London

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's Gothic facade rises behind trees, with a red double-decker bus passing in front, in London, England.

Map showing the expansion of London's built-up areas from 1590 to 1990, with shaded zones representing the city's growth at intervals of about a century. The darkest area marks central London in 1590, gradually expanding outward through 1690, 1790, 1890, and reaching the largest extent by 1990. Major neighborhoods and the River Thames are labeled, with green areas indicating parks and open spaces.

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

At a Glance

default image

London

national capital, United Kingdom

Also known as: Londinium

Written by

Michael John HebbertAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 14, 2026 •History

London, city, capital of the United Kingdom. It is among the oldest of the world’s great cities—its history spanning nearly two millennia—and one of the most cosmopolitan. By far Britain’s largest metropolis, it is also the country’s economic, transportation, and cultural center. London is situated in southeastern England, lying astride the River Thames some 50 miles (80 km) upstream from its estuary on the North Sea. In satellite photographs the metropolis can be seen to...

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