Monday Miscellanea | Londonist Monday Miscellanea By Dave Haste Last edited 34 months ago Dave Haste Monday Miscellanea This Week In London’s History Monday – 3 March 1982: The Barbican Centre is opened by the Queen. After 15 years of construction, at a cost of £161 million, the centre would become the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Tuesday – 4 March 1882: Britain’s first electric trams go into operation in Leytonstone, East London. Wednesday – 5 March 1856: The second Covent Garden Theatre is destroyed by a fire that breaks out at 5am, during a masked ball. Its replacement would become known as the Royal Opera House. Thursday – 6 March 1997: A gunman walks into the Lefevre Gallery in Mayfair and rips a £650,000 Picasso painting – Tête de Femme – from the wall, before making his escape in a black cab. The painting would be recovered a week later. Friday – 7 March 1969: The Victoria Line is officially opened by the Queen, in a ceremony at Victoria Station.

Intended as a fast, congestion-relieving alternative to other lines (such as the Piccadilly Line), the line makes significant use of ‘cross-platform interchanges’ to help with changing lines. London Quote Of The Week A mighty mass of brick and smoke and shipping, Dirty and dusky, but wide as eye Could reach, with here and there a sail just skipping In sight, then lost amid the forestry Of masts; a wilderness of steeples peeping On tiptoe, through the sea-coal canopy; A huge, dun cupola, like a foolscap crown On a fool's head — and there is London Town! Lord Byron, 'Don Juan' The Barbican Centre: everything you need to know The Barbican Centre: everything you need to know Posted on by David There is a reason why the Barbican Centre attracts so many people every year: not only is it a fantastic performing arts centre in the capital but it is the largest of its kind in the whole of Europe. So what is it and what can it offer you on your trip to London?

A brief history In an area that was badly bombed during World War II, the Barbican Centre rose out of the ashes; it was built after the surrounding Barbican Estate complex was constructed. Designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon in Brutalist style, the centre has a multi-level layout while the concrete ziggurat has always divided opinion, especially when considering that it was once voted the ugliest building in London. It was eventually opened to the public by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1982. Over the years, various additions were made to the Grade II listed building, such as a Pentagram design studio, bold signage, a new entrance on Silk Street, and a refurbishment of the main hall. The theatre was also built to be the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, but it wasn’t too long before the firm left – in 2013, the company returned to the centre for a three-year season of Shakespeare plays. What is there? The Centre regularly hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, film screenings, art exhibitions and theatre performances.

The Centre’s Concert Hall is the home of the BBC Symphony and London Symphony orchestras, and with it being owned by the City of London Corporation, a lot of money is thrown into it, making it the third biggest arts funder in the UK. In total there is the: Barbican Theatre that holds over 1,100 The Pit, which is a flexible 200-seat theatre venue Barbican Art Gallery Seven Conference Halls Two Trade Exhibition Halls There is also a library on the second floor, which is not only one of five City of London Libraries, but it is one of the largest public libraries in the city. Be sure to have a look at the London Collection, which boasts a wealth of historical books and resources, some of which date back 300 years. The library also hosts regular literary events. What’s on this year? Here are some of the major highlights that will be taking place at the Centre in 2015, but do note that there are also many temporary exhibitions and daily workshops,s so keep an eagle eye on the official website for more details of what may be on during your visit.

Running from August 5th to October 31st will be a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Lyndsey Turner. The reason why this show will be a must-see is because the title role will be carried out by no other than Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch. Telling the tale of a son seeking revenge for his father’s death, all while his country is getting ready for war and his family is falling apart, sanity and hysteria are put on the line. On July 6th and 7th, meanwhile, award-winning jazz performers Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock will be reuniting once again to give a once in a lifetime performance. They are set to take the Barbican Hall by storm, but note that tickets are set to be in hot demand. Other musical performances this year include Swedish hip-hop troupe Yung Lean And Sad Boys on February 23rd and Mozambique star Mariza performing Portuguese fado music on March 16th. You may, alternatively, want to partake on one of the many specialised tours that are available.

One of them is the Architecture Tour (tickets cost Â£10.50 for adults and Â£8.40 for others) where you can learn further about the external high walks, original designs for the site and the values involved in shaping this building. Or go on the Hidden Barbican Tour, which allows you to explore the unseen backstage spaces of the theatre, as you peruse the stage doors, dressing room corridors, art fly tower, Barbican conservatory and even get to go on stage yourself. Both tours also offer you discounts at the Foyer Shop. How to Get There From The Montcalm hotel , just walk to Marble Arch around the corner and hop onto the Central line to St Pauls. Walk up St Martin’s Le Grand until you reach the roundabout and then turn right onto London Wall. Take the next left onto Wood Street, and after 200 metres, you should see the Centre on your left. The entire journey should take you around 25 minutes. When you are done there, don’t call it a day, as there is a wide variety of attractions nearby.

Fort example, right round the corner is the great Museum of London – while it may not reach the heights of the British Museum we don’t think, it is still a brilliant way to spend an afternoon and learn more about this city’s interesting an eclectic past. Or just walk back to the St Paul’s tube stop, which is right opposite – you’ve guessed it – the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral. This is one attraction you cannot really miss on your itinerary. Who said that a trip to London didn’t have to be culturally focussed? Share the post "The Barbican Centre: everything you need to know" London Exhibition Centres | Top London Venues | LondonTown.com London Exhibition Centres London is one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world. Fantastic transport links to Britain and Europe, luxurious hotels, wonderful nightlife, and the capital's status as a hub of international business combine to make it the ideal conference venue. All preferences and budgets are catered for, intimate meeting rooms contrasting with impressive modern spaces.

Alexandra Palace Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Live Music Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY Enlarge Close After a shaky start - destroyed by fire 16 days after 'The People's Palace' first opened in 1873 - Alexandra Palace re-opened again two years later becoming the place from where the BBC beamed its first broadcast in 1935. The palace title maybe a little misleading - it's charm being more shabby chic than regal. Still, it's a great venue for the regular rock concerts, raves and exhibitions staged, with two massive indoor spaces. And, perched above the city, it boasts beautiful surroundings and wonderful views over London.

The London Model Engineering Exhibition On Soon 20th, 21st and 22nd January 2017 - 10am-5pm | £12, child £4, concs £11, adv £10.50, adv £3, adv concs £9.50 The London Model Engineering Exhibition Alexandra Palace 2017-01-202017-01-22 Where: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Category: Live Music A showcase of model engineering of trains, cars, planes and trucks. Visitors can take part in a range of activities and watch technical demonstrations. Feeling Gloomy Present Pulp On Ice On Soon Sunday 5th February 2017 - 8.30pm-11pm | £9.90, with own skates £8 Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Category: Live Music DJs will be spinning the works of Jarvis Cocker and his associates while the dancers will be spinning on the ice.

Friday 10th February 2017 | £24.50 Two Door Cinema Club Alexandra Palace 2017-02-102017-02-10 Where: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Category: Live Music The Irish indie rock outfit from County Down fronted by vocalist Alex Trimble head back onto the road to promote the third studio album Gameshow, which includes the single Are We Ready? (Wreck). The new ... more Underworld Friday 17th March 2017 - 6.30pm | £35 Underworld Alexandra Palace 2017-03-172017-03-17 Where: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Category: Live Music Ambient dance and electronica from the Cardiff-formed twosome of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith.

The London Festival Of Railway Modelling Saturday 25th March 2017 at 10am-5pm & Sunday 26th March 2017 at 10am-4.30pm | £12, adv £11, BRM Subscribers/adv £10, under 16s £6, under 5s Free, family £36 Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green London, N22 7AY Category: Live Music Barbican Centre Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC2Y 8DS Arts Centres Silk Street, City, London, EC2Y 8DS Enlarge Close Described by the Queen as 'one of the wonders of the modern world' , the Barbican Centre has also been voted 'London's ugliest building'. Ugly or not, this multi-faceted performance and arts venue is truly wondrous. Open 363 days a year, it offers the most diverse program of any London venue. As well as being home to the London Symphony Orchestra, the centre's giant Barbican Hall attracts a host of international classical, jazz, rock, and world music stars.

Two theatres offer a year-round program of some of the finest in international performing arts, while three cinemas mix mainstream films with specialist seasons. The Barbican Art Gallery , several smaller exhibition spaces, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, live music in the foyer, and a host of talks, signings, and events for children are also on offer.

13th October 2016 to 5th February 2017 The Vulgar Barbican Centre 2016-10-132017-02-05 Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC2Y 8DS Category: Arts Centres The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined Ongoing 13th October 2016 to 5th February 2017 - Various Times | £14.50, NUS/under 18s £10, Art Fund mems £12, Young Barbican £5, concs £12 The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined Barbican Centre 2016-10-132017-02-05 Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC2Y 8DS Category: Arts Centres 26th October 2016 to 16th April 2017 - Various Times | Free The Fantastic Barbican World Barbican Centre 2016-10-262017-04-16 Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC

2Y 8DS Category: Arts Centres 14th September 2016 to 18th April 2017 | Free Omer Arbel: 44 Barbican Centre 2016-09-142017-04-18 Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC2Y 8DS Category: Arts Centres Boy Blue Entertainment: Blak Whyte Gray On Soon 12th to 21st January 2017 - Various Times | £15.25 Barbican Centre, Silk Street London, EC2Y 8DS Category: Arts Centres The award-winning hip-hop dance company founded by choreographer Kenrick 'H20' Sandy and composer Michael 'Mikey J' Asante presents an exploration of the experiences of contemporary life in a triple bill.

Business Design Centre Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London, N1 0QH Venue Hire 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH Enlarge Close Exhibitors love this venue and it's easy to see why. The Business Design Centre in Islington is in a great location just one mile from The City and two from The West End. It also perfectly combines architectural beauty with modern facilities, offering a huge space to host the most stylish of events. One of its best features is the natural light that pours through the high barrel-vaulted roof of the Mezzanine. The ground level, Gallery Hall and Conference Centre combine to offer 6,000 square metres of flexible space in total and room enough to seat up to 1,500 visitors.

18th to 22nd Jan 2017 | £15 (in adv), £22 (on the door) | Six Day Ticket: £35 (in adv), £40 (on the door) London Art Fair Business Design Centre 2017-01-182017-01-22 Where: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London, N1 0QH Category: Venue Hire Now in its 29th year, the London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre shows no signs of losing its cutting edge. Whether you're buying or just looking you'll have over a hundred of London's ...

more Spring Stampex 2017 15th to 18th Feb 2017 - Various Times | Free Spring Stampex 2017 Business Design Centre 2017-02-152017-02-18 Where: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London, N1 0QH Category: Venue Hire Central Hall Westminster Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate London, SW1H 9NH Exhibition Centres Storey's Gate, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH Enlarge Close Combining its dual functions as an event/conference venue and a Methodist church, the imposing Central Hall Westminster also offers visitors (curious about exploring the inside of this Edwardian structure) free admission. Of the 30 meeting rooms, the largest holds 2,160. While refurbished to meet the needs of a modern functions host, the venue still has a strong period feel to it and has featured in a number of films, including 'Calendar Girls' and 'Jekyll and Hyde'. Gandhi, Churchill and the Price of Wales have all spoken here.

The hall also played host to the first General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946. Earls Court Exhibition Centre Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road London, SW5 9TA Exhibition Centres Warwick Road, Earls Court, London, SW5 9TA Enlarge Close The Earls Court and Olympia exhibition centres are the most popular in London for major public exhibitions. Located down the road from fashionable Kensington, this venue is as familiar to shoppers as it is to companies, and was selected as one of Britain's 'Superbrands', alongside Shell, Samsung, and Rolls-Royce. The centre has its own conference rooms, hotels, bars and a huge range of additional facilities. Events here are always well catered and set up for wireless internet use. However, the owners intend to close this venue, making way for a mixture of offices and residential buildings. So, make the most of it while you still can.

ExCeL London ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Venue Hire Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL A stunning architectural achievement, gigantic amounts of floor space accompanied by shops, bars and hotels, London's purpose built ExCel Exhibition Centre, opened in 2000, is an exciting venue in the city. The range of flexible, high-spec rooms is second to none, as is their customer support service. Though not as close as other venues to the major airports and central London, it's very close to City Airport and the presence of a DLR stop inside the centre means it remains convenient for public transport.

6th to 15th January 2017 | From £10 (Advance tickets), Free (Children under 15) London Boat Show ExCeL London 2017-01-062017-01-15 Where: ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Category: Venue Hire London's biggest exhibition of boats returns for its 63rd year in 2017, with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing everything from 1.4-metre sailing dinghies to 37-metre tri-deck motor yachts. Visitors to the 10-day London Boat Show will ...

more The Telegraph Cruise Show On Soon 13th and 14th January 2017 at 10am-5pm & 15th January 2017 at 10am-4pm | £15, concs £12, child Free The Telegraph Cruise Show ExCeL London 2017-01-132017-01-15 Where: ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Category: Venue Hire Learn about all elements of booking and embarking on the world of cruise. Speak to impartial advisers and receive specialist offers.

The Telegraph Travel Show On Soon 13th and 14th January 2017 at 10am-5pm & 15th January 2017 at 10am-4pm | £15, late entry £10 after 3pm, NUS/concs £12, under 16s Free The Telegraph Travel Show ExCeL London 2017-01-132017-01-15 Where: ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Category: Venue Hire Browse over 200 specialist travel exhibitors and destinations, and talk to industry experts about your next trip or big adventure. AFE London Art Antiques Interiors Fair On Soon 13th, 14th and 15th January 2017 - 11am | £12-£15 ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Category: Venue Hire The Birmingham-based arts and antiques fair launches in London. Featuring 150 dealers and celebrity speakers.

The Wedding Fair - Winter On Soon Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January 2017 - 10am-5pm | £15, ages 5-15 £5, under 5s Free, adv £12, gold ticket adv £18 inc glass of champagne The Wedding Fair - Winter ExCeL London 2017-01-142017-01-15 Where: ExCeL London , Royal Victoria Dock London, E16 1XL Category: Venue Hire Excited brides and their dashing grooms from across London, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hertfordshire and the South East can plan for the big day by meeting over 100 of the UK's best suppliers. Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre, 80 Vincent Square London, SW1P 2PE Venue Hire 80 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PE Enlarge Close This architecturally unique venue boasts two halls and a conference centre. Lindley Hall, overlooking leafy Vincent Square, is a popular venue for corporate events.

Since it re-launched in 2001 it has been the location for Paul Smith's fashion shows and Decanter Wine Awards. Originally built in 1904, this classical Edwardian structure has state-of-the art contemporary facilities including fully integrated sound system. Next door, Lawrence Hall has gorgeous high vaulted ceilings. This Art Deco style multi-purpose hall has become well established for hosting niche market trade shows such as antiques shows, wine fairs and classic car auctions. When combined with the Conference Centre - which can house any number from two to 200 people - it has proved a successful choice for exhibition organisers looking for up to 1,800mï¿½ of stunning space. Olympia London Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Exhibition Centres Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London, W14 8UX The Olympia Exhibition Centre is the most popular in London for major public exhibitions. Located down the road from fashionable Kensington, this venue is as familiar to shoppers as it is to companies, and was selected as one of Britain's 'Superbrands', alongside Shell, Samsung, and Rolls Royce.

The facilities here are first rate and the in-house technical and support staff are the most experienced in Britain. They can cope with just about any request. Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January 2017 | £8 The Adventure Travel Show Olympia London 2017-01-212017-01-22 Where: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Category: Exhibition Centres Back for its 21st year, The Adventure Travel Show is the UK's only event dedicated entirely to discovering the world off the beaten track. Whether you're interested in volunteering, a career break, trekking, diving, safari ...

more The France Show 27th and 28th January 2017 at 10am-5pm & 29th January 2017 at 10am-4pm | £16, adv £12 The France Show Olympia London 2017-01-272017-01-29 Where: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Category: Exhibition Centres Everything from food and wine to buying a home in France.

Olympia Historic Automobile Fair & Auction 17th February 2017 at 12noon-5pm, 18th February 2017 at 10am-5pm & 19th February 2017 at 10am-4pm | adv £15 Olympia Historic Automobile Fair & Auction Olympia London 2017-02-172017-02-19 Where: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Category: Exhibition Centres Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2017 - 10am-5pm | adv £6, £10 The London CRUISE Show Olympia London 2017-02-182017-02-19 Where: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Category: Exhibition Centres The Great British Beer Festival Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th August 2017 - 12noon | adv £11, £14 The Great British Beer Festival Olympia London 2017-08-0

82017-08-10 Where: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road London, W14 8UX Category: Exhibition Centres 10 iconic projects we have placed people at - Blog - Calco 10 iconic projects we have placed people at When you look across the impressive London skyline there are a number of iconic buildings you are bound to see; The Shard, Salesforce Tower and 20 Fenchurch Street just to name a few.

Many of us are familiar with these buildings but did you know Calco has played a part in the construction, delivery and maintenance of these buildings and projects? Calco has been in the construction , property and engineering recruitment industry for over three decades and has placed highly-skilled and extremely talented professionals on a huge number of projects in and around London, as well as across the UK! 20 Fenchurch Street: Located in the City of London's financial district you can find the commercial skyscraper 20 Fenchurch Street. This distinctive building is also referred to as 'The Walkie-Talkie', this is because of its unique shape. 20 Fenchurch Street, designed by the architect Rafael Viñoly has a top-heavy design, this is where the nickname 'The Walkie-Talkie' stems from. The construction of 20 Fenchurch Street started back in 2009 and the completion date was in August 2014, the cost of this project was in the region of £200m. The building itself is made up of 34 floors at a height of 160m (525ft), making it the 12th tallest building in London.

Floors 34-37 of 20 Fenchurch Street consist of a bar, restaurants, viewing deck and the 'sky garden', which gives you breath-taking views across the impressive London skyline! Barbican Centre: The Barbican Centre – who proudly holds the title of being the largest performing arts centre in Europe – can be found in the city of London, more specifically in the heart of the Barbican Estate. . This complex was designed by Chamberlain, Powell and Bon and was opened by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth on March 3rd 1982. At the time the Queen was quoted to say that The Barbican Centre was 'one of the modern wonders of the world'. The Barbican was designed in a Brutalist style, a style most prolific during 1950-70. The cost of this project was of £156m at the time of construction, since its official opening there have been a number of extensive redevelopment schemes carried out on the Barbican increasing this original construction cost by a significant amount. Bulgari Hotel: The Bulgari Hotel is located in the heart of Knightsbridge, on the edge of Hyde Park.

This lavish hotel was opened in 2012, the launch date was set so that works would be completed in time for the London Olympics held that same year. As well as the 85 rooms and suites the hotel also houses a cigar shop, swimming pool, spa, ballroom, cinema, restaurant and to top it off a roof garden! This exquisite hotel was designed by Antoni Citterio, Patricia Viel & Partners. The overall cost of this project is in the sum of £350m. Canary Wharf Estate: Canary Wharf Estate is located in Tower Hamlets, East London and is a major business district home to a number of European headquarters including major media organisations and banks. It is one of the two main financial districts in London, the other being the City of London. The Canary Wharf Estate is predominantly made up of office and retail space. In 2014 planning permission for the first residential development was approved with work on this project scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018. 199 Knightsbridge Apartments: In the highly desirable postal code of Knightsbridge, opposite the Bulgari Hotel you can find the Knightsbridge Apartments.

These extremely high-end residential estate consists of 205 units made up of Mews Houses, luxury apartments and penthouses. As well as the impressive residencies also included in this estate is a communal garden square, spa, swimming pool and 3 levels of underground private parking for its residents. The construction of these prestigious apartments began in 2002 with works being complete in 2005 at a cost of $195m. Salesforce Tower: The Heron Tower (name later changed to 110 Bishopsgate) can be found in Bishopsgate and is the tallest building in the City of London's financial district standing at an impressive height of 755ft! Work started on this project in 2007 and was completed in 2011. This is a commercial skyscraper designed by the American architectural firm Kohn Pederson Fox. The primary use of the building being office space but it also offers dining and bar options open to the public, as well as this the Heron Tower is the home of Europe's largest privately owned aquarium containing 1,200 fish! London Bridge Station: London Bridge Station is a nine terminal railway station located in Central London.

This station is the oldest functioning railway station in the world, being opened back in December 1836. In summer 2011 planning applications where accepted by London Borough of Southwark to go ahead with the redevelopment of the station. This redevelopment project involves creating new platforms and increasing the size of the station, the intention being to increase passenger and rail capacity improving the overall functionality of the station. These works are scheduled to be complete in 2018 at an estimated cost of £6.5bn. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium: This sporting complex located East of the City was built for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games, encompassing an Olympic Village, Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and a Media Centre. This project involved over 80,000 workers with the cost of the Olympic Stadium alone at £537m! After the Olympic Games where finished work started on a transformation project on the site at a cost of £292m, this included work on the Olympic Village being converted into a residential district now called East Village. Since the games the Stadium itself has been used to host a number of high-profile concerts and is now the new home to West Ham United Football Club.

Although a vast number of changes have been made since its original opening back in 2012, there is still a lot of redevelopment work scheduled to continue to regenerate and improve this site. The Shard: This impressive Skyscraper is located in Southwark in the London Bridge Quarter development, standing proud at 1,016 ft high the Shard is the tallest building in the UK and Europe and is the 87th tallest in the world! Construction on this project began in March 2009 with final works completed in November 2012. The project was designed by the Italian architect and engineer Renzo Piano at a cost of £1.2bn. The building is covered in 11,000 panes of glass, this is where the name 'the Shard' come from! 95% of the materials used to build the Shard are recycled along with 20% of the steelworks used also being recycled. The building itself is made up of 72 habitable floors including restaurants, a hotel, offices, viewing decks and residences, some on offer for a staggering £50m!

Westfield Stratford and White City: Westfield Stratford and White City are shopping centres located in London. The White City shopping centre was opened in October 2008 at a cost of £1.6bn with the Stratford centre being opened in September 2011 at a cost of £1.4bn. Both sites boast an impressive selection of shops and restaurants spread over a vast floor space as well as cinemas, hotels and leisure facilities. Westfield Stratford holds the title of being the 3rd biggest shopping centre in the United Kingdom! The Westfield Stratford site is located close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and is part of Stratford City, a large development project. Westfield White City can be found in the White City district development project in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

London (Canada) facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about London (Canada) Location: Southeastern England on the Thames River Motto: " God save the Queen." Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); 1 pm British Summer Time (late Marchlate October) = noon GMT Elevation: 5 m (16 ft) Latitude and Longitude: 40°45'N, 73°59'W Climate : Mild winters and temperate summers Annual Mean Temperature: 11°C (52.0°F); January 5.5°C (42°F); July 18°C (65°F) Seasonal Average Snowfall: 20 days of snow, no accumulation; Average Annual Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 101.6 cm (40 in) Government: Mayor-council Weights and Measures: Metric system Monetary Units: Decimal system based on the pound sterling, a paper currency of 100 pence Telephone Area Codes: 20, followed by 7 or 8 depending on location; (UK Code, 44) Postal Codes: Letter for general area (E = East; EC = East Central; N =

 North; NW = Northwest; SE = Southeast; SW = Southwest; W = West; WC = West Central); numbers for specific district 1.

Introduction London, the capital of Great Britain , is also one of the world's capitals of finance, fashion, arts and entertainment. The city has a recorded history dating back to Roman times and encompassing the lives of such illustrious political figures as William the Conqueror, Thomas à Becket, and Queen Elizabeth I, as well as those of William Shakespeare , John Milton, and the other authors who created one of the world's great bodies of literature. Formerly the heart of a vast empire, London was also a center of the Industrial Revolution (c. 1750) and a showcase for both the material progress and the dire social ills it created. In the twentieth century, the city has rebuilt and renewed itself following the devastating bombing attacks of World War II (1939–1945) and discovered a new identity as a post-imperial, multi-ethnic metropolis. It enters a new century (and the third millennium of its history) reinvigorated by a booming economy, as well as the inauguration of a new form of local government. Located in southeastern England, London is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) upstream from the Thames River's estuary on the North Sea .

Highways Various highways lead into London from all directions, like the spokes of a wheel, intersecting with highway M25, which rings the Greater London area, and, farther in, with highways A205 and 406, which circle the central part of the city. Bus and Railroad Service Eurostar trains provide service between London and six destinations in France and Belgium . London's train stations provide direct connections to the city's buses and Underground. The Chunnel train runs between Paris and London's Waterloo station. Airports Located 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the center of London, Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest in the world. Gatwick, which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the city, is less heavily used, but traffic there is growing steadily. Smaller airports are Stansted, used primarily for travel to and from the European continent, and London City Airport, which is popular with business travelers from elsewhere in Britain and from northern Europe. Shipping Historically, London's location on the Thames and its proximity to both the English Channel and the North Sea—as well as its position as the center of an international empire—made it one of the world's great trading centers.

Until World War II the Port of London was the busiest in the world. Since the late 1960s, however, London's shipping traffic has declined dramatically due to competition, labor problems, and changes in the shipping industry itself. In 2000, the Port of London accounted for only eight percent of Britain's total shipping traffic. London Population Profile The London metropolitan area's rank among the world's urban areas. The percent of England's total population living in the London metropolitan area. London's port is administered by the Port of London Authority (PLA), which handles environmental and navigation issues for the part of the Thames that falls under its jurisdiction. Through its 86 terminals, the port handles a full range of cargo, which is shipped to destinations all over the world. 3. Getting Around London can be divided into three concentric districts that reflect the city's growth over time. At the core is the historic City of London, which covers only 2.6 square kilometers (one square mile). It forms part of a larger surrounding area known as Inner London, which was developed between the late eighteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Inner London is surrounded by the remaining outer boroughs, consisting of residential suburbs built in the first half of the twentieth century, which complete the greater metropolitan area. The major means of orientation in Inner London is the Thames River, which divides the city into north and south. (Most important points in the city are on the northern bank.) Another major point of reference is the contrast between east and west: the wealthier and more prestigious parts of the city lie toward the west while the East End is a working-class manufacturing and shipping district. Bus and Commuter Rail Service Bus and rail services are operated by London Transport throughout the Greater London area. A fleet of about 5,400 buses covers 700 routes which encompass 140 bus stations and stands and some 10,000 bus shelters. The city's underground trains (known simply as the Underground or "the Tube") service over 260 stations; 500 trains make over 2.5 million passenger journeys daily. The £3.2 billion Jubilee Line Extension, opened in November 1999, runs between Green Park and Waterloo. It is the single largest expansion of the underground system in 25 years.

Sightseeing A number of bus tours are available, including the hour-and-a-half Original London Sightseeing Tour aboard an old-fashioned double-decker bus. Harrods department store operates its own double-decker bus tours, and Big Bus Company, Ltd. runs two-hour tours in the summertime, covering 18 popular tourist attractions. Companies offering walking tours include the Original London Walks, Discovery Walks, Guided Walks in London, and John Wittich. The Port of London, an increasingly popular cruise ship destination, has four cruise ship moorings, at Tower Bridge, Greenwich, West India Dock, and Tilbury. Tours are also offered on London's canals. 4. People In 1992, the population of the City of London, the central downtown part of the city, was estimated at 3,900. The surrounding area of Inner London, consisting of the City of London and 13 boroughs of Greater London, had an estimated population of 2,632,100. Altogether, the population of the 33 boroughs of the Greater London metropolitan area was estimated at 6,904,600.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, London's immigrant communities were mostly small and self-contained, giving it a less cosmopolitan flavor than other comparable cities. Nineteenth-century immigrant groups included Italians, French, Chinese, Germans, Scandinavians, Irish, and, in the last decades of the century, Polish and Russian Jews. (More Jewish immigrants from both Eastern and Western Europe followed in the years before and after World War II.) City Fact Comparison 1948 1United Nations population estimates for the year 2000. 2The maximum amount the U.S. Government reimburses its employees for business travel. The lodging portion of the allowance is based on the cost for a single room at a moderately-priced hotel. The meal portion is based on the costs of an average breakfast, lunch, and dinner including taxes, service charges, and customary tips. Incidental travel expenses include such things as laundry and dry cleaning. 3David Maddux, ed. Editor&Publisher International Year Book. New York : The Editor&Publisher Company, 1999. Since the influx of immigrants from Britain's former colonies that began in the 1950s, London's population has steadily grown even more diverse.

The new immigrants include West Indians, East Indians, Bangladeshis, and people from a variety of African nations. When the 1991 census was taken, one child of every three born in London was born to an immigrant mother. In 2000, nearly one-quarter of the city's population was born overseas. However, much of the ethnic diversity of Greater London is concentrated in its western boroughs while those to the east are home primarily to British-born whites. 5. Neighborhoods Because London developed in a random fashion rather than according to a plan, it is actually a cluster of distinct neighborhoods rather than a unified metropolis. Outside the older, original part of the city, London's various neighborhoods retain some features of the individual villages they once were before they were incorporated into the expanding capital. Each has its own character, with its own distinct combination of residents, building styles, and local businesses, and each inspires a strong feeling of attachment among its residents. However, there also tends to be diversity within these neighborhoods, thanks to London's multi-ethnic population and the presence of public rental housing in most parts of the city, assuring some diversity in income level in most areas.

London's oldest district is "the City," the part that corresponds to the original walled city (Londinium) built by the Romans in the first century A. D. and still occupies its original area of roughly 2.6 square kilometers (one square mile). Today it is home to London's major financial institutions, including the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange, and is full of hustle and bustle during weekdays. However, only a fraction of the City's busy work force actually lives there, so it is all but deserted on weekends. Located along the Thames in the western part of London, and to the east of St. James's Park, Westminster is the political heart of London, home of the British parliament and the prime minister's residence at Number 10 Downing Street. It is also the location of one of the world's great religious structures, Westminster Abbey . Westminster has more historic buildings and fewer commercial sites than any other part of London and also encompasses the area known as Victoria, which gets its name from the Victoria Station stop on the Underground. Located in the fashionable West End, St. James' and Mayfair are the wealthiest and most aristocratic parts of central London.

The elite Mayfair district is the site of fashionable homes, luxury hotels, and exclusive shops while St. James' is the home of Buckingham Palace and the last bastion of that traditional hallmark of British privilege, the all-male gentleman's club. To the north is Marylebone, home of the famous Madame Toussaud's waxworks. To the west, south of Hyde Park, is Knightsbridge, where the popular Harrod's department store is located; it is one of London's most fashionable residential and shopping districts. Further south lie aristocratic Belgravia and stylish Chelsea. To the north, the cosmopolitan neighborhood of Soho has been rescued from its one-time decline into a red-light district, although the famed Carnaby Street has never recaptured the glory of the 1960s when it was the heart of swinging London. With its great cultural diversity, this district boasts a large number and variety of ethnic eateries. Bloomsbury, a great literary and artistic center in the early twentieth century, is still the academic heart of London, as the location of the University of London and other colleges. Holborn, home to the Royal Courts of Justice, was historically—and still is—the city's primary legal center.

East of the City of London lie the neighborhoods of the East End, including Bow, Poplar, West Ham, Stepney, Canning Town, and others. This has traditionally been the poorest part of the city. Heavily bombed during World War II, the East End has undergone large-scale urban renewal, but the large immigrant populations attracted to the area's low rents over the generations have left it a multicultural melting pot. 6. History The Romans, who invaded Britain in A. D. 43, first founded London (which they called Londinium) at the site of the present-day City of London (the oldest, walled part or the "square mile") on the northern bank of the Thames River. Although burned down in a rebellion a scant 17 years later, the city was soon rebuilt and had become a flourishing trading center by A. D. 100. By the middle of the third century, Londinium was the largest city in Britain, with a population of as many as 50,000 inhabitants, and its boundaries corresponded to those of today's historic central core.

In the fifth century, the Romans, under siege by Germanic invaders, vacated Londinium, and the city entered a long period of decay and neglect. Following a Danish invasion in 878, King Alfred of Wessex (849–899) retook and began rebuilding the city, which expanded northward and became known as Londontown. South-wark, on the south bank of the Thames, also grew and prospered, and Westminster, upstream from London and at that time an island surrounded by marsh-land, underwent development when King Edward the Confessor (c. 1003–1066) built a royal palace there following his accession in 1042. This was the beginning of Westminster's history as home to royalty and center of government. It was in Westminster Abbey that William, Duke of Normandy (1027–1087), was crowned king of England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. To win the cooperation of London's political leaders and wealthy merchants, he granted the city special powers through a charter.

By the end of the twelfth century, London had a population of around 40,000 and had elected its first mayor. In the fourteenth century, disaster struck, in the form of the Black Death, which spread to London via ships traveling from Europe and ultimately killed about one-third of England's population. Over the next three centuries, London was to undergo several recurrences of the epidemic. The inception of the Tudor dynasty in 1485 brought the city further growth and prosperity, peaking with the reign of Elizabeth I in the sixteenth century, by which time London was the center of a global empire and one of the foremost cities of Europe. In the meantime, the population outside the city walls had grown dramatically, reaching 200,000 by the year 1600. Decrees were issued to slow further growth, limiting London to a "Green Belt" surrounding the outer city. The restrictions caused overcrowding in the central city, contributing to a new outbreak of plague in 1665. The following year, roughly two-thirds of the city (by now the world's largest) was burned down in the Great Fire.

A massive rebuilding effort restored the city, with brick and stone replacing its original wooden buildings. A new grid-based plan for the city by architect Sir Christopher Wren was not adopted, however, and London's layout essentially retained its original patterns. London grew rapidly in the eighteenth century, with a steadily expanding population and new streets and neighborhoods. Its first squares, including Covent Garden and Leicester Square, added new elegance to the fashionable parts of town. However, many in the oldest districts lived in dire poverty, and crime and rioting were commonplace. In the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution caused further deterioration in living conditions for many Londoners, polluting their air and worsening the already existing pollution of the Thames. Yet, London remained the largest and wealthiest city in the world and the center of a vast empire, and the Great Exhibition of 1851, held in the Crystal Palace constructed in Hyde Park, celebrated the city's achievements. The two world wars of the twentieth century brought air raids to London; those of World War II left the city decimated and necessitated large-scale rebuilding. A major postwar development was the exodus of many Londoners to the suburbs.

The drive to attract immigrant labor from Britain's former Third World colonies turned London into a multi-ethnic city but also led to racial tensions. Recent decades brought the "Swinging 60s," when London became the world's capital of popular culture; the economic crises of the 1970s; and the Thatcher Era of the 1980s, when the Greater London Council (GLC) was abolished, leaving the city with no metropolitan government. As the twentieth century drew to a close, London was on the eve of a new era in local government as its citizens prepared to elect a mayor and council. 7. Government The City of London has had its own local government—one of the world's oldest—since the Middle Ages . Even though it is now part of a much larger urban entity, the city has remained an autonomous jurisdiction with a Lord Mayor, a City Corporation, and, among other powers, jurisdiction over its own police force. The surrounding area of Greater London has been politically fragmented for most of its history.

In 1965 more than 100 local councils were merged into 33 boroughs (one of which was the City of London), and the Greater London Council (GLC) was established to serve as the elected government of the greater metropolitan area. In 1986 the conservative national government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925) abolished the left-leaning (and, by many accounts, ineffective) GLC, leaving the individual borough councils as virtually the sole governing authority for Greater London. In a May 1998 referendum sponsored by the British labor government elected in 1997, London's citizens voted for a restoration of government at the metropolitan level with the establishment of a mayor-council government to consist of a strong mayor directly elected by the voters and a 25-member assembly. With the new government slated to take office in the autumn of 2000, mayoral elections scheduled for 1999 drew a colorful roster of contenders, including actress Glenda Jackson and novelist and political conservative Jeffrey Archer. 8.

Public Safety London's Metropolitan Police District, first established in 1829, is responsible for an area of 2,035 square kilometers (786 square miles), which includes the entire metropolitan area and some of its environs. The City of London, however, has always retained its own police force in addition to the Metropolitan Police, and the two law enforcement organizations operate in tandem in the "square mile" at the center of London. Separate forces are also maintained by the Royal Parks Constabulary and the British Transport Police. Violent crime remains relatively rare in London, which is safer than many major cities in Europe and the United States . Although the regular police forces still do not carry guns, special "armed response units" now patrol the streets around the clock. 9. Economy London was historically a shipping and manufacturing city. However, both of these sectors have declined sharply since the 1960s. Over a million manufacturing jobs were lost between 1960 and 1990 as traditional craft-based manufacturing waned and newer growth industries relocated to areas outside both London and other major cities, aided by government incentives to attract industry to high-unemployment regions.

Manufacturing has been eclipsed by financial services, in which London has become both a national and a world leader. In 1990, business and financial services accounted for one in six jobs. London laid claim to one-third of all British employment in this sector—reportedly the world's largest concentration of such jobs in one metropolitan center. International banking, commodities, securities trading, and reinsurance services have crowded into modern office towers in the historic "square mile" of the City of London, providing new opportunities for commercial development, subject to the space limitations of the district. By the end of the 1990s, the recession of the early part of the decade was over; tourism was booming; and major public works projects were under way, spurred by the approach of a new millennium. 10. Environment The industrial revolution brought both air and water pollution to London as early as the nineteenth century. The term "smog" was coined at the turn of the twentieth century to describe the mix of smoke from coal fires with London's characteristic fog. The heavily industrialized East End suffered the worst pollution of all.

In the mid-twentieth century, the British government began to take action, passing the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968, which outlawed coal burning. However, London's air is still polluted by carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzines, and other chemicals, and motor vehicle fumes remain a problem, endangering the health of London's residents and even causing deterioration of the city's buildings. Heavy smog was responsible for the deaths of over 160 people in 1992. Industrialization and unregulated sewage disposal also compromised the condition of London's lifeline, the Thames River, which was so polluted by the mid-nineteenth century that its smell wafted through the halls of Parliament. Tighter pollution controls since the 1960s have improved the water quality of the river, and there has been an upsurge in the river's stock of fish and other forms of aquatic life. Another danger associated with the Thames is the likelihood of flooding, which posed serious threats to the population in 1928 and 1953.

Authorized in the 1970s, the Thames Barrier, consisting of ten steel gates, was completed in 1982 at a cost of £500 million. 11. Shopping Shopping is one of the favorite activities in London for residents and visitors alike. Besides Harrod's, well-known department stores in London include Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, and Liberty. The West End is home to the greatest number of high-profile shops and department stores, many found in such key venues as Oxford Street and Bond Street. Another popular shopping spot there is the glass-roofed Burlington Arcade, which features a wide selection of shops and boutiques. Soho and Covent Garden both provide ample shopping opportunities, as does Knightsbridge, home of the famous Harrod's department store. Kensington High Street is popular with devotees of youth culture while Kensington Church Street is known for its selection of antique shops. London's open markets are legendary. The most famous is Covent Garden Market has crafts, antiques, and other specialty shops. The suburb of Greenwich is known for its flea and craft markets, which brim with customers every Sunday. Portobello Market in Notting Hill is another well-known venue for antiques.

Charing Cross Road (made famous by 84 Charing Cross Road, a well-known book by Helene Hanff) is the city's major booksellers' district and includes a number of antiquarian book dealers. Other areas where London presents special shopping opportunities include designer clothing, china , and glass collectibles. 12. Education The 33 boroughs of Greater London are responsible for operating their own school systems, which are attended by nine out of ten children in London. The rest are enrolled in private schools. Among the most prestigious (with dates of founding) are St. Paul's School (1509), Harrow School (1572), Dulwich College (1618), and the City of London School (1834). London's 12 universities enroll more than 110,000 full-time and 50,000 part-time students. The University of London consists of some three dozen separate institutions located throughout the metropolitan area, including Goldsmiths' College, Imperial College, King's College, and the famous London School of Economics. Among London's other universities are City University, Guildhall University, South Bank University, University of East London, and University of Westminster.

13. Health Care In London, as elsewhere in Britain, both British residents and nationals of other EU countries receive free medical treatment under the National Health Service (NHS). Other visitors are covered for emergency care only. London's oldest hospital, St. Bartholomew's, was founded in 1123; other historic hospitals are St. Thomas's (1213), Guy's (1725), St. George's (1733), and the London Hospital (1740). Among the city's other health-care facilities are Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, University College Hospital, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, and Moorfields Eye Hospital. 14. Media The newspapers available in London are mostly national publications.

At the upper end of the respectability spectrum are the daily "broadsheets" (with circulation figures from 1998): the Daily Telegraph (1,047,861) , the Times of London (766,999) , the Independent (223,110) , and the Guardian (393,856) . All have Sunday editions except the Guardian, whose publishers put out the Observer on Sundays. The "middle-brow" publications are the Daily Mail, the market leader (2,387,867), and the Daily Express (1,118,981) . At the bottom rung are the infamous tabloids, which cater to the universal taste for celebrity gossip, photographs by the paparazzi, and sensationalism of all kinds. Britain's leading tabloid is The Sun , which sells some seven million copies daily. Its major competitors are the Daily Star and the Mirror. London's only local daily paper is the Evening Standard, which resembles a local counterpart, the Daily Mail. More than 6,500 professional and popular magazines are available in London, one of the world's publishing capitals.

Women's magazines are the biggest sellers. Fashion magazines, men's magazines, and sports magazines are popular as well. International politics and business are covered by The Economist. Other serious publications include The Spectator, the New Statesman, and Prospect. BBC-operated BBC1 and BBC2 provide London's most-watched television programming. BBC2 is the more creative and offbeat of the two. Independent channels include ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. A wide gamut of FM stations broadcasts radio programming of all kinds. 15. Sports In London, as elsewhere throughout Britain, soccer (called football) tops the list of popular sports for both spectators and participants. Amateur games can be found in parks and other green spaces throughout the city. The game is played professionally from August until May. The sport is organized within individual boroughs rather than citywide, giving London 13 teams, each of which is closely associated with a particular locality rather than the city itself. It is common for crowds of up to 15,000 to attend regular-season games, rising to between 30,000 and 40,000 for playoffs. In summertime, cricket is popular.

There are almost 1,000 clubs, and amateur games abound. Spring brings the annual boat race between the rival universities of Oxford and Cambridge. London draws the international attention of the sports world every June when the Wimbledon matches are held, and horse racing remains a popular spectator sport although Londoners must travel to such venues as Epsom Downs and Ascot as the city's last race-course closed in 1970. Other spectator sports include greyhound racing, hockey, and auto racing. Both forms of rugby—rugby league and rugby union—are played in London, whose rugby league team is the London Broncos. The American games of basketball and baseball are growing in popularity. 16. Parks and Recreation London is famed for the network of parks, squares, and commons found throughout the city. Two of the best known are Grosvenors Square and Trafalgar Square, the latter a major landmark and popular venue for street performers. London's most famous city parks, all located in the West End, are St.

James's Park (the oldest one); Buckingham Palace Gardens, adjacent to the royal residence; Green Park; Hyde Park, the largest at 248 hectares (615 acres), and famed for its "soapbox" for public speakers; Kensington Gardens; and Regent's Park, site of the Zoological Gardens and Regent's Canal. Other green spaces include Chelsea Physic Garden, where medicinal herbs and other plants have been grown since the seventeenth century; Kew Gardens, famous for its trees and hothouses; the Hill Gardens; Kenwood; and Battersea Park on the south bank of the Thames. 17. Performing Arts London, where the plays of William Shakespeare were written and staged, is still the undisputed theater capital of the world. It is home to both venerable traditional companies and cutting-edge experimental troupes.

The major established theaters are the Barbican Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company; the Royal Court Theatre, which produced the plays of London's "angry young men" in the 1950s; the Royal National Theatre, which stages productions in three theaters; the historic Drury Lane Theater, which has stood since 1812; and, since 1997, the Globe Theatre, a replica of the Elizabethan theatre where William Shakespeare's plays were performed that stands at the exact site of the original. "Fringe" theater groups present first-rate productions of alternative theater, revivals, musicals, and other contemporary works at the ICA Theatre, the Almeida Theatre (also the site of an annual festival of contemporary music), the Young Vic, and the King's Head. London is also one of the world's foremost centers for classical music, supporting no fewer than five major symphony orchestras: the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony, and the BBC Philharmonic. In addition, the city is home to distinguished choral groups, early music ensembles, and chamber groups.

These include the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. One of the world's most famous concert halls is located in Royal Albert Hall, which hosts concerts by a variety of famous figures in the worlds of both classical and popular music, as well as a century-old London musical tradition known as "the Proms," a series of orchestra concerts presented every summer. Two of London's most famous theaters have undergone major improvements in the 1990s. The Sadler's Wells Theatre, a hundred-year-old-building that is home to opera and dance concerts, was demolished (except for its original facade) and reopened as a redesigned modern facility in 1998. During the same period, the world-famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden closed for 30 months for a $360 million renovation, reopening in late 1999 with a new foyer, as well as new backstage facilities, new rehearsal rooms, and a studio theater. Royal Opera and Royal Ballet both perform at the facility, whose new rehearsal studios will now make it the permanent home of the Ballet, which formerly rehearsed in other quarters. 18.

Libraries and Museums London's premier library is the British Library, whose collection encompasses some 12 million items, including books, manuscripts, and other materials. Formerly housed in the British Museum , it moved to a newly designed building in St. Pancras in 1996. Among the treasured artifacts contained in the library are two copies of the 1215 Magna Carta , a Gutenberg Bible, an early-fifteenth-century copy of The Canterbury Tales, and letters, journals, and early editions of famous British literary figures including William Shakespeare. With over six million visitors a year, the British Museum is London's most popular tourist attraction. From ancient Egyptian statues to the Elgin Marbles to an extensive collection of Japanese prints, the breadth of the museum's collection, begun in 1753, is virtually unrivaled. Its present building was designed in 1847. London's other major museums include the National Gallery, containing Western art from the Middle Ages to the present; the Tate Gallery, specializing in British art; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, devoted to the decorative arts. The Saatchi Gallery is known for its outstanding collection of contemporary (and sometimes controversial) art.

The Museum of London traces the city's history; William Hogarth's satirical series The Rake's Progress is housed in Sir John Sloane's Museum; and the National Portrait Gallery features portraits of famous people in British history. Among London's multitude of other museums are the Design Museum, which focuses on modern design; the Imperial War Museum; the Institute of Contemporary Arts; the Jewish Museum; the London Transport Museum; the popular Museum of the Moving Image, which chronicles the history of movies and television; the Natural History Museum; the Royal Academy of Arts; the Science Museum; and the Theatre Museum. 19. Tourism London's historic and cultural attractions have made it one of the world's great tourist centers. Over ten million people visit the city annually. Collectively, visitors to London spend over 100 million nights annually in the city's hotels, and more than 200,000 people are directly employed by the tourist industry while tourism indirectly creates employment for many more. Lord Mayor's Procession and Show December Caroling Under the Norwegian Christmas Tree Watch Night Thomas à Becket (1118–1170), saint and martyr, archbishop of Canterbury .

Poet Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400), author of The Canterbury Tales. Thomas More (1477–1535), statesman and author of Utopia. King Henry VIII (1491–1547), Tudor king and founder of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603). Francis Bacon (1561–1626), writer and philosopher. William Shakespeare (1564–1616), playwright and poet. Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), soldier and statesman, lord protector of England. Poet John Milton (1608–1674), author of Paradise Lost. John Dryden (1631–1700), poet and literary critic. Samuel Pepys (1633–1703), diarist. Henry Purcell (1659–1695), composer. Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723), architect. Alexander Pope (1688–1744), poet and satirist.

William Hogarth (1697–1764), painter and engraver. Samuel Johnson (1709–84), essayist, critic, and lexicographer. Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–92), portrait painter. James Boswell (1740–95), diarist and biographer of Johnson. William Blake (1757–1827), poet. Joseph Turner (1775–1851), painter, master of landscape art and water-colour. William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), novelist. Charles Dickens (1812–1870), novelist. Poets Robert Browning (1812–1889) and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861). Queen Victoria (1819–1901). William Gilbert (1836–1911), librettist. Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), composer. Winston Churchill (1874–1965), prime minister during World War II.

Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), novelist. T. S. Eliot (b. United States, 1888–1965), American-born British poet, critic, and dramatist. Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), screen actor. Alfred Hitchcock (1889–1980), movie director. Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925), prime minister. Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926), ascended to the throne in 1952. Books Bradley, Simon and Nikolaus Pevsner. London: The City Churches. London: Penguin Books, 1998. Butler, Brian. London for Free: Hundreds of Free Things to Do in London. 3rd rev. ed. Memphis , TN: Mustang Publishing, 1997. Clout, Hugh, ed. The Times London History Atlas. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Collin, Francesca. The Arts & Entertainment in London. New York: Sterling Publishing, 1997. Davies, Andrew. Literary London.

New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988. Duncan, Andrew. Walking London: Thirty Original Walks in and around London. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, 1994. Edel, Leon. Bloomsbury: A House of Lions. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1979. Hall, Peter. London 2001. Boston: Unwin Hyman, 1989. Hendershott, Barbara Sloan, and Alzina Stone Dale. Mystery Reader's Walking Guide, London. 2nd ed. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, 1996. Howes, Karen. Living in London. Photographs by Simon Upton. London: Thames & Hudson, 1999. Kureishi, Hanif. London Kills Me: Three Screenplays and Four Essays. New York: Penguin Books, 1992. Lain, Larry, and Michael Lain. London for Families. New York: Interlink Books, 1997. Parnell, Geoffrey. Book of the Tower of London. London: B.T.

Batsford, 1993. Porter, Roy. London: A Social History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994. Weinreb, Ben, and Christopher Hibbert. London Encyclopaedia. Rev. ed. London: MacMillan, 1993. Young, Ken, and Patricia L. Garside. Metropolitan London, Politics and Urban Change, 1837–1981. New York: Holmes & Meier, 1982. Cite this article . The Royal Academy of Music was founded in 1822, the Royal College of Music in 1882, Trinity College of Music in 1872, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1880, and the London College of Music in 1887. In addition the Univ. of London has a thriving musical wing. MISCELLANEOUS . In festivals, libraries, publishing firms, and not least the churches, from Westminster Abbey , Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, the Temple Church, and much besides, London's music is blessed by abundance.

The capital is fortunate in having and holding so much; the only cavil is that some Londoners sometimes assume that nowhere else (in Britain ) has anything. Cite this article

Question: Which London performing arts centre, the largest in Europe, opened on 3rd March 1982?
Answer: Barbican Centre