a celebrated centre of commerce.’
Over the centuries, London has developed and expanded, despite
the many dangers that might have defeated a lesser place –
the Great Plague, the Great Fire, the bitter English Civil War
and even a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But most
recently and resiliently, London and its citizens survived the
German Luftwaffe attempts to bomb the city to oblivion during
the World War II ‘Blitz’.
Nowadays, the sheer scale of Greater London can be daunting at
first, as it sprawls 1500sq kilometres (580sq miles) across a
voluminous plain. However, it is a city that is surprisingly easy
to get around, with the comprehensive and easily navigated London
Underground or ‘Tube’. The twin axis on which London
rests is the Houses of Parliament to the west and the City of
London to the east. The seat of government (not far from the home
of the royal family) is connected to the City (the financial engine
room of London and the whole of the UK) by the River Thames. In
between lie most of the tourist attractions and the busiest, liveliest
different entertainment areas, such as Knightsbridge and Soho.
But London’s vivacity and charm stretches far beyond the
Circle Line – the Underground route that rings the inner
city. Residential areas outside the city centre each have their
own beating heart, such as leafy Richmond (southwest) or Hampstead
(north), trendy Hoxton (east) or Notting Hill (west).
And as the population of London pushes inexorably towards the
ten million mark, the city continues to grow and thrive. Home
to 37 distinct immigrant groups, each consisting of more than
10,000 people, this is a city where some three hundred languages
are spoken. This very real multiculturalism is evident on every
street (and many restaurant plates) and is a key reason why people
love the city. Tourists come for London’s history or London’s
royal pageantry but they return for all the charms of the modern
London, not least the extraordinary breadth of London’s
cultural life, with world-class art galleries and theatres, buzzing
nightlife, film, music, culinary and fashion scenes. Overseeing
the whole lot is a new mayoral government, headed by Mayor Ken
Livingstone, who was elected in 2000. Keen to make an impact on
the city, various strategies have been developed and quickly implemented
– for example, the controversial plan for congestion charging
on the inner city roads, which is already a successful reality.
But the city skyline is the place where the London’s rapid
change and optimism is most visible – the Docklands and
the City (with its now famous ‘Gherkin’ tower) have
shot up over the last few years.
During summer, London’s bountiful green spaces fill up
with office workers and tourists enjoying the surprisingly balmy
days as café tables sprout across a multitude of pavements.
During winter, the grey skies and rain can be forgotten for a
while in numerous cosy pubs. But spring or autumn are probably
the best seasons to visit the city, when clear crisp sunny days
often illuminate London and its landmarks, old and new.
|
