For 57 consecutive nights in September and October of 1940, the German forces dropped bombs on the city, destroying much of it. Londinium was founded by the Romans. He was executed by firing squad. 79) London is a shoppers paradise, so be prepared to shell out some serious pounds if you love a bit of retail therapy. Always check times before your visit to see the Guard 70) The best way to tell if the monarch is in residence at Buckingham Palace is to look to the flagpole above the Palace.
Green spaces cover nearly 40% of Greater London: parks, squares, public gardens and cemeteries – in all, some 173 square kilometers (67 square miles). I’ll be updating this article periodically with more London facts!
Line your stomach – you’ll need it. However, in 1952, a “killer fog” descended upon the city, killing 12,000 and hospitalising 150,000. Just jump off the Tube at Westminster station and they are all right there in front of you. London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom.
This is a commonly held misconception. The city stands on the River Thames in the south-east of England, at the head of its 50-mile (80 km) estuary leading to the North Sea, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. After him, the next in line to the throne is the ever-popular Prince William and his wife Kate. Much like New York City, much of the cost of living in London is simply for the experience of living in such a fantastic, vibrant city. 69) Visitors can tour the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace when the Queen isn’t in residence (usually in the summertime), but arguably the most famous Palace event is the Changing of the Guard when the “New Guard” changes shifts with the “Old Guard” in a traditional ceremony visitors can watch for free. 45) Three times a week, engineers climb Big Ben’s 315 foot facade to wind him and make sure he’s keeping good time.
It rains in London approximately 156.2 days a year out of 365. The cover of their smash album shows John, Paul, George and Ringo crossing the road outside their studio in a line, and today tourists replicate the iconic shot to the chagrin of drivers. The London Eye is the largest observation… 32) The Great Plague of 1665 killed tens of millions across Europe, but it was arguably London that was the worst hit city. The final prisoner sentenced to death there was Josef Jakobs, a German spy. Over 100,000 died in London in a short span of time, and were buried in mass graves that are still being discovered today. It lasted 187 days, which makes it the longest Olympics ever held. Famous past inmates of the Tower of London include Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, Walter Raleigh and even senior Nazi Rudolf Hess at the end of WWII. London is the most verdant city of its size in the world. 23) It’s not a myth that the process to become a black cab driver in London is a monumental undertaking. 26) 12% of the entire population of Britain resides in London. People openly wept on the streets of London, leaving an estimated 15 tons of flowers at the gates of Buckingham Palace for weeks and months after. Some of the better known London museums include The British Museum, The Tate Britain and Tate Modern, The National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The London Underground (or Tube, as it’s known to the locals) is over 150 years old and carries over a billion passengers a year, so it’s no surprise that it’s seen its fair share of strange items being left behind. 12) London is one of the world’s most multicultural cities. But being there and seeing these sights for yourself – well, it’s priceless. A range of spooky paranormal entities are said to haunt the Tower, including Henry VI, Catherine Howard (one of Henry VII executed wives) and the ghost of a grizzly bear that once lived in the Tower’s Zoo! Add to that 500,000 estimated mice living in the Underground. 38) London saw a relentless “Blitz” from the Germans during the Second World War.
14) London is one of the world’s top 10 most expensive cities. You can hear the bells ringing from as far away as five miles! The aim of this tollis to limit the insane levels of traffic in the city at any one time.