London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the second largest city in Europe (London's population is about 9 million) and one of the oldest metropolitan areas in the world.
About 60% of London's population is white, with the rest coming from Asia, Africa and Arab countries. The city is located in the south-east of the country, in a giant basin. It is fed by the Thames, the famous river that once hosted "ice fairs" and royal regattas.
By the way, even today the annual rowing races between Oxford and Cambridge teams are still very popular! The currency of the United Kingdom is pounds sterling, GBP.
London was founded by the Romans in 43 AD - the city was repeatedly destroyed (from the Vikings to the Nazis), survived more fires than any other capital city in the world and miraculously survived a plague epidemic.
The twentieth century was a defining one for the city - it was then that its population increased sixfold, the industrial East End emerged in contrast to the luxurious West End (both of which are now on the London tourist map), the railroads opened and the legendary dandies appeared!
And since the 1960s, swinging London has been at the forefront of world culture - think The Beatles or The Rolling Stones!
