Experience the history and culture of London
England’s cosmopolitan and bustling capital entices visitors with its mix of storied history, striking architecture, unique cultural traditions and tempting cuisine. Read on to learn about a beloved afternoon meal, explore the city’s expansive green spaces and delve into the history of five iconic Britons.
London
London, the capital of England, is situated on the banks of the River Thames in the southeastern part of the country. The meandering river runs from west to east through the city and has been used for trade, transport, leisure and defense over the centuries. It still defines the city’s contours to this day.
To the north, close to the river’s narrowest section, sits the City of London, the oldest part of the capital and its current financial hub. To the south lies Southwark, which grew as an industrial district and now houses several world-class cultural institutions. Further east, the river bends around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, before passing historic Greenwich.
For visitors and residents using the Underground train system, the city is divided into zones. Zone 1 comprises the central districts—including Westminster, Covent Garden and the South Bank—while Zone 2 encompasses popular neighborhoods like Shoreditch and Greenwich. Zones 3 to 9 cover loosely concentric areas progressively further out. A network of buses and river boats also provide transportation, as do the famous black cab drivers, who must undertake a rigorous exam known as “The Knowledge” to qualify for the role.
London has a temperate climate, with an annual average temperature in the lower 50s °F (around 12 °C). Gray skies are more commonplace than the rain for which the city is known, but the weather can be changeable. Snow is rare, but temperatures occasionally dip below freezing during the winter.
London’s roots date back several millennia, and archaeological evidence shows that small communities lived there from the Stone Age. The city was more formally established in approximately 50 AD, when Romans invaded Britain and founded a settlement called Londinium, which flourished as a port and trading hub.
Roman influence receded in the 5th century, and the city became an Anglo-Saxon settlement for several centuries. It was controlled by the Vikings for a short period in the 9th century before it was recaptured by King Alfred the Great and became known as Lunderburg—a key city in the Kingdom of England. William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings marked the Norman Conquest of 1066, ushering in an era of Norman influence in the country. Construction of the Tower of London began shortly afterward.
In subsequent centuries, London developed from a medieval city into one of the world’s leading capitals. The Tudor period of the 1500s ushered in a great deal of change. Henry VIII oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541, with immense transfers of wealth and land from the Catholic Church to the Crown. The city expanded in both size and influence, particularly during the reign of Elizabeth I, and became a key cultural hub thanks to playwrights like Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) and William Shakespeare (1564–1616).
The 17th century had tumultuous moments. The Gunpowder Plot (1605) saw Guy Fawkes and Catholic conspirators attempt to blow up the Palace of Westminster. They were unsuccessful, but the event is marked on November 5 annually by displays of fireworks and bonfires. In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed the medieval heart of the city. Sir Christopher Wren led the reconstruction; St. Paul’s Cathedral is its crowning glory.
Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign (1837–1901) coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the further expansion of the British Empire. The 20th century brought with it two world wars, and London’s landscape was altered forever by the heavy German Luftwaffe bombing during the Blitz (September 1940–May 1941).
In the years since, London has reinvented itself several times, transitioning from an industrial city to a global hub of finance, culture and technology. Its storied past and ever-evolving present are evident in its skyline, where Tudor structures and Baroque domes proudly take their place among towering glass monoliths and bold postmodern icons from international architects. Its population reflects successive waves of migration, and more than 300 languages are spoken by the residents of this cosmopolitan city.
Given London’s extensive history, it is no surprise that it is full of historic landmarks and cultural attractions. Here are some of the key destinations that you may see during a visit:
- The Houses of Parliament—Located on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, this seat of British legislative power comprises the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The present Gothic Revival buildings date back to 1860 and include the famous tower clock housing the bell known as Big Ben.
- The Tower of London—This historic and imposing fortress on the northern banks of the River Thames was originally built as a royal palace by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It has subsequently served as an arsenal, royal mint and prison. Famous inmates include Guy Fawkes and Sir Walter Raleigh.
- Westminster Abbey—Situated on the grounds of a former Benedictine monastery, the majestic and richly detailed Westminster Abbey was founded during the 10th century and rebuilt by Henry III in the 13th century. It has hosted the crowning of almost every British sovereign since William the Conqueror and is the final resting place of both Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens.
- Tate Modern—The building housing the Tate Modern began life as a power station, but since opening in 2000, it has established itself as an essential destination for lovers of contemporary art. Remodeled by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, it now houses an international collection dating from 1900 onward.
- Buckingham Palace—Built in 1705 for the Duke of Buckingham, Buckingham Palace became a royal residence with the arrival of Queen Victoria in 1837. Today it is one of the city’s most visited landmarks, hosting regular state occasions and ceremonial events, including the famous Changing of the Guard.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral—Since its completion in 1710, Sir Christopher Wren’s Baroque masterpiece has been one of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks. Its dome soars above the streets of London. Visitors can enjoy striking views from the outside, and the exceptional acoustics of the famous Whispering Gallery concealed within.
- Tower Bridge—Often mistaken for London Bridge, which is further west along the River Thames, Tower Bridge is a remarkable construction dating to 1894 that comprises two towers and a drawbridge that opens to allow river traffic to pass. Glass-covered walkways between the tops of the towers offer pedestrians excellent views of the city.
- British Museum—This national museum houses an immense collection of art and artifacts from around the world, including Egyptian mummies, the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone.
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5 influential London figures
Over the centuries, London has produced a remarkable range of influential figures in the realms of art, architecture, politics and royalty. The following five individuals are renowned across the globe for their lasting place in world history.
- Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603)
Queen Elizabeth I ruled for 44 years, from 1558 to 1603, one of the longest reigns in English history. During that time, she steered the country through a period of religious conflict and ushered in an era of prosperity. It was also a time of exploration and trade, driven by Sir Francis Drake and Queen Elizabeth’s backing of voyages that established the country’s maritime power. This period of history, known as the Elizabethan Golden Age, coincided with a flourishing of theater and literature as Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson rose to prominence. - William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
While he was born and died in Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare spent most of his working life in London. He moved to the capital in the late 1580s and quickly became the most feted playwright in the fertile Elizabethan theatrical scene. The Bard’s plays spanned an astonishing range, from comedies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) to histories (Henry V) and tragedies (Hamlet)—many of which were performed at the South Bank’s Globe Theatre after it opened in 1599. The reconstruction that stands on the banks of the Thames today, known as Shakespeare’s Globe, is the only building in London permitted to have a thatched roof. - Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723)
Architect Sir Christopher Wren is best known for the remarkable St. Paul’s Cathedral, which has remained a key part of London’s skyline since it was built following the Great Fire of London in 1666. But his legacy is enshrined in more than 50 other London churches and in the very streets Londoners walk to this day. He oversaw many of the urban design plans and principles following the fire. - Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
Few writers have conjured the essence of the capital—its people, places and politics—as Charles Dickens. His carefully plotted novels are populated with a host of memorable characters and highlight much of the inequality, corruption and injustice of Victorian London. He did not just write about social issues—he also campaigned for better education, housing and sanitation, and co-founded the Great Ormond Street Hospital. - Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
Winston Churchill was an influential Member of Parliament and served as Prime Minister twice, but it was his crucial role as a leader and orator during World War II that cemented his legacy. His wartime speeches, delivered to Parliament and broadcast across the nation, became symbols of defiance during the Blitz. He also helped forge the Grand Alliance with the US and the then Soviet Union—and oversaw Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk—from the Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall. Churchill topped a 2002 BBC poll for the “Greatest Briton” and graced the back of the £5 note for a decade from 2016.
- Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603)
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Afternoon tea
Taking afternoon tea is a quintessential British experience. The meal usually comprises a range of finger sandwiches—with fillings including egg salad, smoked salmon and cucumber—alongside pastries, cakes and scones served with clotted cream and jam. The jam sits atop the cream according to the Devonshire tradition, while the spreads are reversed for the Cornish tradition.
Items are often served on a three-tiered serving platter, and a range of teas, including English breakfast tea, mint tea and Earl Grey, are poured from silver teapots into fine bone china teacups. British people have enjoyed tea for centuries—the earliest record of the beverage being consumed in London dates to the 1650s, when an enterprising merchant named Thomas Garway sold it from his shop in the City of London.
The popularity of the drink increased after Catherine of Braganza married Charles II in 1662 and brought it to the English court, but the concept of full afternoon tea didn’t take root until the 1840s, when the Duchess of Bedford requested an afternoon pick-me-up between lunch and what was, at the time, usually a late supper. By the late 1800s, afternoon tea was a staple of Victorian life, with participants dressing for the occasion—in gowns, gloves and hats—and exchanging gossip around a table in the drawing room or conservatory.
This delightful meal is available at many hotels and restaurants in central London, including Claridge's, the Dorchester, the Savoy, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.
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London’s parks and gardens
London is blessed with an abundance of outdoor space—in fact, there are some 3,000 parks in the city alongside several canals, and almost 50 percent of the city appears to be green or blue when seen from above. It was named the world’s first National Park City in 2019, and visitors are never far from a slice of verdant natural beauty.
The capital has eight royal parks, spanning more than 5,000 acres. Several were created by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries (1536–1541). Hyde Park and Greenwich Park are among those that owe their existence to his penchant for riding and hunting.
They are all now open to the public. King Charles I opened the first, Hyde Park, in 1637, and King Charles II opened St. James’s Park in 1660. By the 1800s, they were all accessible. These gardens have played host to several key events over the intervening centuries. Hyde Park hosted the Great Exhibition in 1851 and a quite different spectacle—the Rolling Stones—a century later in 1969. The D-Day landings were planned from an American base in Bushy Park. In 2017, the Royal Parks charity was established to ensure that the parks are preserved for generations to come.
A walk among these expansive spaces reveals a variety of oak trees, plane trees and hawthorns—plus an abundance of birds including robins, wrens, swans and geese. Richmond Park is the largest of the royal parks and is a National Nature Reserve. It is home to some 650 roaming red and fallow deer.
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, meanwhile, have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their contribution to the study of plant diversity. Since 1759, the gardens have been home to one of the most varied botanic collections in the world. Visitors today can explore the works of famous landscape architects like Capability Brown (1716–1783), stroll along a treetop walkway and visit the Palm House, a Victorian glass structure filled with tropical plants.
Other vast green spaces in London include Hampstead Heath, comprising 790 acres of rolling hills and forested areas that afford spectacular views of the London skyline from Parliament Hill, and Walthamstow Wetlands, a birder’s paradise in east London featuring kingfishers, kestrels and herons.
London Highlights
London is full of striking landmarks and cultural experiences for visitors to discover. Here are some highlights you may experience during your time in this historic and vibrant city:
- Embark on an evening cruise along the River Thames
- Explore the boutiques and market stalls of lively Covent Garden
- Ride the London Eye for sweeping views of the capital
- Tour UNESCO-listed Westminster Abbey
- Take a day trip to nearby Windsor Castle
- Stroll along London’s famous South Bank
- Peruse artworks at the Tate Modern
- Take a photo of the remarkable St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Examine artifacts from around the world at the British Museum
- Gaze at Admiral Nelson atop his column in Trafalgar Square
- View battlements of the Tower of London
- See a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship in Southwark
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