Short overview of London (1)

London
London is one of the world’s great cities. Located in the southeast of England , on the River Thames , it is the capital of the United Kingdom and has been the heart of its political , cultural and business life for centuries .
London has always been the centre of the world. The origin of the city may be dated around the beginning of the 1st century when a Celtic tribe settled near the Thames. The Romans founded London about 50 AD. Its name is derived from the Celtic word Londinios, which means ‘the place of the bold one’. The Romans brought with them forts, roads and the rule of law. Then in 61 AD Queen Boudicca led a rebellion against the Romans. Her army marched on London. No attempt was made to defend London. Boudicca burned London but after her rebellion was crushed it was rebuilt. By the end of the 2nd century, a 6-metre stone wall was erected around London. The Danes invaded London in 842 and again in 851, burning most of the town. Then in 878, the Danes were defeated by King Alfred the Great and they split the country between them. On the 25th of December, 1006, William was crowned King of England, after winning the Battle oh Hastings. In 1349 the Black Death killed thousands of citizens. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the map of London was published. In plagues (in 1603 ; 1664-1665) thousands of people died. In 1642 civil war began between the king and parliament . In 1666 came the great fire of London. About 13,200 houses had been destroyed and 70-80,000 people had been made homeless . To prevent such a disaster happening again the king commanded that all new houses in London should be of stone and brick not wood . In 1834 Parliament was destroyed by fire. The new parliament included a great clock , which is now known as Big Ben. In the 19th century new museums were created in London such as the Victoria & Albert, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. The first double -decker bus appeared in the streets of London as early as in 1904. After the two world wars, London went through a massive re- building .
Several structures were built in London to mark the year 2000: the Millenium Dome, Millenium bridge, London Eye etc.
London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names . Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into 32 London boroughs. However, it is a city that is surprisingly easy to get around, with the comprehensive and easily navigated London Underground or ‘ Tube ’.
London's population was 7,172,000 on the latest Census Day of April 2001. This is 14.6 per cent of the total population of Britain .
The people of London have great love for theatre , opera, films , music, sports , and arts . Most of the London films are premiered at Leicester Square . The love for literature has made London the setting for many dramas, plays , novels, and short stories. Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle , are just a few names to mention among the many littérateurs.
London's climate is among the mildest in England, with damp but mild winters and moderate summers. January is the coolest month, July being the warmest. It very rarely freezes in London.
London, along with New York City, are the two primary cities controlling the international business and world economy today . London shifted to a mostly service -based economy earlier than other European cities, particularly following the Second World War. Tourism is one of London's prime industries.
London attracts very large numbers of visitors and tourists. Tourist attractions are mainly in Central London. London has so many great places to see: The London Eye, which is a 135 metre high wheel , The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace , Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedreal, Westminster Abbey and many parks .
The 2012 Olympics will be held in London, confirming its status as one of the world's greatest cities.