City Profile: London, United Kingdom Important Information About the City of London, England

The vibrant, cosmopolitan and dynamic city of London has an eclectic mix of ethnic groups coming from all parts of the globe. The city is the largest and oldest city in the United Kingdom and had been the hub of the Roman Empire starting around 50 AD. Its land area of 1,570 square kilometers is divided into 32 boroughs (administrative districts or towns) and the city of London.

London has been England’s capital since medieval times and today the city is governed by a two-tier administration. There is the Greater London Authority and a local administrative unit. The Mayor of London is vested with executive powers although his decisions and other administrative functions are scrutinized by the London Assembly. The city has its own police force and its own fire brigade, operated by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. It is the world’s third largest fire service while the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the world’s largest free at the point of use emergency ambulance service.

The city is home to nearly 8 million inhabitants, making London the most populous city not only in the United Kingdom but also in the European Union. Its large population comprises different ethnicities from almost every region in the world, and contributes to the city having such a large language diversity that amounts to 270.

The city maintains its reputation as a world financial capital with support from financial expert, regulatory and legal systems, advanced IT infrastructure and communication facilities and a wide network of professional financial and business services, economic research facilities. The city not only supports large corporations and international business ventures, it is also very supportive of small and medium scale industries.

London, which used to be called Londinium in medieval times, sits on the River Thames, the location of the original city that was founded by the Romans. The River Thames is a navigable tidal river that causes flooding in the city. It flows across the city from a south to west then to east direction. The Thames Valley is surrounded by rolling hills such as Addington, Primrose and Parliament. It had been reported that London is being threatened by increased flooding as Britain is tilting down on its southern side and tilting up on the northern side because of the post-glacial rebound phenomenon.

Just like southern Britain, London’s climate is described as temperate oceanic. It’s ironic that London always had the reputation of being a city where rains are frequent when in fact the city receives less rainfall than Bordeaux and Rome on an annual basis. During winter, frost occurs about twice a week in the suburbs from November until March and the temperature remains chilly. From December to February, snowfall occurs at least four to five times a year, and can sometimes extend until April although it is infrequent. Temperatures during this time of the year varies from a low of -4 °C or about 25 °F to a high of 14 °C or just slightly over 57 °F.

Summer in London can be warm to hot due mainly to the Gulf Stream and the urban heat island effect that centers at the heart of London, bringing the summer temperature higher by 5 °C or 9 °F than in the suburbs. On the average, summer temperature in London is just 24 °C or just above 75 °F. There are about seven days a year when the summer temperature in London reaches the high 30s and about two days when it goes up beyond 32 °C or almost 90 °F. By mid-June to late August, the temperature in the city averages to about 26 °C or 80 °F. Summer rains do occur, although these are infrequent and generally do not last long. Spring and autumn seasons in London are pleasant with the temperature hovering in the mid- to- higher 20s range.

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While summer is the best time to take a vacation in London, it is always good to know that the weather in the city is quite unpredictable and could change quickly.

London is not one large, concrete jungle. Although densely populated and dotted with towering skyscrapers, high-rise residential complexes and other infrastructures, the city does have its share of verdant open spaces and parks, even within the heart of the city.

While it is true that city is generally safe for travelers, it is still wise to exercise caution and common sense as London is still a foreign city and the lifestyle and environment are still different from what you are used to. Before you leave your hotel make sure that you have a planned itinerary and let the hotel concierge know of your travel plans. If you are planning to go by taxi, it is preferable to use the black cabs, as they are reliable and safe although slightly more expensive than other taxis. However, the taxi driver is very knowledgeable and you will learn a lot about the city’s history and some trivia. It is still prudent to avoid walking alone in the evening and always stay on well-lit roads and remaining alert at all times. It is best not to wear headphones while walking as these reduce your awareness of things going on around you. Cross the street only at designated crossings and be aware that cars are driven on the left.

When inside a restaurant or bar and you have some shopping bags with you, make sure that you place them near your feet under the table. Be extra careful when in a bar and do not accept a drink from a stranger, in the same manner that you should not leave your drink or that of your friend’s unattended. In the same token, do not leave or allow any of your friends to leave with a stranger and make sure you also know where your friends are by checking up on them via call or text message and asking them to do likewise. You may think it’s bothersome but it’s for you and your friends’ safety.

Avoid being the cause of a security alert by having your bag with you at all times. An unattended bag will be suspect. Avoid carrying too much cash and make sure your wallet and your bag are safe at all times. It is also a good idea to cover the keypad when entering your pin number when using a cashpoint machine. Also, do make a quick visual inspection to see that the cashpoint machine is not tampered. When not in use, it is best to keep your electronic gadgets inside your bag. Immediately inform your phone service provider in case you lost your mobile phone. At the same time, do inform the police if your valuables are lost or stolen.

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History of London

During the second century’s early records, the settled area that is now called London was named Londinium. The origin of the city’s name had been contested several times. Some say it was given by someone by the name of King Lud, while some believe that it was of Celtic origin and meant that the area belonged to Londinos. Another theory put forward said that it was even pre-Celtic Old European and pertains to the river that during that time was too wide to cross. The name London only applied to the City of London until 1889. However, from then on it was used to refer to the County of London before it also encompassed the Greater London area.

The Romans founded the city in 43 AD and ruled it for over 16 years before it was razed to the ground by Queen Boudica and her Iceni tribe in 61 AD. The Romans were able to regain control of the city and started to rebuild the area. The first structures built were a market or forum and a business center while the city was being enclosed by a fortified wall to prevent other invasions. The walled city was given the name The City or The Square Mile, which eventually became the financial center as well as the administrative, commercial and provincial capital of Britain under the Romans. From a population of about 30,000 around the middle of the third century, it nearly doubled after 50 years. The streets were paved, and churches, temples, shops, homes, public baths and commercial and manufacturing establishments were built within the confines of the walled city. Some of these old settlements and fortifications were discovered when new buildings were constructed.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, London was invaded by the Anglo-Saxons, comprising Jutes, Saxons and Angles from Denmark, Holland and Germany. They were mainly workers and farmers that settled outside of town. Little was known during this period of London’s history although the city became prosperous enough to warrant the building of the St. Paul’s cathedral in the 7th century. By the 9th and 10th centuries, London suffered several Viking attacks. The city’s name also evolved into Lunduntown.

During the Norman invasion, William I built the Tower of London to safeguard the city. During the course of history, the tower was used as a palace and castle. It also became a storage place for weapons, as a zoo, a prison as well as a coin mint. London flourished more during the reign of Edward III. At that time, London was the only medieval city in Britain that was comparable in size to any of the other great European cities. Population grew steadily but reached a decline during the Black Death of 1348 that killed more than two-thirds of London’s inhabitants. Living conditions became worse, with filth, mud, polluted water and rats littering the city, leading to the outbreak of bubonic plagues and cholera that further decimated the city’s population up to the early part of the 19th century.

The continued urbanization of London increased the social stratification of the city during the Industrial Revolution. The professional and merchant classes as well as the gentry moved to the western side of the city while the poor, who became increasingly poorer, migrated to the eastern section of town. The difference in living conditions and financial standing led to the deep hostility of the poor against the wealthy, who sometimes resorted to looting, burning and other attacks on those living in the west end.

London under the Tudors saw the city shift from Catholicism to Protestantism, and the business ownerships going private. It was also the time of the establishment of the British East India Company and the beginning of trade in the new world.

The city became the capital of art and literature in the 16th century with the likes of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser, Lamb, and Blake were born or had lived in the city. Dickens, Carlyle, Johnson, Swift, Boswell, Pope, Thomson and Kipling – these authors’ reputation increased when they lived in London.

Around 1850 London was already the center of economic, political, educational, religious and cultural activities in England. By 1871the city population was already three million. The rich middle class population also continued to grow and by the late 1900s, London’s population was more than eight million.

The time of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 was a glorious period in London’s history. Most of the beautiful and historical buildings and homes seen in London today were constructed during Victorian times. London was considered a very powerful empire then and was the center of world trade. The population increased further and the settlements in the city boundaries spread out. The London Tube became operational in 1862.

The trend continued well into the 20th century, with the establishment of Selfridges and Harrod’s. While the city suffered greatly during the Second World War and had to spend billions of pounds to rebuild, the city managed to keep its status of being a center of business, commerce and finance and of culture and the arts at the same time, attracting hordes of migrants, not only from other parts of Europe, but also other parts of the world.

By the 21st century, London has become ethnically diverse but still managed to maintain its reputation as the center of culture, economics, education and politics in Great Britain. Its theaters, bars, restaurants, museums, art galleries, parks and historical sites continue to attract millions of tourists from around the world each year.

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Demographics of London

London’s high industrialization was a magnet for its increased population growth and even before the outbreak of the Second World War its population had reached more than eight million. It decreased slightly after the war and by 2007, Greater London was home to more than 7.5 million residents. London is the 25th largest city in the world, with a land area that measures 1,579 square kilometers. It is currently one of the most expensive cities in the world together with Moscow and Tokyo and is listed fourth in the world in the number of residents who are billionaires.

As of 2009, about 70% of the London residents are white, with nearly 60 % of it being White British while over 2% are White Irish and the rest being classified as other whites. People of South Asian descent comprise 13.2% of the city’s population with Indians being the majority and the balance made up of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis as well as other Asians. The Chinese, at 1.8% make up another ethnic group. London’s black population is made up of Black Africans and blacks from the Caribbean and other black races. In the state schools across London, Asian and Black children outnumber children who are White British. The city’s foreign-born population as of 2010 is 33% or almost 2.7 million people.

With Christianity being introduced by the Romans during the medieval ages, it was carried over up to this day, with about 58.2% of Londoners identified as Christians. At the same time, other religions are tolerated and there are 8.5% who practice Islam while some profess to be Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jews. There is a large section, at 15.8% who said that they do not follow any religion.
The city is well known as a center for higher learning, with the University of London being one of the most popular and the largest, in terms of student population and in size compared to the other institutions in the United Kingdom. It is also one of Europe’s largest universities. The University of London system has several very well-known colleges, including the London School of Economics and Political Science. There are also institutions involved in research as well as colleges focused on business and management, medicine and several artistic disciplines.
The majority of Londoners speak British English. Out of the 270 languages spoken in the city, various African and Indian languages, Turkish, Arabic, Cantonese and Portuguese are widely spoken. European and Latin languages including Spanish, Italian, French, Greek and German are also in the list of top languages spoken in the city. There are also many speakers of Asian languages, including Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Filipino.

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Economy of London

About 20% of the GDP of the United Kingdom comes from London. The city is a leading financial center in the world and competes with New York for the distinction of being the most important international finance venue. Its metropolitan area generates over 30% of the country’s GDP.

The finance industry is the largest industry in the city as well as the largest employer, with more than 325,000 people employed in London’s financial services. It has the most number of overseas banks (480). As a finance capital, London is home to the Lloyd’s of London (insurance), the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange. More than half of the top 100 listed companies in the FTSE 100 are based in London. More than 100 of the 500 largest companies in Europe have offices in the city. Media companies such as radio and television as well as newpapers have offices within the city.

It is a major retail hub and had registered the highest non-food retail sales in the world in 2010. The Port of London is capable of handling about 45 million tons of cargo annually.

Tourism also generates sizeable revenue, giving full-time employment to about 350,000 workers (2003 figures). More that 14 million visitors come to London each year, giving the city top position in being the most visited location in Europe.

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London Attractions

London has a list of must-sees if you are planning to take a vacation in the city. Some of the top sights in the city include the London Eye, the Tower of London, the British Museum, Madame Tussauds and the Victoria and Albert Museum. This is just a partial list as London has a lot more to offer, as the city is one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom.

The Buckingham Palace is one of the most popular destinations of tourists coming to
London. This is where the Queen officially resides. Located in Westminster, the Palace is open for tours every summer. It was formerly intended as a private retreat of the Queen but it evolved into a palace and made the official residence of the monarch during the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837. The largest private garden in London is within the palace grounds, located at the back of the palace. The Royals Mews is where the royal gilded coach is kept and the carriage horses that are used during ceremonial processions of the royals. The palace is owned by the state of Britain. The Royal Collection, a collection of contents from the Buckingham Palace, the Kensington Palace, St. James’ Palace and Windsor Castle (also owned by the state) can be viewed at the Queen’s Gallery, also within the palace grounds. It is open to the public throughout the year. One of the most awaited attractions at the palace is the changing of the guards. It happens everyday in the summer and every other day in winter.

The London Eye was constructed to mark the millennium. It stands at a height of 135 meters, making it Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. Its wheel measures 120 meters in diameter. The Ferris wheel was built on the banks of the River Thames, has 32 pods corresponding to the number of boroughs in London and is visited by 3.5 million paying visitors annually. Riding in it gives you a chance to have a great view of London and its suburbs.

One of the most photographed location in London is Piccadilly Circus. This is not an actual circus site. The word circus here refers to the circular rotunda. It connects Piccadilly Street to Regent Street. Although it is highly known for its large illuminated billboards and neon signs, the area around the street has other wonderful sights that are worth visiting. The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, built to commemmorate the works of Victorian philantrophist and politician Lord Shaftesbury is on the southwestern side of the street. It is notable for the winged naked statue of Anteros, the Greek god of requited love that is placed on top of the fountain. The underground Criterion Theatre is on the south side of Piccadilly Street while theformer music hall, now a shopping center called the London Pavilion, is at the corner of Coventry Street and Shaftesbury Avenue.

The Tower of London was built to safeguard the city from invaders. It was constructed in 1078 by William the Conqueror. The tower also goes by the name of White Tower and is composed of several buildings erected within two concentric circles of fortified walls. It is surrounded by a moat. The Royal Menagerie and the Crown Jewels are two of the top crowd drawers to the tower. The 900-year old tower is a World Heritage Site and is guarded by a special group officially called Yeoman Warders, who are also called as Beefeaters. It is said to be the world’s most haunted building. Nearby is the Tower Bridge, built from 1886 to 1894. It spans across the River Thames and is one of London’s icons. It was built to allow commuters and pedestrians to get to the other side of the river faster. A second span was built over the two leaves of the bridge to allow pedestrians to cross even if the leaves are raised to allow the passing of river traffic. The upper walkway which was rarely used by pedestrians was converted into an observation walkway. Although the Tower Bridge is often mistaken for London Bridge, that actual bridge is located upstream.

Another famous icon of London is St. Paul’s Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle. It was constructed in 604 AD in the Baroque style design of Sir Christopher Wren. It is highly recognized for its large dome that for 300 years dominated the skyline of London. Visitors to the cathedral are treated to a multimedia presentation that features the history and the daily routine of the busy working church. Another beautiful church constructed in the Gothic style of architecture is the Westminster Abbey where royal coronations and royal weddings and baptisms are held. There is a museum here where you can see effigies of some royals and other artifacts.

In central London is the famous Trafalgar Square, a large public square. Dominating the squareis the Nelson’s Column, dedicated to the memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson, a hero during the Napoleonic Wars. The column is 51.59 meters tall and is topped by the statue of Admiral Nelson. Four sculpted lions guard the column. There are other sculptures and statues that are placed around the square. The square also has a pedestal that is used for displays of modern art.

London has a number of famous galleries and museums, most of which are free of charge and feature historical artifacts and art works done by the masters. The city recognizes about 240 museums. The British Museum has the largest and greatest collection of items showcasing human culture and history. In its permanent collection of more than eight million items from Ancient Egypt and Sudan, Africa, Oceania, Asia, Middle East, Rome and Greece among other artifacts from different parts of the world. The National Gallery located at Trafalgar Square showcases a collection of paintings from the mid-13th century up to the 1900s. The collection has about 2,300 paintings.

On the other hand, the National Portrait Gallery features a collection of famous and historically-important people from Britain. The gallery is also located very near Trafalgar Square.

Over at Brompton is the largest museum of decorative design and arts in the world, the Victoria and Albert Museum, which was named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, her husband. It was founded in 1852. It is now home to over 4.5 million items consisting of art works done in every medium available. It has ceramics, drawings, photographs, textiles, glass, silver, jewellery, objects from the medieval age, prints, costumes and ironwork from Asia, North America, North Africa, and Europe housed in 145 galleries. The items in the museum cover 5,000 years of art. Close by is the Natural History Museum, housing a collection of seven million items displayed in five sections – Zoology, Mineralogy, Entomology, Paleontology and Botany.

Tate Modern is part of the Tate Group that includes Tate Britain, Tate Online, Tate St. Ives and Tate Liverpool. Tate Modern is located in Central London and features a very impressive collection of modern art from international artists. Tate Britain meanwhile is located in Millbank. This is where the permanent collection of art masterpieces of British artists from the 1500s up to the present are on display.

The famous and the infamous local and international celebrities in the world are immortalized at the Madame Tussauds wax museum. It is one of the most popular destinations in London. Marie Tussaud’s full name was Anna Maria Grosholtz. While her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius of Bern, Switzerland, he taught Marie the art of wax modelling and in 1777 she created Voltaire, her first wax figure.

Parks are also permanent fixtures in London. One of the largest parks is Hyde Park that covers an area of 142 hectares or 350 acres. It is contiguous but separate from the Kensington Gardens, which has an area of about 275 acres or 111 hectares. The Kensington Gardens closes at twilight; Hyde Park remains open until midnight. Hyde Park has a beautiful rose garden designed by landscape architects in 1994. The park had been the venue for the Live 8 concert held in July 2005. Oneof its curiosities is a Weeping Beech tree that has been fondly called as the upside down tree. There are several memorial statues in the park, including the oval ring fountain that serves as a memorial to Princess Diana. Close to the Buckingham Palace is the St. James’ Park. In north central London are the Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park. Bushy Park is the city’s second largest park and like Richmond Park also has a large population of deer, as these two parks are part of the Royal Parks and were originally created as a Sport Park for royalty where they can go hunting.

If you have the time, visit the West End to catch a play at one of the theaters around Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Haymarket or Shaftesbury Avenue. Several movie theaters can also be found in these areas.

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London Culture

Londoners speak with a Cockney accent, the working class English that is spoken especially by those from the East End of London. The city values entertainment highly and the West End is one of the most popular areas in London. This is where world premieres of many films are held on Leicester Square and where the Picadilly Circus advertises through giant electronic billboards. Leicester Square is the theatre district of the city and where bars, restaurants, clubs and cinemas abound. Specialty shops are found at Covent Garden and in Soho’s Chinatown. The Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Royal Albert Hall and the London Colisuem are frequent venues of the English National Ballet, Royal Opera, English National Opera and Royal Ballet when these groups are not touring.

Classy London has one of the longest shopping streets in the United Kingdom in Oxford Street, a one mile or 1.6 kilometer-long street. Here you will find Knightbridge, the flagship store of Selfridges and Harrod’s Department Store. The city is also home to high-fashion signature labels such as Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik and Galliano, in much the same way that it is home to a myriad of restaurants that will satisfy the gastronomic fancy of any certified foodie.

The city also has its own set of annual events like the fireworks display at the London Eye on New Year’s Eve as well as the New Year’s Day Parade and the August Bank Holiday that coincides with the celebration of the Nottinghill Festival that is one huge street party. It also celebrates the Queen’s official birthday with the Trooping the Colour pageant in June. There’s also the Lord Mayor’s Show, a celebration that has been observed for several centuries to celebrate the appointment of the new Lord Mayor of London.

Bloomsbury and Hampstead are the centers of literature and closely related to Samuel Pepys, a diarist who presented London beneath the glittery surface – one that’s foggy, grimy and snowy, which in turn influenced such great literary writers such as Virginia Woolf. William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Daniel Defoe, Ben Johnson were London habitués. Writers like Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Iain Sinclair and Peter Ackroyd have been influenced and inspired by the city of London. Famous films in the late 1940s to the 21st century have used London as their setting, such as Oliver Twist, Peter Pan, The 101 Dalmatians, Mary Poppins and Notting Hill, to name a few.

There are more than 240 museums in the city, showcasing different displays from antiquities to natural history to paintings to science. There is the British Museum, the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, the Tate Britain and Tate Modern as well as the National History Museum.

Various music halls and concert and special events venues are within the city. Great performances by world-renowned performers have graced the stage of Earls Court, O2 Arena and the Wembley Arena. There are smaller venues as well, including the Shepherds’ Bush Empire, Hammersmith Apollo and the Brixton Academy. The original Hard Rock Cafe was born in London. The city has produced a long list of musical talents that have wowed and rocked world audiences. Foremost would be the Beatles followed by The Rolling Stones, Elton John, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Queen, Cat Stevens, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Iron Maiden, Sade and The Cure. There’s also modern acts like Bananarama, the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Amy Winehouse, Coldplay, Spice Girls, Wham!, George Michael, Blur and Jamiroquai.

London is a city where several sports are played and is home to several professional teams, from professional Premier League football teams, and rugby union and rugby league teams. There are 14 League football clubs in the city, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. Harlequins, Saracens, London Irish and Wasps are the rugby union teams in the city, while the Hemel Stags, London Broncos and London Skolars are rugby league teams. Cricket remains a popular sport and the city has played host to many test rounds and cricket finals. There’s also the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and the London Marathon. And the most well-known sporting event that the city hosts is one of the Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, the Wimbledon Championships, played at the All-England Club.

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Interesting Facts About London

London is a city with a medieval past. And there are many interesting facts that make this vibrant and dynamic city unique. Some of these facts are from its past while some are from the present. Whichever era these facts come from, one thing is sure, they make for an interesting read and adds to your knowledge and deeper understanding of this wonderful city that is visited by millions and home to most of the ethnic groups around the globe.

• You can only use the Euro or the British pound while you are in London. And it is best that you get familiar with the British coins and notes before coming to the city. If you are coming from the United States, do note that a £2 coin is already equivalent to three US dollars.
• In London, ATM machines are called “cash point machines” and while the units can process credit cards and bankcards issued in the United States, the machines will only dispense British pounds. You should always be on guard and know the current conversion rates as the withdrawals reflected on your statement will be in US currency.
• It now takes only five minutes for the Tower Bridge of London to open. It used to be operated by steam but its hydraulic pumps are now run by electricity.
• The Angel Tube Station escalator, with its 318 steps is the longest escalator in Western Europe.
• The Marble Arch, a structure made of white Cararra mable was originally built as an entranceway to the Buckingham Palace. It was never used though and was dismantled and relocated to Hyde Park’s northeast corner.
• Another triumphal arch, the Wellington Arch, now located in the middle part of Hyde Park used to house the second smallest police station in London until 1992. The smallest police station in the city and in the world is located at Trafalgar Square. It was inside a lamp post and was only able to accommodate one person standing up. Trafalgar Square was a favorite site of protests and the small police outpost was created as a lookout station. Today the tiny room is used as the city cleaners’ storage room.
• On Philpot Lane in Eastcheap is a building that has what is termed the smallest sculpture in London. It shows two mice with a chunk of yellow cheese between them. According locals an argument ensued between two workmen workingon the building construction when one of them accused the other of eating his lunch, which resulted in one falling to his death. It was later revealed that mice were the real culprits and the workmen decided to add the small statue to the side of the building as a reminder.
• The pods of the London Eye corresponds to the 32 boroughs of the city.
• Many visitors to London have assumed that Big Ben is the name of the clock seen at the Clock Tower near the Westminster Bridge and Westminster Palace. And that it is the biggest clock face in London. Actually the biggest clock face is the one at the Shell Mex house located at The Strand, the former head office of Shell in London. Big Ben actually refers to the 13-ton bell that is inside the clock that is struck when the clock chimes the hour.
• The saying “one for the road” originated from the prisoners that were incarcerated at the old Newgate Prison. They were usually given the chance to have one drink at a pub on Oxford Street before being led to the tyburn tree (gallows) at the end of the street where they would be hung.
• To hide the Tube line running near Paddington and keep the neighborhood beautiful and prevent the price of prime real estate in the area from dipping, the railway company decided to build dummy houses on 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens. The terraced façade looks just like the classy residential buildings in the area although the windows are only painted on and the doors are fake.

As an added bonus, here are some British words and their American English equivalents. Knowing some of this will definitely help in a more enriching and enjoyable vacation in London.

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References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London

http://wikitravel.org/en/London

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_London

http://www.london2atlanta.com/london/good2know/

http://www.cityoflondonwalks.info/html/photo15.html

http://www.inlondonguide.co.uk/london-sight-guide/interesting-facts-about-london.html

http://londoniscool.com/interesting-facts-about-london-you-probably-don%E2%80%99t-really-need-to-know

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist4.html