Kelly Robertson
The UK capital is one of the biggest cities in the world and an important financial and cultural center. It’s also the largest city in the United Kingdom, with population of some 7.5 million people (and growing). Here are some of those facts you may haven’t heard before about London.
1. It has more than million people for 200 years
It was the first city in the world with more than 1 million people – it became such crowded place back in 1811.
2. First metro
London was also the first city to get the metro system, which was opened in January 1863. The “tube” has 400 km (250 miles) of track that serve 270 stations via 12 lines. And although it’s known as “The Underground,” 55% of the system is actually above ground.
3. The center
Trafalgar Square is the very centre of London and it’s the place where all distances to London from within the UK are measured. The big Christmas Tree that is placed on the square every year is a present from the government of Norway, as a thank you for the help the UK gave them during the second world war.
4. Big Ben is actually called the clock tower
Big Ben, situated at the south of the Parliament building, is in fact the name of the great bell within the tower, not the tower itself (which is simply called the clock-tower).
5. Tallest building
London’s tallest building is the Canary Wharf Tower, a 50-storey tower that stands 244 metres high (771 ft).
6. Merging of two cities
Modern London was created by merging two cities – the City of London and the City of Westminster. The boundary between the two cities is marked by the Dragon Square at the Temple Bar Monument.
7. Right hand drive in London?
Savoy Court street, which is the entrance road to London’s prestigious Savoy Hotel, is the only street in Britain with right hand drive.
8. Heritage sites
London is a host to six world heritage sites, including The London Borough of Greenwich, Kew Gardens, The Palace of Westminster, St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
9. Oldest railway station
The city’s oldest railway station is London Bridge Station, situated on Tooley Street in the London Borough of Lambeth, and it has been in continuous use since opening on the 14th of December 1836.
10. Busiest station of Europe
London’s busiest railway station, which also happen to be the busiest station in Europe, is Clapham Junction Station, situated on St John’s Hill, Battersea. It sees 2,000 trains a day pass through its portals, with as many as 180 trains an hour during the London rush hour.
Now if you think we could’ve included something else, don’t hesitate to share that with us…
