The Tower of London was opened in the year 1066 by William the Conqueror. But being there and seeing these sights for yourself – well, it’s priceless. 63) The Tower of London is still officially listed as a royal residence. 70) The best way to tell if the monarch is in residence at Buckingham Palace is to look to the flagpole above the Palace. However, for a long time, electricity and electric lighting was only reserved for the more upmarket areas of the city, while the poor slums were often completely shrouded in darkness when night fell. 12) London is one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Today London Zoo still exists and is open to visitors daily. The bell of the tower is actually nicknamed Big Ben, while the clock tower is officially called… well, “The Clock Tower”. Nowadays it is one of the most visited cities in the world – many are attracted by its history and unique charm. The actual address is now the awesome, 77) London’s famous streets have been immortalised on the original Monopoly board game. Interesting facts about London. The entire ceremony lasts approximately 45 minutes. 47) The area of central London where Parliament and Big Ben are located is called Westminster. You can still visit and see world class Shakespeare productions at. If you visit London, you can tell if Queen Elizabeth is home by checking whether her royal flag is flying on the flagpole or not. There’s an endless number of fascinating facts about the British capital to enchant, enthrall and thrill and I’ve rounded up the best 80 London facts about the city and its attractions that is guaranteed to inspire your own visit to this incredible city. Don’t worry – they don’t greet you to London like this anymore. Total Population: 9,126,366; Founded: 47 AD by Romans; Demonym: Londoner; Mayor: Sadiq Khan; Total city area: 607 sq mi (1,572 km2) Metro area: 3,236 sq mi (8,382 km2) However, in 1952, a “killer fog” descended upon the city, killing 12,000 and hospitalising 150,000. 21st Dec, 2017; Under London general, London Homestays; No matter if you are a tourist or a Londoner, we all want to impress our friends with our endless knowledge and excellent sense of humour! They may be using social media now, but the Royal Family are still holding onto the special traditions which only adds to the historical meets modern vibe of amazing London. Here’s a few facts to kickstart their British adventure! The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. The capital of England and the United Kingdom, London is every traveler’s dream city. Facts about London Transport. Shakespeare London Facts Shakespeare London Fact 1 . 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I’ll be updating this article periodically with more London facts! 30 Interesting Facts About London. 33) Just a year after the Plague that claimed the lives of so many, The Great Fire of London came very close to burning the entire city to the ground. that takes you to pubs at all 26 locations in one day. And in their place, we’d like to merely list one interesting fact about each of the 270 station on the network. 15. A new Globe opened the following year, but shortly thereafter the new Puritan government banned all plays for a period of time. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. #1 Oldest Subway in the World. It’s a Monument to our capital’s history. The megacity that most of us know as London is actually called ‘Greater London’, whilst the City of London itself is a small portion of this sprawling metropolis. Offering jaw dropping 360 degree views of London, the hugely popular London Eye is a must on your next visit to the city. Here are 15 fun facts you may not know about the London Eye. Even a short visit to London can set you back a pretty penny, and living in London is notoriously pricey even for the smallest apartment or flat. 77) London’s famous streets have been immortalised on the original Monopoly board game. The busiest Tube station in London is Waterloo. It’s a little known fun fact about London that the city officially went through a period called the Gin Craze between 1720 and 1751. 14) London is one of the world’s top 10 most expensive cities. But they aren’t the only jewels kept safe in the Tower. 34) The world’s most famous unsolved mystery took place right in the heart of London. Enforced nightly blackouts across the city were common to prevent attacks, and many hid in the London Underground to keep themselves and their families safe during these scary times. Around 300 languages are spoken across London, but over … The population in 2016 is estimated to be as much as 8.63 million. 59) The Tower was a notorious prison during the 16th and 17th centuries during the Tudor period of Henry VIII. The city has as many as 857 galleries. Matthew Santoro’s Mind = Blown: Amazing Facts About this Weird, Hilarious, Insane World is published by Penguin Books and is out now. 31)  Until 1916, the prestigious London department store Harrods sold heroin and cocaine over the counter. Horrific tortures were carried out on medieval devices such as “The Rack” and manacles. Interesting facts about London. Guests from the public are invited for a range of reasons, and the parties can number up to 8,000 guests – so you’re in with a chance! In the article, we present 21 facts about Shakespeare’s London in the late 16th century and early 17th century that the Bard would have known and experienced. The first ever Wimbledon was held in 1877, making it the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Danica's Small World - January 30, 2018. He weighs a whopping 13.5 tons and chimes every fifteen minutes. (See 55 Shakespeare facts for broader insights into his life.) London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. by . Moreover, London billionaires represent 80% of all billionaires living in the UK. Danica's Small World - January 30, 2018. 10)  In London, like the rest of the United Kingdom, people drive on the left side of the road. The London Underground, was built in 1863, and was the first metro of the world. That’s Big. No royal born queens are in sight for a while! That’s right, the tower’s original name was – “The Clock Tower” while “Big Ben” is the name of the bell inside it. One of the weirdest but fun facts about London is that there must be six ravens in the Tower of London at all times – as it is believed that the tower will fall without them. Your email address will not be published. While Platform 9 ¾ is fictional, the station actually has a. trolley stuck in the wall that you can get a fun photo with. More About London facts … 66)  The grounds of Buckingham Palace span 39 acres and the Palace is bordered by beautiful public spaces Green Park and St James Park. In September 1666, London was the largest city in Britain by far and had been enclosed in a city wall that the Romans had built centuries earlier. 43) After 34 years of construction, Big Ben was unveiled in 1858. During the peak of the craze, the average consumption of gin was 2 pints per week - for every person in the city - including children. It’s actually home to over 23,000 jewels with an estimated value of £20 billion. England and its wider union of Great Britain has always held huge sway and importance around the globe. Famous past inmates of the Tower of London include Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, Walter Raleigh and even senior Nazi Rudolf Hess at the end of WWII. Horrific tortures were carried out on medieval devices such as “The Rack” and manacles. 64) Superstitions at The Tower of London still hold firm. Facts . In cockney rhyming slang, the London Underground is known as the Oxo (Cube/Tube). by . 3. Since 9/11, they’ve had intelligence officers in 13 overseas countries, including the U.K. 68) There’s a series of tunnels that run underneath Buckingham Palace. Their Uncle did this to keep them from succeeding to the throne. It’s actually home to over 23,000 jewels with an estimated value of £20 billion. Visit Bernard Black’s little book store in the heart of London. As such, London is the largest city in the UK by population. 3. There have been many London Bridges over the years, the earliest being those erected by the Romans. There have been many London Bridges over the years, the earliest being those erected by the Romans. 19) Wimbledon is one of the world’s major tennis tournaments, and is held annually in the European summer. Much like New York City, much of the cost of living in London is simply for the experience of living in such a fantastic, vibrant city. If the British Union Jack flag is on display instead, she’s somewhere else. 51) The London Eye is “Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel, standing at 443 feet tall. Can’t Stanmore of these puns? 22) We all know how seriously the British take their football (or soccer to the rest of the world). A range of spooky paranormal entities are said to haunt the Tower, including Henry VI, Catherine Howard (one of Henry VII executed wives) and the ghost of a grizzly bear that once lived in the Tower’s Zoo! It’s just a short walk from Russell Square Tube Station and is actually a bookstore. BBC Radio would air its ringing bells to people across the world after a bombing to show that Britain has not been defeated. These facts about London will give you a taste of just how fascinating its history is. You’ve seen me its regal landmarks and monuments – plus so much iconic London imagery – on films and TV, in paintings and books. 1. 78) Did you love the British comedy series. From films to TV, books to songs, London is constantly used as a stunning setting and a source of inspiration. © 2020 Studying in UK - All Rights Reserved. 38) London saw a relentless “Blitz” from the Germans during the Second World War. 71) During World War II, Buckingham Palace withstood nine bombing attacks by the Germans. My travel blog is filled with hundreds of articles, destination guides, itineraries, beautiful photos, and so much more! London's growing population of around 8.2 million residents consists of people from ethnic groups such as the Indian, Caribbean, Pakistani, Chinese, German, Arab, Greek, and Nigerian communities. As it isn’t classified as a “Ferris wheel” it achieves this record over other European offerings. 56)  There was an original London Eye! While we could go on for days and days listing interesting pieces of trivia, here are our 7 favourite facts about London; hopefully there are a … Today, the Underground carries 3 million people a day. To this day he has never been identified, despite historians and history buffs across the world still relentlessly investigating it. Here are 30 Kickass and Interesting Facts About London. Champagne was invented in England. Back then, Charles was advised that if the ravens were removed, harm would befall Britain. The most well known is the housing of six ravens at the Tower since the reign of Charles II in 1649. London is the first city to host the Olympic games three times (1908, 1948 and 2012). London is the first city in the world to get the underground railway. Britain is considered to have the worst food in the world, however London is also home to many Michelin star chefs, including Gordon Ramsey, Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing. To honor this fascination, London Unlocked has put together interesting facts for us in an infographic about London, most of these fact, we bet you didn’t know. 2. 32) The Great Plague of 1665 killed tens of millions across Europe, but it was arguably London that was the worst hit city. London is such a fascinating city filled with a rich history, beautiful architecture, and so many amazing places to visit. 10 fun facts about London. Read on for 71 delightful, interesting and just plain bizarre facts about England, United Kingdom. The poor living conditions and small, filthy streets meant illness spread like wildfire. I’m also a member of the Airbnb Associates program, and I earn commission when you book through links on this site. Food. the name of the famous clock tower in central London. Here we'll take you through 15 interesting facts about the dramatic night that the city went up in flames. The London Underground is known as 'the Tube’. 76) The literary detective Sherlock Holmes was a famous London resident. image: st-christophers.co.uk. Nowadays it is one of the most visited cities in the world – many are attracted by its history and unique charm. 6. That is where the Romans founded the city of Londinium shortly after they arrived in 43AD. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire United Kingdom and waiting times in the peak summer season are generally between 30-60 minutes. Matthew Santoro’s Mind = Blown: Amazing Facts About this Weird, Hilarious, Insane World is published by Penguin Books and is out now. The best UK cities for history buffs. It’s located In a London Borough indirectly named after it. Here are a few mind-blowing facts about London that may surprise you! A great deal of this was achieved during the reign of Queen Victoria in England who was in power from 1837 until her death in 1901. Here’s our list of little known facts about London. Interesting facts about the Tower of London. 24 fascinating London facts for kids The Romans founded London (sort of) Did you know Romans first settled in London some 2,000 years ago? Our guide Anna went on a Moscow tour to beat the autumn swarm and here is what she learnt about the city. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are bringing you some fun facts about London, the second most-visited city in the world. 1. These weird facts are so bizarre they might just blow your mind. While everyone in the world knows what Big Ben is, very few people know this is not its real name. 20) People driving in central London between the peak hours of 7am and 5pm will incur a £10 congestion charge. The magnificent National Gallery, London attracts approximately 4 to 5 million visitors yearly. A talent was not to occupy the mind! Here’s just a few of my favorites…. Nearly 40% of the entire region is made up of green spaces like public parks and squares. London is home to many of the English Premier League’s teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. London is a city immersed in history. If the Queen’s own flag is flying, she is home. Here are a few mind-blowing facts about London that may surprise you! The Romans were the first to make London their home (it was Londinium at the time), in 43 AD. London is the first city in the world to get the underground railway. Don’t believe me? The first London Marathon was in 1981. If you’ve seen the movie Legend and know of the notorious London gangsters ‘The Kray Twins’, it will interest you to know that they were the last official prisoners of the Tower. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love London, and it’s also hard to find someone who doesn’t know some facts about London. While we could go on for days and days listing interesting pieces of trivia, here are our 7 favourite facts about London; hopefully there are a … 69) Visitors can tour the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace when the Queen isn’t in residence (usually in the summertime), but arguably the most famous Palace event is the Changing of the Guard when the “New Guard” changes shifts with the “Old Guard” in a traditional ceremony visitors can watch for free. Before you go, here are fun facts about London to read on the plane. 10 fun facts about London. Always check times before your visit to see the Guard as days and times can vary. Come and grab a coffee … 44) During the Second World War, Big Ben was a symbol of resistance against the Germans. It’s crammed with famous London brands and stores that are household names across the world. It’s estimated that around 10,000 foxes live in the wild in London. Your email address will not be published. Facts about London Transport. One of the more interesting facts about London is that during World War II, London was a safe place for the governments in exile of six different countries during Hitler’s occupation of Europe: Belgium, France, Holland, Luxembourg, Norway and Poland. London Bridge is a bit further upriver and is pretty plain by comparison. 46) The Englishman Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 in what famously became known as “The Gunpowder Plot”. London covers 600 square miles and has a population of 8.6 million, but only its oldest part, just one square mile in size, is called the City of London. One day William’s first born son, Prince George, will reign. Zoe Craig 11 Fun Facts About The London Eye. That’s right, the tower’s original name was – “The Clock Tower” while “Big Ben” is the name of the bell inside it. These interesting figures and facts about London will most likely surprise and amuse you! It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love London, and it’s also hard to find someone who doesn’t know some facts about London. 45) Three times a week, engineers climb Big Ben’s 315 foot facade to wind him and make sure he’s keeping good time. 2)…and it’s technically a forest (c) Musuem of London. In fact, the 1908 event achieved another record in its own right. 69) Visitors can tour the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace when the Queen isn’t in residence (usually in the summertime), but arguably the most famous Palace event is the Changing of the Guard when the “New Guard” changes shifts with the “Old Guard” in a traditional ceremony visitors can watch for free. I spend probably 40 minutes a day crammed cheek to sweaty jowl with other London … It’s no surprise that tourism makes up a large percentage of the overall London economy and provides a lot of jobs for locals. There’s a famous saying that states “a bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else.” And as someone who has visited London a number of times, I totally agree. 50) Every daily session in the House of Commons is started with a prayer that is almost four minutes long, during which time all MP’s have to face the wall. The famous 221B Baker St in Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson actually takes place at 187 North Gower Street. It has a population of only 9,123 people, making it the smallest in England. 20 Interesting Tower Bridge Facts No, Tower Bridge is Not London Bridge . Please check your email for further instructions. Big Ben isn’t the name of the clock, or the tower – it’s the name of the famous bell inside the structure. Most Billionaires In The World . However,  it only operated until 1907 when it was demolished. The Great Fire of London destroyed a lot of the city’s history. 1 . They even had a Zoo on the Tower’s 12 acre grounds in the 13th century, which had a range of strange and exotic animals such as polar bears, elephants and even kangaroos! 37) Locals and visitors to London during the 16th century were warned against being a traitor to the Crown in a pretty gruesome way. Big Ben is the name of the bell within. If you’ve seen the movie. Delicious. 18) Greater London spans 1579 square kilometres (610 square miles). 15)  The cost of living in London may be high, but the city also has one of the highest numbers of billionaires in the world. Read on to learn weird facts about animals, nature, travel, and more! Have a look below at ten interesting facts and figures about this embodiment of London transportation. 7) The best way to get around London is by their amazing underground rail system. 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