London is the capital and the largest city of England and the United Kingdom.
It was founded by the Romans after the invasion of 43 AD on the banks of the River Thames.
London is considered as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe with over 8 million inhabitants. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the number of its inhabitants London represented the biggest city in the world, and today it is one of the most important political, educational, cultural, commercial, tourist, financial, fashion and sports centers in the world, known for its unofficial title of world cultural capital. With six international airports that annually transport over 120 million passengers, London ranks among the busiest air centers in the world, while the London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe, making London an educational center. London is the only city that has hosted the greatest sports event on the planet Summer Olympics Games three times so far - 1908, 1948 and 2012.
Due to its rich and long history, there are numerous cultural and historical monuments in London, of which four are World Heritage Sites announced by UNESCO: Tower of London, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich with the famous Royal Observatory, marking prime meridian. Among other famous landmarks are Buckingham Palace (official residence of the British royal family), the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard.