London : Britain

London : Britain
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. Alongside New York City, Paris, and Tokyo, London is among the four most important global cities. London produces 17% of the UK’s GDP and the City of London is one of the world’s major financial capitals. London is pre-eminent in culture, communications, politics, finance, and the arts.
London is the largest city in the UK, with an estimated population of 7,421,228 at 1 January 2005 in Greater London and several million more in London’s metro area (see the demographics section below). Its population includes of an enormously diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions making it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, and the world. Many of the world’s wealthiest people are permanent or temporary residents.
London is the home of very many institutions, organisations and companies, and as such remains at the heart of global affairs. It has a great number of important buildings, including world famous museums, theatres, concert halls, airports, railway stations, palaces, and offices. It is also the home of many embassies and consulates.
Places of interest in london
This is a selective list. See also: London attractions.
Chinatown
Covent Garden
Downing Street
Horse Guards Parade
Leicester Square
The London Dungeon
London Eye
London Planetarium
London Zoo
Madame Tussaud’s
Piccadilly Circus
South Bank
Theatreland
Tower Bridge
Tower of London
Trafalgar Square
Buildings and Monuments
The Palace of Westminster seen across the River Thames.
1 Canada Square (the centrepiece of Canary Wharf)
30 St Mary Axe (also known as “The Gherkin� and the “Swiss Re Building�)
Albert Memorial
Alexandra Palace
Bank of England
Battersea Power Station
British Library
Broadcasting House
BT Tower (Formerly known as the Post Office Tower)
Buckingham Palace
Bush House
City Hall
Clarence House
Cleopatra’s Needle
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
Hampton Court Palace
Lambeth Palace
Kensington Palace
Lloyd’s building
Marble Arch
Millennium Dome
The Monument (to the Great Fire of London)
Nelson’s Column
Palace of Westminster (Parliament and tower containing Big Ben)
Royal Albert Hall
Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Festival Hall
Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Greenwich Meridian
Royal Opera House
St Pancras Station
St Paul’s Cathedral
Somerset House
Syon House
Temple of Mithras
Tower 42 (formerly known as the Natwest Tower)
Westminster Abbey
Markets and shopping areas
West End
Knightsbridge
Borough Market
Portobello Road Market
Petticoat Lane Market
Brick Lane Market
Covent Garden
Parks and gardens
Alexandra Park
Battersea Park
Brockwell Park
Chelsea Physic Garden
Green Park
Greenwich Park
Hampstead Heath
Hampton Court
Holland Park
Hyde Park
Kensington Gardens
Primrose Hill
Regents Park
Richmond Park
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (known as Kew Gardens)
St. James’s Park
Victoria Park
Other places of interest
The Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court with famous trials but inconvenient for the unprepared tourist since personal items prohibited include bags and mobile phones.
Tyburn was the location for many infamous executions by hanging.
Battersea Power Station and the Millennium Dome are two architecturally interesting buildings which currently stand empty. However mixed use developments centred on both buildings are due to commence in 2005. The Millennium Dome will become an indoor sports hall, and Battersea Power Station will become a shopping and leisure facility.