London is not only the capital of the United Kingdom, but also one of the world’s financial and cultural capitals. It is a thriving metropolis that symbolizes multiculturalism at its best, with a population of over 8 million and more than 300 different spoken languages. Many of the world’s biggest banks and financial institutions have headquarters in London. The city is also a centre for art, media, fashion, and education. London was also the site for the 2012 Summer Olympics which attracted a large number of tourists to the city.
The Romans established the town of Londinium shortly after their invasion of Britain in 43AD. In the second century, the city became capital of Roman Britain as the population reached 60,000. The Romans built the London wall, which was 6m tall and 2.5m thick, and survived for 1,600 years. The Roman occupation of Britain ended in 410, and the city went into a steep decline. Viking raids and occupation persisted until the tenth century, when the Anglo-Saxons took over. After the Norman Conquest William the Conqueror was crowned the King of England in 1066. A fairly stable monarchy followed, that continues to this day.
Londoners are fast-moving but often helpful when approached politely. The city is diverse, multilingual and practical. Muslim visitors will find halal food and prayer access easy in many boroughs, but less predictable inside tourist restaurants, theatres, museums and transport hubs. London etiquette values queueing, personal space, card payment, escalator rules and punctuality.
