When the Romans arrived in 43 AD, they established Londinium as a permanent military camp. By the time of King George I (1714-27), London was the world’s largest city with a population approaching one million. The 19th century witnessed its emergence as the capital of an empire that stretched across the globe. The city’s population grew from just over one million in 1801 to nearly seven million by 1901, bringing with it overcrowding and pollution, especially in the slums of the East End. The accession of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) coincided with a period in which the country’s international standing reached unprecedented heights. The spirit of the era was perhaps best embodied by the Great Exhibition of 1851, which took place in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. London has come a long way since the Thatcher years in the 1980s. Redevelopment has continued apace and a series of prestigious millennium projects and a lot of commercial construction have changed the face of the city. There has also been large-scale investment in infrastructure, with more to come in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.

POLITICS

The party system, which has existed since the 18th century, depends on organised political groups, each of which presents its policies to the electorate for approval. For the last 150 years, Great Britain has had a predominantly two-party system.

Most candidates in elections, and almost all winning candidates, belong to one of the three main parties. Since 1945, either the Conservative Party, whose origins go back to the 18th century, or the Labour Party, which emerged in the last decade of the 19th century, has held power.

The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party, which also traces its origins to the 18th century, merged with the Social Democratic Party, founded in 1981.

Other parties include two national parties—Plaid Cymru (the Party of Wales) and the Scottish National Party. Northern Ireland has a number of parties. They include the Ulster Unionists, the Democratic Unionists (founded by a group that broke away from the Ulster Unionists), the Social Democratic and Labour Party, and Sinn Fein.

The party that wins most seats (although not necessarily the most votes) at a General Election, or which has the support of a majority of members in the House of Commons, usually becomes the Government. By tradition, the Sovereign invites the leader of that party to form a government. About 100 members of the governing party in the House of Commons and the House of Lords receive ministerial appointments (including appointment to the Cabinet) on the advice of the Prime Minister. The largest minority party becomes the official Opposition, with its own leader and shadow cabinet.

A significant political development for London has been the creation of the Greater London Assembly (GLA), along with an American-style mayor of London, both elected by popular mandate.

RELIGION

Like most factors in London, religion is incredibly diverse, with all major world religions represented in the city. The majority of Londoners would describe themselves as Christian, although the remaining three million residents encompass Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim minorities. The latest statistics reveal that there are 36,000 Londoners who categorise themselves under other religious denominations.

To be fair, it would be most accurate to say that London is emblematic of Great Britain as a whole—cultures and religions co-exist and, while most Londoners may have been brought up in Christian-based schools, comparatively few would claim to be religious. For many, the Sunday morning papers are the new bibles of the metropolitan masses.

ECONOMY

London is Europe’s richest city and a key financial centre. Many people flock to the capital as the wages average 20% higher than those in the rest of the country, although the cost of living is also higher. At present, the British economy is buoyant, growing by approximately 2% every year. London plays a major part in this success, with the City at its heart. London has a workforce of 3.4 million.

The City of London, also called the Square Mile, is conveniently located so that finance can move easily from Tokyo to New York.

It attracts people from around the world and is a hub for those involved in business. Despite stiff competition, the City has continued to build on past successes and maintain its position as a major world player. This is backed up by the figures; for instance, London is the largest investment banking centre in Europe and leads the world in international bond trading, foreign-exchange trading and cross-border lending. London’s job market is a major draw—the diversity and number of positions on offer is unbeatable. On top of those living and working in the capital, around 750,000 people commute from outlying areas. For manual jobs, the average annual salary is £21,000 for men and £19,000 for women (before tax). The average salary for non-manual occupations is £42,000 for men and £31,600 for women.

POPULATION

Greater London has a population of 7.2 million people and is one of Europe’s most densely populated areas. It’s home to one in eight of the UK’s population and has three million households.

Although predominantly white and Anglo-Saxon, more than a quarter of its population is from an alternative ethnic background, making up half of the UK’s total ethnic minorities. This gives London the largest non-white population of any European city and is an important part of its cosmopolitan feel. Over 250 languages are spoken in the city.

Throughout history, immigrants and refugees have arrived in London and formed communities, which can now be witnessed in areas such as Soho, which has a distinctive Chinese area, and Shoreditch with a strong Bengali influence. London is renowned for its multicultural society, so the average Londoner is a tolerant and open-minded character. There are more women than men in London, and its population is younger than the rest of the country—47% of Londoners are aged 16-44 whereas the figure is 40% for the rest of the UK. The capital is home to 306,000 students in higher education. The population density is 4,573 per square kilometre, although there is wide variation between the boroughs. Kensington and Chelsea is the most densely populated area, with 13,300 people per square kilometre, followed by Islington with 11,700.