London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, and produces approximately 17% of the nation's gross domestic product. It is a major political, business, and cultural city, and along with New York, Tokyo, and Paris, is a city of global proportions. Over 300 languages are spoken in the city, and residents are known as "Londoners."



It was founded by the Romans around AD 43, and they called it "Londinium." The language originally spoken in London was Latin with a nice blend of Greek. Since that time, it has become one of the largest cities in the European Union, with a population of over 7 million.

When it comes to tourism, London is a city which is great to travel to year round. Tourist attractions do not close their doors in winter, though summer is generally the best time to go. If you enjoy riding on boats, you can hire a boat and travel on the Serpentine near Hyde park for a couple of hours.

Cycling is great in London, though you may want to avoid riding with traffic. Cycling is excellent when riding through parks. If you enjoy horseback riding, you can have a taste of nobility by riding horses through Hyde park. Horses can be hired by the hour.

When it comes to hotels, if you're looking for top of the line you could stay at the Blakes Hotel in South Kensington. If you're on a budget, you may want to stay at the Hampstead Village Guesthouse, which is a nice Victorian house.

When traveling to this city, it is best to bring lots of money. London is known for being extremely expensive, and will put a drain on your bank account. If you stay at a hotel and eat meals in restaurants expect to spend at least 65 Euros a day.

All transactions can be made using credit cards or pounds. Most restaurants add a service charge to your bill, and those that don't expect you to pay at least 10 to 15% tips. The same is true for taxi cab drivers. Travelers cheques can easily be changed into pounds at the many banks in the city.