Everyone comes to London with preconceptions shaped by a multitude of books, movies, TV shows and pop songs. Whatever yours are, prepare to have them exploded by this endlessly intriguing city. Its streets are steeped in fascinating history, magnificent art, imposing architecture and popular culture. When you add a bottomless reserve of cool to this mix, it’s hard not to conclude that London is one of the world’s great cities, if not the greatest.
The only downside is increasing cost: London is now Europe's most expensive city for visitors, whatever their budget. But with some careful planning and a bit of common sense, you can find great bargains and freebies among the popular attractions. And many of London's greatest assets – its wonderful parks, bridges, squares and boulevards, not to mention many of its landmark museums – come completely free.
History
London first came into being as a Celtic village near a ford across the River Thames, but the city really only took off after the Roman invasion in AD 43. The Romans enclosed Londinium in walls that still find an echo in the shape of the City of London (the city's central financial district) today. Next came the Saxons, and the town they called Lundenwic prospered.
London grew in global importance throughout the medieval period, surviving devastating challenges such as the 1665 plague and the 1666 Great Fire. Many of its important landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral were built at this time by visionary architect Christopher Wren.
By the early 1700s, Georgian London had become one of Europe's largest and richest cities. It was during the Victorian era that London really hit its stride, fuelled by vast mercantile wealth and a huge global empire.
The ravages of WWI were followed by the economic troubles of the 1920s and 1930s, but it was WWII that wrought the greatest damage: huge swathes of the city were reduced to rubble during a series of devastating bombings known as the Blitz.
During the 1960s, Swinging London became the world's undisputed cultural capital, with an explosion of provocative art, music, writing, theatre and fashion. The 1970s proved more turbulent than innovative, with widespread unrest and economic discontent, while the 1980s were marked by an economic boom in London's financial district (known as the City), which brought a forest of skyscrapers to the city's skyline.
In 2000 London got its first elected Mayor, left-wing Ken Livingstone, who served for two terms and oversaw the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics, and also dealt with the grim aftermath of the 7/7 tube bombings in 2005, when four British-born terrorists detonated bombs, killing 52 people.
Livingstone was ousted by his Eton-educated, blonde-mopped Conservative rival, Boris Johnson, in 2008. Johnson was reelected in 2012 and oversaw the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, followed by the city's hugely successful stint as Olympics host.
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