Features

London mixes ancient and modern with ease, warm, red brick with glass and steel. The great London institutions of the British Museum, the Tower of London, the museums of South Kensington and the Royal Opera House have all undergone major improvements. New landmarks such as the London Eye and the Swiss Re Tower – nicknamed The Gherkin – grace the skyline and London’s South Bank and Docklands have sprung to life. Meanwhile, visitors returning to the capital can rest assured that the quiet leafy squares, the parks and the myriad tiny unspoiled churches, pubs and shops soldier timelessly on.

London already boasts world-famous venues, such as Wembley Stadium (association football or soccer), Wimbledon (tennis), Twickenham (rugby union) and Lord’s (cricket). Its sports lovers are already looking ahead to 2012, when London hosts the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in the East End of the city.

GEOGRAPHY

• London is the largest city in Europe, a ragged oval stretching over 50km (31 miles) across. However, most of ‘Visitors’ London’ is condensed into Inner London, the area bounded by the underground’s Circle Line.

• The best way to see the capital is by a combination of underground (Tube) and walking.

LOCALS AND VISITORS

• London’s population reached a peak of around 8.6 million in 1939 then declined slowly to below 7 million in 1983. Only recently has it started to grow again, reaching 7.5 million in 2007 and predicted to rise to 8.9 million by 2031.

• In 2008, London welcomed over 26 million overnight visitors. Nearly 15 million came from overseas for holidays, on business and to study.

• London is a cosmopolitan city, with almost 30 per cent of its population comprising minority ethnic groups.

GOVERNMENT

• Londoners have enjoyed city-wide government since 2000. Political wrangling in the 1980s had led to the previous Greater London Council being abolished by the central government.

• Most local decisions are the responsibility of the 32 borough councils and the City Corporation.

• Croydon is the largest borough with over 350,000 residents. The City of London, covering the square mile in the financial centre, is the smallest with about 8,000.

2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS

• London, hosts in 1908 and 1948, will stage the 2012 Summer Games (27 July–12 August) and the Paralympic Games (29 August–9 September). As well as building five major venues, the Games are a catalyst to redevelop the run-down East End of London and upgrade public transport (www.london2012.com).