London

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top Questions
Character of the city
Landscape
- City site
  - Geologic foundation
  - The valley of the Thames
  - Panorama of the city
- Climate
- Environment
  - Smog and air pollution
  - Water pollution
  - Flood control
- City layout
People
- Settlement patterns
  - Demographic trends
  - Population density
- Ethnic composition
  - The historical base
  - Immigrants from Europe
  - Immigrants from the Commonwealth
  - The multiethnic metropolis
  - Residential patterns
Economy
- Trade, administration, and leisure
- Industry
  - Shipping
  - Manufacturing
- Finance
  - International significance
  - Financial districts
- Transportation
  - The Thames
  - Roads
  - Railroads
  - Taxicabs
Administration and society
- Government
  - The City Corporation
  - Greater London
- Postal districts
- Police
- Hospitals
- Education
Cultural life
- Centers of the arts
- Museums
- Art galleries
  - Exhibition spaces
  - Artists’ quarters
- Theatres
- Music
- Tributes
- Sports
  - Football
  - Cricket
  - Other spectator sports
History
- The early period
  - Foundation and early settlement
  - Medieval London
  - Tudor London
  - 17th-century London
- Evolution of the modern city
  - 18th-century London
  - Organization, innovation, and reform
  - Reconstruction after World War II

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

London; Thames River

Westminster Abbey

growth of London

map of London c. 1900

Study London's history through sites such as Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the River Thames

Buckingham Palace

Nelson's Column

For Students

London: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jul 21, 2025

News •

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Photos and Videos

London; Thames River

Westminster Abbey

growth of London

map of London c. 1900

Buckingham Palace

Nelson's Column

skyline of London

Study London's history through sites such as Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the River Thames

See how London's Thames Barrier combats flooding caused by the reversal of water flow in the River Thames when levels rise in the North Sea

Examine John Stow's systematic description of 16th-century London in his work A Survey of London

Explore London city's famous and historical landmarks, neighborhood, markets, shopping at Bates, St. Paul's Cathedral, Notting Hill, and Tower Bridge

Experience the historic buildings and sites of London, the busy capital of the United Kingdom, and the River Thames

See All Videos and Images →

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