London welcomes all enthusiastic tourists from all around the world. Its secret is in the culture and unique facts that make London’s history special. If you believe you know everything about the UK’s capital, we bet you don’t. To feed your curiosity, scroll down to read some interesting facts about London you might have never heard before.
London has 170 museums
London is a vital cultural and historical center, and museums could not have neglected this area. If you visit this incredible city, you will lose a lot from your trip if you don’t stop by one of them. The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Imperial War Museum, the British Library, and the Wallace Collection are the most visited museums that will serve you the full British cultural experience.
Over 300 languages are spoken in London
Yes, you heard it right. This multicultural city could be a benefit for learning new languages every day and being involved in different cultures that are present here in the capital. There’s hardly any other place in the world more diverse than London. Expats from different nationalities share a large proportion of their population, which enumerates around 8.7 million residents. They practice their original traditions and communicate in their native language. Due to this incredible diversity in London, it is estimated that there are over 300 languages spoken in London. The chances are that if you’re on a trip to London, you can find someone easy to communicate with in your native language.
The meaning and history of the capital “London.”
Some theories state that London was first built by Romans around 50 AD. The origin of its name also has an unexplainable history. London used different names throughout history, including Londonium. The most accepted version is that the name for London has derived from the old Celtic word “Londinous”, meaning to be bold.
The House of Parliament is the largest Palace in the UK
One of many architectural milestones that London is proud of is the Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster. Crowned as the enormous palace in the entire country, the object was first built at the beginning of the 11th century to accommodate the King of England. Unfortunately, a fire in 1512 destroyed a large part of it and another fire in 1834 caused more severe damage. The only medieval structures to have survived those times are the Westminster Hall, Jewel Tower, the Cloisters of St Stephen’s and the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.
It is not easy to become a black cab driver
In most countries, you only need a driving license to work as a taxi. But this is not the case with London. Black Cab drivers you see all around the city experience long training before they are given the job. Typically the training may last for 2 to 4 years, and candidates must remember every street in London. In addition, they must also be able to make fast assumptions as to which is the route that takes the least time from one destination to another. Now you can easily understand why they charge such high fares.
Over 8.7 million people live in London
According to the most up-to-date estimation, more than 8.7 million people reside in the UK’s capital. As such, London is the largest city in the UK by population.
Most Billionaires in the world live in London
Over 80 billionaires live in London. Moreover, London billionaires designate 80% of all billionaires living in the UK. In this aspect, London leaves behind big cities like New York, San Francisco, Moscow, and Paris.
