London

London is one of the most famous cities in the world. At its height it was the capital of the enormous British Empire – responsible for a third of the world's population. Even today London remains the world's largest financial centre. It is a major tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors. London hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympics and will host the 2012 Summer Olympics. London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.

London is an important city because the Government of the United Kingdom is located around the Palace of Westminster. Many government departments are located close to Parliament, particularly along Whitehall, including the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. The British Parliament is often referred to as the "Mother of Parliaments" because it has been the model for most other parliamentary systems, and its Acts have created many other parliaments. London contains many famous landmarks and buildings that are recognised by people around the globe. For example, The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Tower Bridge to name just a few. Consequently, it is of no surprise that London generates a lot of money from tourism. It attracts roughly 15 million visitors a year, making London the most visited city in the world.

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of some of the greatest 60s and 70s band such as The Beatles and Queen as well as popular 90s bands like Coldplay, Radiohead, and Oasis that are still very popular to this day. London hosts several festivals, fairs and carnivals throughout the year. The most famous is the Notting Hill Carnival, the world's second largest carnival. London is also home to over 240 museums and galleries. The first of these to be established was the British Museum in Bloomsbury, in 1753. Originally containing antiquities, natural history specimens and the national library, the museum now has 7 million artefacts from around the globe.

London has one of the oldest and largest public transport systems in the world. Many components of its transport system, such as the double-decker bus, the Hackney Carriage black taxi and the Tube, are internationally recognised symbols of London. London has a comprehensive rail network with several major railway stations and six international airports. Heathrow Airport in London is the busiest airport in the world.