The capital of England, officially recognized by the United Kingdom, is London. This is also the capital city of the European Union (EU). With over 8 million, it’s also the largest city in the United Kingdom and one of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas.

London has been a settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. In common with many other European cities, it has been much altered during its history.

London’s ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile medieval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, London’s name has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the Greater London administrative area (coterminous with the London region), governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

It covers about 620 square miles (1,600 km2), is roughly circular, and has a circumference of about 25 miles (40 km). The Greater London boundary was last altered in 1965.

At this point, it’s necessary to note that the geographic center of London lies just north of the Thames Barrier, downstream from Tower Bridge. The actual geographic center of London is not in the City itself but lies about 2 miles (3km) to the east in the neighboring borough of Newham.

The River Thames flows through London and was historically a significant part of the city’s development. Due to massive infrastructure developments during the late 19th and 20th centuries, including road and underground tunnels, bridges, and power stations, London’s ancient system of tidal gates (a weir and a lock), which had been in place for over 600 years, were no longer able to cope with the sheer size of traffic in the capital.

The influential Monarque, King John, built a palace at Westminster in the twelfth century. It survived the depredations of fire and a flood in 1216 but was razed to make way for Henry VIII’s new palace 300 years later.

The 18th century English writer Daniel Defoe noted that the Westminster [Abbey] abounds with magnificent buildings and churches, none of which is more remarkable for beauty than the Houses of Parliament palace.

He was referring to a single structure that combined both houses of parliament – a rare event in English history. The term ‘palace’ was commonly used by Londoners at this time to refer exclusively to the seat of government, which was the focus of their lives.

Popular tourist destinations in London include the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square.

There are numerous museums in the city, with the Charles Dickens Museum featuring essential collections of early manuscripts by English writers. Well-known art institutions include Tate Modern, National Gallery, and The National Portrait Gallery.

The British Museum houses an extensive display of antiquities and artifacts from ancient civilizations. The Museum of London exhibits an extensive collection of Roman artifacts, medieval relics, and other historical items excavated.

Several venues are devoted to optical illusions, most notably the London Dungeons labyrinthine walkthrough dark ride, which features a range of special effects, including atmospheric effects and animatronics. Other notable attractions include Madame Tussauds wax museum, London Zoo, the London Eye observation wheel, and the Tower Bridge.