GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LONDON

Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is filled with people, ideas and amazing energy. The capital and largest city of England, and of the wider United Kingdom, it is also the largest city in Western Europe. Greater London has an official population of a little over 8 million, but the estimate of between 12 and 14 million people in the greater metropolitan area better reflects its size and importance. Considered one of the world’s leading “global cities”, London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade. Among international tourists, London is the most-visited city in the world.

Climate

Despite having a perhaps fair reputation for being unsettled, London enjoys a mild climate on average. As much as one in three days on average will bring rain, though sometimes for only a short period.
Extreme weather is rare. Occasionally there may be heavy rain that can bring localised flooding or strong winds that may down trees and damage roofs, but overall you are unlikely to encounter anything too lively.

Getting there

London receives more flights than any other city in the world. It is served by six airports (all airports code: LON). Travelling between the city and the airports is made relatively easy by the many public transport links

Heathrow Airport (LHR) is London’s largest airport and the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger movements, with services available from most major airports world-wide. More than 77 million passengers used Heathrow Airport during the period of Jul 2016 to Jun 2017.

Major Landmarks and Things to do

• Buckingham Palace. The London residence of the Queen, inWestminster. Open for tours during the summer months only, but a must-see sight even if you don’t go in.
• Tower Bridge. The iconic 19th century bridge located by the Tower of London near the city. It is decorated with high towers featuring a drawbridge. The public are allowed access to the interior of the bridge via the Tower Bridge Exhibition
• Take a walk through London’s Royal Parks. A good walk would start at Paddington station, and head through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park (passing Buckingham Palace) and St James Park before crossing Trafalgar Square and the River Thames to the South bank and Waterloo Station. At a strolling pace this walk would take half a day, with plenty of places to stop, sit, drink, eat en route.
• London is one of the world’s most fashion-conscious cities: it has an abundance of clothing shops from the flagship stores of oxford street to the tiny boutiques of Brick Lane