How much does it cost to live in London? London: what you need to know about the city on the Thames Which family does London belong to?

We continue the series of miniatures about the capitals of Europe of the 16th-19th centuries. Today we'll talk about London. More precisely, of course, first let’s look at the plans of the city in different eras.

Let's start at the end of the 16th century. By the way, I looked through a bunch of old city plans and didn’t find anything dating earlier than 1572. As if before this time people did not have paper and paints. I think there were, but their quality was most likely not very good. This means that those cards simply did not survive. If they were made at all. In those villages that represented the cities there, plans and maps were not really needed.
So London at the end of the 16th century. An ordinary city of the 16th century. Surrounded by walls, and these are exactly the walls of the 16th century, high and narrow. The Tower (Kremlin, Detinets) is in one of the corners, on the river bank, as an indispensable feature of all cities of that time. And it, as they liked to build then, was such a small square. A ditch with water was dug around the walls and the Tower, so that they could not dig under and plant a gunpowder mine. On the other side is a small settlement and a bridge to it. This is also a frequently encountered picture in many European cities of that time. I suspect specifically that there would be some way to regulate navigation on the Thames, especially since the bridge does not seem to be permanent, but on boats (pontoons). Moreover, the Tower protects this bridge from the sea. The exit is to the right along the river. I think there are still many things there that determined the appearance of the city at that time, but which we simply no longer remember due to the passage of time.
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All images are clickable to large sizes

Let's talk about the population. And here everything is sad again. To help you understand the dimensions, I’ll give you a modern map. I specifically showed the “ruler”. From Taur to the bend of the river, about 3 km. Those. the total area of ​​London at the end of the 16th century was somewhere no more than 4 sq. km. We take a density of 2,000 people per sq km per year and get 8 thousand people.

Wikipedia says: The population of the capital increased rapidly - from 50 thousand people in 1530 to 225 thousand in 1605.No guys, this is all crap. You can't even fit 50 thousand here. Why? .
Go ahead. This is a plan dating back to around 1666. It's already better here. We can already talk about about 6 sq km. The walls are still the same, high and narrow. In Europe, they began to build low and thick ones a long time ago; they can better withstand artillery fire, but here, on the left side of the city, the wall doesn’t even reach the river anymore. Island advantage. Few enemies can swim to you. And inside the country there were plenty of old, medieval walls.

Map of 1667. Everything is about the same. The city is taking over the suburban villages of Southwark and Westminster. The latter now houses the parliament, but at that time it had only just entered the city limits. The article about it says that a king lived there since 1066. This is where I doubt it. There is no fortress there and the Tower is about 4 km away. This means, if anything happens, you will have to run quite far from your opponents for cover.
The walls have already been completely spat on. In Europe this happened later. An island is an island.

And this is already the 18th century, 1720 and 1727. The city has certainly grown. But it is still small, somewhere no more than 12 sq km. . And this means 25, maximum 30 thousand people. both by area and population. Southwark and Westminster are still considered separate entities, although they have completely merged with the main city. But still, 500 thousand people, as they write on Wiki, clearly cannot fit here.

Let's fast forward to the 19th century, 1807. Yes, the city has grown, but not as radically as we would like to think.

And let’s immediately look at the plan of 1843. The area of ​​the city is already about 54 km km. approximately the same area. And about 114 thousand people lived on it. Which, by the way, roughly corresponds to my calculations of population density of 2000 people per sq. km. You can, of course, talk about multi-story skyscrapers in London at that time, but as they write on Wikipedia, By the end of the 18th century, London's population reached a million people, this clearly could not happen.

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Before you write in the comments that I was mistaken and did not understand everything correctly, read my two posts: and . Many questions will disappear at once.

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Capital
English London
Clockwise from top left: Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge
A country	Great Britain
Country UK
Region
Internal division	and 32 districts
Mayor	Sadiq Khan (from 9.5.2016)
History and geography
Based	after 43 years
Former names	Londinium, Augusta, Lundenvik, Lundenburgh
Square	about 1706.8 km²
Center height	35±1 m
Climate type	temperate marine
Timezone	UTC0, summer UTC+1
Population
Population	▲ 8,538,689 people (2013)
Density	5173 people/km²
Agglomeration	▲ 8,631,000 people (2010)
National composition	white 59.8% (of which British 44.9%), Asian 18.4%, black 13.3%, mixed 5%, others 3.4%
Confessional composition	Christians 48.4%, Muslims 12.4%, Hindus 5.1%, Jews 1.8%, Sikhs 1.5%, atheists 20.7%
Names of residents	Londoner, Londoner, Londoners
Digital IDs
Telephone code	+44 20
Postal codes	E, EC, N, NW, SE, SW, W, WC, BR, CM, CR, DA, EN, HA, IG, KT, RM, SM, TN, TW, UB, WD
london.gov.uk (English)

London(English: London [ˈlʌndən]) is the capital and largest city. Administratively, it forms a region divided into 33 self-governing territories. The population is 8.6 million people (2015) - it is the third largest city in Europe. It forms the Greater London agglomeration and the wider metropolitan area. Located in the southeast of the island of Great Britain, on a plain at the mouth of the Thames, near the North Sea. The main political, economic and cultural center.

London is one of the world's premier cities and the world's leading financial centre. Its economy makes up a fifth of the country's economy.

Founded by the Romans shortly after their invasion of Britain in 43 AD. e. From about 100 AD. e. - the capital of Roman Britain, from the 11th-12th centuries - England, from 1707 - Great Britain, from the 16th to 20th centuries - the British Empire. From 1825 to 1925 London was the largest city in the world.

The historical center of the city, formed by the districts and the City, developed in the Victorian era. Among the few buildings that survived the fire of 1666 here is the medieval citadel of the Tower.

Etymology

Until 1889, London was officially called only the City, the boundaries of which have remained virtually unchanged since Roman times.

The name London goes back to the city's Roman name "Londinium", the origin of which is unclear. It is believed to be pre-Roman, borrowed from the area where London still stands. The first, epigraphic, mention of it dates back to around the year 70 (Latin Londinio “in Londinium”). Half a century later, the name of the city - “Londinium” (lat. Londinium) is found in Tacitus, around the middle of the 2nd century - in Ptolemy (ancient Greek. Λονδίνιον "Londinion") Shortly before leaving the island, around 368, the Romans renamed the city Augusta. In documents of the 7th-9th centuries, a settlement not far from the former Londinium is designated as Lundenvik (Old English. Lundenwic). On silver coins of the first half of the 8th century there are inscriptions de Lundonia. At the end of the 9th century, the Saxons restored the former Roman city, now called Lundenburg (Old English). Lundenburh).

Historically, the first to try to explain the origin of the name London was Geoffrey of Monmouth, who associated it with a legendary king named Lud. Currently, there are at least two dozen different interpretations of the name of the capital of Britain. In most of them, it is considered as consisting of two roots, the second of which is most often explained as “city” or “fortress,” while the first is different in almost all cases. On the territory of London, however, no traces of any noticeable settlements of pre-Roman times have been found. This means that in its original form its name most likely represented the name of some tract.

The fact that the island of Great Britain “is mostly a plain covered with forest” was noted by Strabo.

Story

Although traces of human habitation were discovered on the territory of modern London long before the arrival of the Romans, evidence of the existence of a permanent prehistoric settlement on the site of the future Londinium has not been found.

Roman period

Remains of the Roman wall

Londinium was founded by the Romans after their third invasion of Britain in 43 AD. e.. The settlement on the northern Thames at the confluence of the Walbrook River was supposed to be protected by a wooden bridge built across the Thames. The Romans probably advanced from the sea coast inland along the road that passed through the ford in the area of ​​​​the present Westminster Bridge.

In the winter of 60-61, the Britons, taking advantage of the transfer of Roman troops to the island, rebelled and, led by Queen Boudicca, destroyed Camulodunum, the first capital of Roman Britain, after which they burned Londinium. The city, however, was restored and later became its new capital. At the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries it was surrounded by a six-meter defensive wall; The area of ​​the city was then one square mile. In the 3rd century, after the division of Britain into two parts - Upper and Lower - Londinium became the capital of Upper Britain. At the end of the 4th century it was divided again, and the city was chosen as the center of the province of Maxima Caesarea.

In 410, the Romans abandoned both Britain and Londinium. By the end of this century it too was abandoned.

Middle Ages

In the 19th century, dramatic changes occurred in the appearance of London. In 1836, the first railway opened, connecting London Bridge and Greenwich, and in less than 20 years 6 stations opened. In 1863, the world's first subway opened in London. In addition, the Clock Tower, Albert Hall, Trafalgar Square complex, and Tower Bridge were built in the 19th century. For the first time in the history of London, sewers appeared (see The Great Stench).

In the 19th century, London became the center of the free press - the magazines “Bell”, “Nakanune”, “Narodovolets”, “Bread and Freedom” were published there, which were then secretly transferred to Russia. At that time, a large Russian colony was formed in London. The most famous Russian Londoners of the 19th century are Alexander Ivanovich Herzen and Nikolai Platonovich Ogarev.

In the 19th century, the system of city government was reformed, since the old system, which had existed since the Middle Ages, clearly did not meet the requirements of the expanding metropolis. In 1855, the Metropolitan Board of Works was created to oversee city construction and infrastructure. In 1888, this body was liquidated, and administrative functions were for the first time assigned to an elected body - the London County Council.

In 1851 London hosted the World's Fair.

Mid-century London experienced mass immigration for the first time. A particularly large influx of visitors came from Ireland. A large Jewish community also formed in the city.

London became one of the centers of world fashion in the 19th century. The capital of Great Britain, unlike or, has gained fame thanks to men's fashion. Savile Row became the street of fashion workshops. The beginning of the 19th century dates back to the appearance of the dandy style, which spread throughout the country. The second round of popularity of English fashion occurred in the early 1960s, when a cultural revolution took place in Western European society. Disharmony and asymmetry came first, expressing protest against the conservative bourgeois way of life. The casual style is developing, it quickly becomes popular among various youth movements: fashion, skinheads, football hooligans. The innovator of the style was Ben Sherman, in addition, retired tennis player Fred Perry, the British equivalent of the Frenchman Rene Lacoste, who also once won all kinds of tennis awards with a racket at the ready, was very popular, and in retirement devoted himself to fashion. The leading designers of youth fashion were Mary Quant and Barbara Hulanicki. The 1970s became the era of punk. The leader among English designers was Vivienne Westwood. Contemporary leading designers of British fashion are Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, Julian Macdonald, Stella McCartney.

XX - early XXI centuries

Bombing of London, 1940

The First World War temporarily stopped the development of London. The city was subjected to air raids for the first time. Between the two world wars London continued to grow, but more in area than in population.

In 1966, the England team won the FIFA World Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

London became a target for terrorists in the 1970s, when the city was first attacked by the Irish Republican Army. These attacks were repeated regularly until the end of the 20th century, after which the Irish were replaced by the al-Qaeda group, which organized a series of bombings on London public transport on July 7, 2005.

From the mid-20th century, despite an influx of immigrants from Commonwealth countries (especially from , and ), the city's population began to decline, falling from almost 9 to 7 million people in the 1980s, after which it began to grow slowly.

In the early 1960s, London remained a major industrial center of the country with developed light industry, about a third of the employed population worked in the docks and in port-related industries. By the end of the 20th century, the city made a transition from an industrial to a post-industrial economy. At the same time, London's multicultural English emerges.

London welcomed the new millennium with the opening of several new buildings, such as the Millennium Dome and the London Eye, a Ferris wheel that became a new symbol of the city. At the beginning of the 21st century, London won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The capital of Great Britain became the first city to host the Olympics three times. In 2004, a city development plan was adopted. In July 2005, London became the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.

Physiographic characteristics

London: view from space

London is located on the flat land of the London Basin. The highest point above sea level is Westerham Heights (245 m) in the far south-east of the city.

London covers an area of ​​approximately 1,580 km². London is located on the prime meridian, which is also often called the Greenwich meridian (after the name of the Greenwich Observatory, which is taken as the starting point of longitude). Around London, covering an area of ​​554.7 thousand hectares (as of 2011), there is a “green belt” created after the Second World War in order to prevent further sprawl of the city.

The concept of “city coordinates” is conditional. It is traditionally believed that the nominal center of London is located at the intersection of Eleanor Cross and Charing Cross. This place is located near Trafalgar Square. Thus, the coordinates of the city are approximately 51°30′26″ n. w. 00°07′39″ W d..

Hydrography

The Thames Barrier protects the city from flooding

The Thames, a navigable river flowing into the North Sea, flows through London from southwest to east. Its length within the city is 68 km. The large left tributaries Colne, Crane, Brent, Lee, Roding, Rum, Ingeborn flow into the Thames within London; and the right tributaries Hogsmill, Beverley Brook, Wandle, Ravensbourne, Darent. Small tributaries, including the historic Walbrook, flow underground. There are 18 road, 9 railway and 3 pedestrian bridges across the river; two dozen tunnels for various purposes are built under the river.

More than 150 km² of London is subject to flooding during high tides of the Thames, the channel of which in the Westminster area has been narrowed three times since Roman times. To protect London from surge waves from the sea, the Thames Barrier dam was built within the city in 1984, capable of blocking the movement of water up the river.

To the north of the Thames, water canals with a total length of 105 km have been preserved: Regent's, Grand Union, its Paddington branch and Leigh Navigation. They were built in the early 19th century and connect London's Docklands on the Thames to the UK canal network.

Climate

London fog in a 19th century painting

The climate in London is temperate maritime, with mild winters and warm summers, and an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. The mild climate, as in all of Western Europe, is caused by the influence of the warm ocean current Gulf Stream. A special feature of London's climate is its very small inter-seasonal range of fluctuations: from +5.1 °C in January to +18.1 °C in July (the difference is 13 °C). Thus, winter in London is as mild as in a city in the north of the subtropical zone (for example,), and summer in terms of average temperature is even cooler than in and, and thus is moderately warm, but not hot. Interseasonal fluctuations in Moscow are twice as high.

The warmest month is July: the average daily air temperature is a maximum of +22.5 °C. Extreme temperatures in summer occur in July and August, when hot weather sets in for several days (for example, on August 10, 2003, the temperature exceeded +37 °C). In recent years, hotter summer weather has been observed. In winter it is cool, but not frosty; at night the temperature, as a rule, does not drop below −7 °C. The coldest month is January: the average daily air temperature is at least −3 °C. Extreme winter temperatures typically occur in December and January, with temperature differences of several degrees between different areas of the city. The average number of days with frost when the temperature drops below 0 °C in the surface layer of air is 30 days or less per year. During cold spells from late autumn to early spring, the heat island effect is most noticeable at night with light winds, when heated buildings can cause the air in central London to be up to 5°C warmer than outside the city.

The average annual precipitation is less than in Moscow. Showers and thunderstorms are common in summer. Humid air masses from the Atlantic are most active in autumn and winter. Dry periods are possible. Snow falls from November to April, 12-15 times a year. Snow cover lasts an average of 5 days a year, and the depth of the snow cover is insignificant (about 25 mm). Throughout the year, winds from the southwest prevail. Due to its distance from the Atlantic, London is least exposed to winds blowing from the ocean. Winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean bring coolness in summer and warmth in winter. The frequency and strength of winds reaches its maximum from December to February. Storms occur on average 1-2 times a year. Sea breezes from the North Sea, sometimes from the English Channel, blow throughout the summer from late spring. Tornadoes rarely occur.

Ecology

Congestion charge zone in central London

London has suffered from smoky air since the Middle Ages, earning it the nickname The Great Smog. Following the catastrophic effects of the Great Smog of 1952, legislative measures were taken that led to improved air quality. However, as of 2011, London remained one of the most polluted cities in Europe. The main source of air pollution is road transport, about 1/3 of which comes from tire and brake wear. Like many other European cities, London does not meet EU standards for the most harmful pollutants, which include nitrogen oxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10). Carbon monoxide (CO2) emissions in 2008 were 17% lower than the national average. Over the period from 2000 to 2011, harmful emissions overall decreased by 11%. About 40% of the PM 10 concentration (as well as a significant proportion of the NO 2 concentration) in the city center is transported by wind from the suburban area. The highest concentrations of NO 2 are observed in Inner London and around Heathrow Airport. Poor urban air quality can cause more than four thousand deaths a year.

The Thames is one of the cleanest rivers in the world that flows through capital cities. Damage to the river estuary is caused by the discharge of storm sewers during heavy rains.

About 42% of the population is exposed to noise levels of 55 dB or higher from road transport, and about 6% from railway transport. The volume of household waste decreased from 2000 to 2008.

Population

At the 2011 census, London had a population of 8,173,900 (more than Scotland and Northern Ireland combined). Of these, 7.2% were children of preschool age (up to 4 years), 17.3% were children of school age (from 5 to 19 years), 64.4% were people of working age (from 20 to 64 years) and 10.7% elderly people (65 years and above). Compared to the previous census in 2001, the proportion of elderly people has increased slightly. On average there are around 9.3 million people in London during the day. The greatest migration exchange within the country occurs in the neighboring regions of the Southeast and, and the smallest in. Among those arriving from other regions, students and working youth aged 20-29 predominate.

London's population grew most rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, during the period of urbanization. From about 1825 to 1925, London was the most populous city in the world, after which it was surpassed. In 1939, London's population reached a historical high of 8.6 million inhabitants. From the 1960s to the first half of the 1980s, the city lost about ¼ of its population. It is now the second largest city, the largest city in the European Union and the 21st city in the world.

The Greater London agglomeration consists of parts of the region of the same name and the regions of South-East and East England. The population of the London agglomeration in 2010, according to the UN, was 8.631 million people. Together with the suburban area, including satellite cities (, and others created according to the project of L. Abercrombie after the Second World War), Greater London forms a metropolitan area. According to Eurostat data for 2007-2009, the population of the urbanized area ( larger urban zone) London was 12,317,800 people. The English metropolis with a population of more than 30 million people, occupying a third of the territory of England, unites the agglomerations of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. The English Channel is shared with the continental Rhine-Ruhr megalopolis.

Ethnic composition

According to the 2011 census, 45% of Londoners classified themselves as white British, another 14% as other whites, including people from the Republic of Ireland, 22% as Asians, 12% as blacks, 3% as mestizos. 61% of city residents were born in England, 37% were born outside the UK (according to the 2001 census - 27%), of which 3% were born in India, 2% in Poland. 24% of residents are foreigners; 27 thousand people indicated Russian as their native language. The most famous London vernacular, common among the lower social strata of the city's population, is Cockney. Cockneys are characterized by simplified pronunciation of words, specific use or omission of certain sounds. The Cockney dialect in England is often the subject of jokes and anecdotes. Another known type of local pronunciation is Estuary English, common not only in London, but also in the Thames basin as a whole. In addition, with the influx of immigrants from Central America, the Creole dialect became widespread.

Power

London is the de facto capital of Great Britain: all government bodies in Great Britain are located in London, in the area. The country's Parliament sits in the famous Parliament House, the Cabinet and ministries are located nearby in the Whitehall Street area - in particular, the Prime Minister's residence is located at 10 Downing Street. The country's Supreme Court is located opposite Parliament in the Middlesex Guildhall building.

Greater London City Hall

London is governed at two levels: regional - the Greater London Administration and district - 33 municipalities. The administration as a single body governing the city was created in 2000, instead of the Greater London Council, which was abolished in 1986 (in 1986-2000, 32 districts and the City governed the city without centralized authority). Operates on the basis of Acts of Parliament 1999 and 2007. Includes the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The Assembly, as a body of representative power, consists of 25 deputies elected for 4 years; The chairman of the assembly is the representative of the majority party. She controls the activities of the mayor and approves the city budget. The competence of the mayor, who heads the executive branch and is elected by the population for a 4-year term, includes territorial planning, the organization of urban transport, management of the police and fire department, issues of economic development, environmental protection, sports, culture and the media.

The Mayor of London since May 9, 2016 is Labor member Sadiq Aman Khan (the previous mayor was Conservative Boris Johnson, who served for two consecutive terms). London is represented in the House of Commons of the British Parliament by 74 MPs, of which 44 are Labour, 21 Conservative, 8 Liberal Democrats and 1 party member Respect. The representative of royal power in the region, with the exception of the City, is the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.

Districts

There are several Orthodox churches: parishes of the Sourozh diocese, the ROCOR, as well as the exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, among which are two Russian Orthodox churches. The central one is the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and All Saints, located next to Knightsbridge metro station. This parish was formed in 1741, and moved to its current premises in 1956. Previously, the Anglican parish church of All Saints was located here. It was built in the 19th century in pseudo-Romanesque style. The complex includes five more buildings, in addition to the cathedral.

Events

London Cenotaph

London has annually hosted the New Year's Parade since 1987, Fashion Week (since the early 1990s, the number of shows during the week has increased from 15 to 47), and a yacht exhibition. London Boat Show since 1956, interior exhibition Ideal Home Show since 1908, Thames Boat Race since 1926, London Marathon since 1981, Oxford-Cambridge Boat Regatta since 1829, London Book Fair since 1976, Florist Show Chelsea Flower Show since 1862, parade of the Royal Guard Trooping the Color, City of London Music Festival since 1962, Cuban Carnival since 2005, Car Show Motorexpo since 1996, World Naked Bike Ride since 2001, Hampton Court Flower Show since 1990, Proms Classical Music Concerts since 1895, Carnival del Pueblo Latin American Festival since 1995, Notting Hill Carnival since 1964, Architecture Festival Open House London since 1992, bike ride Mayor of London's Sky Ride since 2007, London Film Festival since 1957, Lord Mayor's Show since 1535, Cenotaph Memorial Ceremony since 1919.

• The changing of the guard at Royal Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous and popular London traditions among tourists. This ceremony takes place daily at 11:30 from April to August, at other times of the year - at the same time, but every other day. Of course, there is no practical benefit from the changing of the guard, but this tradition is one of the most beautiful in London.
• The Ceremony of the Keys is a 700-year-old ritual of closing the Tower, performed by its Chief Guardian at exactly 9:50 pm every day.
• Royal gun salutes are performed on special occasions, which include day of the queen's accession to the throne(February 6), Queen's Birthday (April 21), Coronation Day (June 2), Duke of Edinburgh's Birthday (June 10). If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the fireworks are displayed the next day.
• The Thames Festival takes place in mid-September and includes a torchlight parade, fairs, fireworks and concerts.
• The Speakers Corner is located in Hyde Park. Anyone can climb up to some height and practice public speaking on any topic. Now this tradition is in decline - it has become a common tourist attraction, and few speakers the speakers are almost inaudible due to the noise of traffic on nearby Park Lane (the use of microphones in the speakers' corner is prohibited by tradition).

Architecture

Planning and development

Plan of London 1806

The center of London has a complex planning system consisting of radial-circular and rectangular streets. The districts and cities are given the status of a city. Westminster, established as a state seat in the 11th century, remains the seat of the royal residence, parliament and government of the country. The city, with an area of ​​2.7 km², remained (within the walls built by the Romans) the city proper throughout Antiquity and the Middle Ages - a place of crafts and trade. At the beginning of the 17th century, the aristocracy left the City; in the 20th century, banks and offices took the place of homes and shops, turning the City into a purely business district. The once aristocratic suburb west of Westminster marked the beginning of the historical part of London called. Worker settlements around the docks and factories of the 19th century formed the East End area east of the City.

During the Roman period, the layout of London streets was rectangular, and brick and stone were widely used for the construction of buildings. Wooden buildings from the Anglo-Saxon period have not survived. With the arrival of the Normans, stone construction resumed: stone castles, abbeys and cathedrals appeared. However, for the most part, medieval buildings remained wooden and half-timbered, and the layout developed chaotically. The hub of the city was formed by the town hall and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Paul. The use of bricks and tiles dates back to the 15th century. The predominant architectural style from the 13th to the 16th centuries was Gothic. The emergence of Palladian classicism at the beginning of the 17th century was associated with the work of the court architect Inigo Jones, according to whose design the Banqueting House and Queens House were built. Mannerism existed simultaneously with classicism in the 17th century.

The Green Belt around London has stopped the city's natural growth

Fires plagued London from the 1st to the 19th centuries. The use of candles and open fires for heating and cooking was a leading cause of fires; wooden buildings contributed to the rapid spread of fire. In the Great Fire of 1666, London burned almost completely, after which wooden construction was prohibited: residential buildings increasingly began to be built of brick, and public buildings were faced with Portland limestone. The medieval street layout was preserved.

The further development of architecture is associated with the activities of the court architect Christopher Wren, who was committed to the new Baroque style. Among his works: Kensington Palace, the “English Versailles” - Hampton Court, Greenwich Hospital and the most outstanding monument - St. Paul's Cathedral, which was completed during the author's lifetime in 1710. Baroque at the end of the 18th century gave way to neoclassicism, which survived until the middle of the 20th century. In the Victorian era of the 1830s-60s, neo-Gothic style became widespread.

During World War II, London was subject to aerial bombardment. In the post-war period, according to the project of L. Abercrombie, a “green belt” was created around London, limiting further urban sprawl. In the 1960s, the place of the old architectural dominants - the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral and the tower of the Houses of Parliament - was taken by City skyscrapers. In the 1990s, a new area with skyscrapers arose on the banks of the Thames east of the City - Canary Wharf.

London's largest park is Lee Valley. Eight royal parks, some of which were the hunting grounds of kings in the past, cover an area of ​​about 2 thousand hectares. Hyde Park is the largest in the city centre, opening to the public in 1826; together with the adjacent Kensington Gardens, it forms a green area with a total area of ​​over 250 hectares, over two km long and over one km wide. Green Park and St. James's Park with an artificial pond extend towards the Palace of Westminster. Other royal parks include Regent's Park, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Bushey.

Architectural monuments

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Tower, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, St Margaret's Church, Greenwich and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Most of London's architectural monuments are located in the area. The main planning node of the area is the Charing Cross intersection, adjacent to Trafalgar Square, from which the streets of Whitehall to Parliament, the Mall to Buckingham Palace, and the Strand to the City diverge. Trafalgar Square, which became a venue for public events, was created by the architect John Nash in the 1820s. Named in 1830 in memory of the Battle of Trafalgar. A 44-meter-high granite column with a statue of Admiral Nelson rises above the square. At the base of the column there are sculptures of lions. Two fountains were built on the sides of the square. In the middle of Charing Cross, during the restoration of the monarchy in 1675, an equestrian monument to the executed Charles I was erected, which faces the Houses of Parliament. Along the northern side of the square stands the National Gallery building. The Mall street opens through the Admiralty Arch. Running parallel to the Mall is Pall Mall, which is home to C. Wren's Marlborough House and the red brick St James's Palace. Passing through St James's Park, the Mall reaches the square in front of Buckingham Palace, in the middle of which stands a monument to Queen Victoria. Buckingham Palace was founded on the site of the house of the Duke of Buckingham, from whom it was bought by the English king. The original appearance of the palace was greatly changed over time; the main facade of the palace was created in 1913. To the north of it, the Oxford Street and Piccadilly shopping streets run parallel to each other with Piccadilly Circus. Whitehall Street is home to government offices and Horse Guards barracks, and a cenotaph was erected in the middle of the street in 1920 in memory of those killed in the First World War. The street is adjacent to Downing Street, where the residence of the British Prime Minister is located at number 10. The Neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster was built in 1860 on the site of a previous palace that burned down in a fire. The Victoria Tower, 104 meters high, and the Elizabeth Tower, 98 meters high, rise above the palace.

Among the City's monuments are the buildings of the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and Guildhall - the medieval town hall, which over time has lost its original appearance. On one of the City squares there is a 61-meter high column, installed by K. Wren in 1677 in memory of the Great Fire. To the east of the City is the Tower fortress with two rows of defensive walls; in the courtyard there is the White Tower from the time of William the Conqueror, 27 meters high. The Tower Bridge with neo-Gothic style towers was built in 1894. The cruiser Belfast is permanently moored near the bridge.

The well-maintained Thames embankments in the central part of the city: Victoria, Chelsea and Albert were built in the second half of the 19th century. On the Victoria Embankment there is an Egyptian obelisk “Cleopatra’s Needle”, surrounded on both sides by sculptures of sphinxes.

The tallest skyscraper in the City - Heron Tower(230 meters high), in the Canary Wharf area - One Canada Square(235 meters), the tallest building in the entire city - The Shard(306 meters, located opposite the City in the Southwark area).

St Paul's Cathedral	Tower Bridge	Buckingham Palace	Houses of Parliament

The 13th century was the century of early English Gothic. One of the brightest examples of this style is Westminster Abbey. No other examples from this period survive in London. Following the early era came the era of decorated English Gothic, but there are no examples of it in modern London, as well as examples of vertical Gothic - the third Gothic period of architecture.

Tudor architecture is similar to Gothic, but with significant changes such as deep and high windows. Henry VII's Chapel and Hampton Court Palace in Richmond are architectural monuments of the Tudor period.

Georgian architecture, the era of which began in the middle of the 18th century, generally corresponded to pan-European classicism. The main thing in it was clear shapes and proportions. This period is not represented by any famous buildings in London, but many residential and administrative buildings in the city were built in the Georgian style. Worth noting are the churches designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, Somerset House by Sir William Chambers and the Pantheon leisure center on Oxford Street by James Wyatt. On the territory of this complex, a large pagoda was erected in 1761-1762 - the first example of Chinese architecture in Europe. Opposite these gardens, the Syon House estate was built - the ancient mansion of the Dukes of Northumberland, made in the style of pure classicism, remarkable for its skillful alternation of geometric shapes and subtle coloristic craftsmanship. Work on the interiors of Syon House continued until 1769, when the Duke ran out of funds.

Also worth mentioning is the Royal Court Yard, built in 1873-1882 to the design of the former lawyer George Edmund Street. Among the significant monuments of this style is the Prince Albert Memorial - a monument in Kensington Park. The monument was designed by Georg Gilbert Scott and opened in 1875.

The famous John Nash, the author of Buckingham Palace and the Marble Arch, worked in the style of classicism; Westminster Cathedral is an example of the neo-Byzantine style. The now defunct Crystal Palace belonged to the industrial style.

Cemeteries

Highgate Cemetery

There are about 170 cemeteries in London, which are municipally and privately owned. Most of them were founded in the 19th century. The largest burial site is the City of London Municipal Cemetery, located in the north-east of the city. In 2008, 75% of deaths were cremated.

Public cemeteries outside the city limits arose in the first half of the 19th century, when London's population was growing rapidly and there was not enough space for new burials in church cemeteries. Kensal Green Cemetery was opened in 1832, and over the next nine years West Norwood, Highgate, Abney Park, Nunhead, Brompton and Tower Hamlets cemeteries were established. Subsequently, they became known as the “Magic Seven”. New cemeteries were created on the model of the landscape cemetery of Père Lachaise in Paris. London's most famous cemetery, Highgate, has become overgrown with wild vegetation over time. Karl Marx and other famous people are buried there. Gravestones in the form of crosses and slabs alternate with sculptures, columns and obelisks of the Victorian era. Here are Egyptian Avenue and the Lebanon Circle with crypts. Numerous catacombs have been preserved in some cemeteries.

Westminster Abbey serves as one of the tombs of English kings. Prominent British citizens are buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

England is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 84% of the population of the entire country lives in the state that is the birthplace of the English language, and the legislative foundations of this state are laid down in many regulations around the world. It was in England that the Industrial Revolution began and constitutional law and democracy were born.

Today there are 63 million people living in the UK. Due to frequent raids on these lands, the country became multinational. Now it is represented by the following peoples and nationalities:

• English - 81.5%;
• Scots - 9.6%;
• Irish - 2.4%;
• Welsh - 1.9%;
• others - 4.6%.

The most populated parts are the central and south-eastern parts, the north of Scotland and the center of Wales. On average, 245 people live per square kilometer. The most common languages ​​in the country are:

• English;
• Welsh;
• Gaelic.

State capital

London has retained its title as one of the largest cities in the world for many centuries. In the period from 1825 to 1925, the capital of England was considered the largest populated area on the entire planet. Later, the world situation changed, and Asia took the lead, but in terms of population, London is practically in first place in Europe. In addition, the city is inexorably growing in size. Despite obstacles such as high housing costs and harsh laws for immigrants, the capital's population is constantly growing.

Current situation compared to previous years

As of the middle of last year, London's population was 8.8 million (information from the Committee for National Statistics).

Information on the number of London residents in previous years:

As you can see from the table, London's population is increasing year by year.

According to the same committee, out of 8.8 million, only 5,500,000 people were born on this land. Therefore, London is a true multicultural center of the country.

The city has several specific areas, for example China Town, known throughout the world. This is a small area, but with a Chinese flavor, where Chinese cultural festivals are even held. There are also places where people from Pakistan, India and other countries live. Against this background, London is considered a promising city, but rather unfavorable according to crime statistics.

Web of London Boroughs

In ancient times, the name “London” meant a small area of ​​1.61 square kilometers, which today is the center of the capital (City of London area). But already in 1965, nearby villages and surrounding areas began to be annexed to the square. As a result, Greater London was formed, the population of which automatically became residents of the capital. This area is in turn divided into Inner and Outer London. Although this is more of a geographical and statistical division.

Greater London is officially divided into 32 counties and 12 boroughs, which belong to the Inner Region. Outer London includes 20 districts and the City of London, with a separate self-government body. Some areas received royal status. This is Kingston and Kensington, Chelsea.

Ethnic composition: brief description

What is the population in London? In fact, it is very colorful and multinational. Most of the people in the city come from India - about 267 thousand people and Poland - about 135 thousand. Then come visitors from Bangladesh, numbering about 126 thousand, from Pakistan - 113 thousand, from Ireland - 112, and from Nigeria - 99 thousand.

According to the latest data, of all immigrants living in the capital of Great Britain, about 40% come from European countries, from the Middle East and Asia - 30%, from African countries - 20% and from America and the Caribbean - 10%.

Indians

London's largest expatriate group. According to the most conservative estimates, there are about 550 thousand Indians in the city. Of these, 35% are from India. This group also includes Gujaratis (East Africa) - 16%. There are also emigrants from Fiji, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.

Only 45% of London's Hindus profess Hinduism, about 30% are Sikhs. There are many Muslims, about 15%. And only 5% are Orthodox. The last 5% includes Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.

The highest numbers of Indians are in the areas of Brent, Ealing and Harrow, Newham, Redbridge and Hounslow. Today, these are fairly wealthy emigrants; they are second in wealth only to true white Britons. Most often they work in the services, finance and information technology sectors. Also employed in the field of medicine and transport services.

Greeks

This nation is smaller among the population of London, approximately 250 thousand people. Most of them came from the Aegean Islands and Cyprus. Most often they settle in the area of ​​the Greek Cypriot enclave “Little Cyprus” (Westminster). Also live in Infield, Haringey, Hammersmith and Chelsea.

Most of the emigrants profess the Orthodox faith.

Jamaicans

The population of London represented by this nationality is about 250 thousand. Most of them profess Christianity. Settlement sites are concentrated in the areas of Southwark, Croydon, Brent, Lewisham, Lambeth, Haringey and Hackney. Most Jamaicans work in the health services and transport sectors.

Pakistanis

Mostly people from Pakistan come from the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Kashmir. The national composition of emigrants is diverse: these are Muhajirs, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Kashmiris and Baluchis. Most often, Pakistanis settle in the areas of Ealing, Redbridge, Forest, Brent and Hounslow. They work in almost all areas - from transport to financial services. About 90% of all Pakistanis living in London are Muslim.

Poles

The population of the city of London is also represented by Poles; there are about 200 thousand of them. They live in Chelsea, Wandsworth, Fulham, Infield and Lambeth. Almost all of them are Catholics. They are mainly involved in construction, services and cleaning.

Jews

There are also about 200 thousand representatives of this nationality in the capital of Great Britain. However, most of them came from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Iraq, Poland and other countries. They live mainly in Chelsea, Ealing, Westminster, Kensington, Barnet and a number of other areas. Many of them profess Judaism, but there are also Christians. They are busy in almost all areas of life.

Bangladeshis

The ethnic composition of the capital is represented by immigrants from Bangladesh; there are approximately 180 thousand of them here. An interesting fact is that about 95% of the expats are from the Sylhet region. Their settlements in London are concentrated in the areas of Hamlets, Newham, Camden and some others.

Almost 85% of all restaurants serving Indian cuisine are owned by Bangladeshis, so almost all of them are involved in the catering industry.

Most of the emigrants are adherents of the Muslim and Sunni faith.

Irish

There are also a significant number of immigrants from Ireland - 180 thousand people. Almost all of them are Catholics and live in the Brent area. However, the population of London, consisting of natives of Ireland, is much larger, there are about 1 million of them.

Chinese

There are about 120 thousand people of this nationality in London. But only about 19% of them are former residents of China, most of them are from Hong Kong - 29%, from Malaysia and Vietnam - 8% and 4% respectively. From Singapore - 3%, and from Taiwan - 2%.

Most Chinese people live in the areas of Barnet, Westminster (where, in fact, the world famous China Town is located), Chelsea, Hamlets, and Kensington. Most of them are Christians, but there are also followers of Buddha and Confucians. They are busy in almost all spheres of human activity.

Population of the city of London by nationality

The capital of Great Britain is also home to peoples of other nationalities, namely:

Also in the capital of Great Britain lives:

• 40 thousand Romanians;
• 35 thousand Vietnamese;
• 30 thousand each of Koreans, Nepalese, Tanzanians, Bulgarians, Spaniards, New Zealanders;
• 20 thousand Thais, Bolivians, Ethiopians each;
• 15 thousand Congolese and Albanians each;
• 10 thousand Armenians, Ukrainians, Swedes each;
• 8 thousand Assyrians;
• 5 thousand each of Ivorians, Azerbaijanis, and Mongols.

According to some experts, the number of London's foreign-born population will increase significantly by 2031 and will significantly exceed the "native" population. Indeed, even now, every third resident of the British capital comes from another country.

London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

In terms of population density, this city occupies a leading position in the UK. If you take a separate area of ​​London, for example the City, the number of people living here is not so large when compared with other European cities. Their number does not exceed 10,000 thousand people, which is a fairly small figure for an area of ​​a city like London. However, it is worth noting that an incredible number of people come to the city every day to work here and earn their living. If we take the figure for London in general, it will be about 7.5 million people. The number of residents in the central part with old buildings is constantly decreasing as people tend to leave London immediately after starting a family or for some other reason.
Also, another important factor in the outflow of people from the center is the high cost of housing. Many are looking for cheaper housing further from the center, with clean air and beautiful surroundings. These processes occur constantly, even a large influx of immigrants and young people cannot stop it. For citizens, the best option would be housing in an area with favorable environmental conditions.

Ethnicity and emigration in England

There are quite a few ethnic groups in London. This territory is inhabited not only by indigenous people (Brits) but also by other peoples. These include the Irish as well as the Scots. More Jews who began to settle in London at the end of the 19th century. They came from Eastern Europe. Next are a group of people from countries that belong to the Mediterranean basin. Residents of China, Australia, India and the list goes on for a long time, they all moved to London at different times and under different conditions. All these immigrants form part of the population of this great city.

At the very beginning of the resettlement, immigrated people settled only in certain areas, but after a certain period of time they could be found in all areas of the capital. Ethnic groups of Jews settled in , while people from Asia chose the East End. Heathrow Airport has also become home to Easterners.

The majority of native Londoners are Anglicanism. In second place is Catholicism, and people who preach another religion make up only 4% of the total population. The official language here is, of course, English, it is also the main language, and here it makes no difference what nationality you belong to.

The 2013 census showed that the city's population had increased compared to the previous year and now stands at 8 million people, as usual, an increase in this figure due to immigrants. The data was provided by a well-known campaign. The number of residents increased by 11%, which is approximately 900 thousand people. The lion's share of this number is made up of immigrants - 57%. These are mainly people from countries that are not members of the European Union. A very small number of the population increased as a result of another wave of births in London.

In terms of wages, the UK occupies one of the highest positions in Europe. The country has a fair social security system, the economy is developing dynamically and the situation on the labor market is quite stable. British incomes are growing even despite the upcoming changes associated with the procedure for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

The economic leader of this island state is especially popular among labor migrants from around the world. England. In particular, a job in London provides an average income of 4,000 pounds (about 4,500 euros) per month. Of course, we are talking about qualified specialists.

The population of Great Britain in 2019 exceeds 66 million people. According to British National Statistical Office, the employment rate among persons aged 16 to 64 years is 76.1%, that is, about 32.7 million are officially employed. Unemployment is only 4.1% (1.3 million people).

Over the past year, including bonuses, the average weekly income of employees of UK companies in nominal terms has increased by 1.3%. Next, we will find out what the minimum and average salaries are in England in 2019, compare the indicators by individual professions and indicate the income tax rates.

According to official information from the British government portal GOV.UK, at the national level the minimum wage in the UK is reviewed annually as of April 1. The hourly rates depend on the age of the specialist. In addition, trainees who combine study and work in England are included in a separate category. For example, these could be UK university students aged 19 years or older in their first year of internship at a local company.

Minimum wage in England in 2019

Note that, in comparison with 2018, the minimum wage rate in England for people over 25 years of age increased by 0.38 pounds or 4.6% - from 7.83 to 8.21, and since 2010 the increase was 2.28 pounds . Local experts estimate that British citizens should earn at least £8.45 an hour to meet daily needs. By the way, the government sets itself the task of increasing the minimum hourly wage in the UK to 9 pounds by 2020.

In accordance with British law, the length of the working week in the country cannot exceed 48 hours, and the salary level must be no less than £398.04. In the case of standard employment of 40 hours per week, the income will be 328.4 lbs. Thus, the monthly minimum wage in England in 2019 is equal to £1,423, which is equivalent 1,605 euros. Overall, around 1.4 million people in the UK earn minimum incomes.

Important. Every UK worker can check whether their employer is paying the minimum wage using a special online calculator.

According to information National Statistics Office Great Britain, taking into account bonuses the average salary in England in 2019 is 528 pounds a week 2 288 pounds per month and 27 456 pounds per year, which in euro terms equals 595 , 2 580 And 30 965 respectively. The figures do not include taxes and other mandatory deductions. The average salary of British workers depends largely on age, gender, profession, experience, qualifications, company and city.

Compared to 2018, the average salary in England increased by 12 pounds. In real terms (adjusted for inflation), British incomes rose by 1.3%. The most promising sectors of the UK economy, where wage increases are predicted in 2019, are construction, manufacturing, engineering and hospitality. Men in England earn 17% more than women on average.

According to statistics from the international recruiting agency Monster, depending on length of service, the annual salary in England in 2019 ranges from £20,416 (less than 1 year of experience) to £39,130 ​​(more than 20 years of experience). Companies with up to 10 employees have an average income of £25,072 per year, while those with more than 50,000 employees have an average income of £40,851. The highest salaries in England are recorded in London, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester and Birmingham, and the lowest in Wigan and Mansfield.

Salaries in England by industry (pounds per year)

Financial services- 35 800

Information Technology- 35 176

Construction- 30 998

Production- 29 797

Retail- 26 587

Education- 25 101

SALARY IN ENGLAND BY PROFESSION*

Note. *Average salaries in England by occupation are based on a survey of 21,563,000 UK workers conducted by the UK Office for National Statistics.

Payroll taxes in England

The United Kingdom has a progressive income tax rate - from 0 to 45%. Similar to the minimum wage, rates are revised every year. April 1. The amount of income that is not subject to tax is £12,500 per year. This provision does not apply to annual earnings exceeding £123,000.

Income tax in England (UK) in 2019

England has an effective system of social benefits and benefits that allow partial compensation of paid taxes on wages.