London
With a population of little over 9 million people, London is one of the most populous cities in the UK. Situated on the River Thames in south-east England, It has been a prominent settlement for two millennia, at the head of a 50-mile (80-kilometre) estuary that leads to the North Sea.
Its old core and financial centre, the City of London, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains medieval-era limits.
Since the 19th century, “London” has also applied to the metropolitan area that surrounds this centre, historically divided between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, and which is managed by the Greater London Authority.
The national government and parliament have been housed in the City of Westminster, which is located to the west of the City of London, for centuries.
Why We LOVE London ❤️
SEO Vikings call London its home.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom and a cultural and financial hub with many multinational companies and banks calling it their home.
It has the largest metropolitan economy in Europe (€801.66 billion in 2017) and is one of the world’s main financial centres.
London, as one of the world’s major global cities, has a significant impact on the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, health care, media, tourism, and communications, and has been dubbed the “Capital of the World” before Brexit.
It has the second-highest number of ultra-high-net-worth persons in Europe after Paris, as well as the second-highest number of billionaires in Europe after Moscow, in 2019. London has the most millionaires of any city as of 2021.
It has the highest concentration of higher education institutions in Europe, including Imperial College London in the natural and applied sciences, the London School of Economics in the social sciences, and University College London, which offers a broad curriculum.
The city has more 5-star hotels than any other city on the planet. London became the first city to hold three Olympic Games in the summer of 2012.
City Of London: Things To Do & Places to See
Attractions in London
Big Ben
Big Ben is more than just a structure; it represents the Houses of Parliament, the City of London, and democracy itself. Big Ben, the Mother of Parliament’s heartbeat, beats with precision and consistency. A nation unified beneath its throbbing chime rises to the difficulties it meets in both peace and conflict. But why is Big Ben so well-known? Here are some of the reasons. And prepare to be astounded by this magnificent monument.
The London Eye
The London Eye contains 32 eight-metre-long, four-metre-diameter passenger capsules. Two rings connect the capsules to the wheel. The dish is kept level by a mechanical stabilisation mechanism, allowing guests to see more of the city. The London Eye concept is a well-known tourist attraction in the city. It is close to the Thames River. The London Eye costs about £20 per person to ride. You must be between the ages of eight and twelve to ride the London Eye.
Buckingham Palace
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex all live in the palace. It is the monarchy’s seat and the Royal Family’s workplace. There are 450 people employed there, and the building receives around 50,000 visitors each year. The Changing of the Guard ritual is held in the forecourt of the palace, which is a popular tourist destination.
Trafalgar Square
There are numerous reasons why you should go to Trafalgar Square in London, England. It has hosted several protests, parades, and performances over the years. Christmas celebrations and New Year’s Eve parties are popular. The National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields church surround the plaza. It is also the scene of political demonstrations. A variety of street artists are performing their art here.
Tower Bridge
A tour of the Tower Bridge is an excellent way to learn about the city’s fascinating history. The bridge can be seen from many locations of London and is marked on almost every map. The tower had a significant impact on the culture of the city and the development of the South Bank, a popular business and entertainment zone in central London. The tower’s influence reaches across the city as the tallest structure in the globe. If you’re planning a vacation to London, spend some time learning about the history and engineering behind the Bridge.
The Shard
You can spend your day at The Shard doing a variety of things, such as watching the sunset over London or walking along the London Eye. The Shard is open every day of the week. While admission to the Sky Garden is free, you can upgrade your ticket to enjoy the view from the observation deck. On the viewing deck, there are various restaurants and pubs. Visitors to the sky deck can enjoy drinks and snacks, albeit the rates are expensive.
30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)
30 St Mary Axe (formerly known as the Swiss Re Building and colloquially known as the Gherkin) is a business skyscraper in the City of London. It was completed in December 2003 and opened in April 2004. It has 41 floors and stands on the sites of the former Baltic Exchange and Chamber of Shipping, which was heavily damaged in 1992 in the Baltic Exchange bombing by a Provisional IRA device placed in St Mary Axe, a narrow street leading north from Leadenhall Street.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a well-known jail that has housed a number of prominent inmates. Several high-profile executions have occurred there throughout British history, including two of Henry VIII’s wives. The grounds have been transformed into a memorial to those who were executed on the green, and visitors are welcome to pay their respects. However, the Tower of London is riddled with myths and misconceptions.
Home of The SEO Vikings - London
The SEO Vikings sit in the heart of London surrounded by all of the wonderful landmarks and history of London.
You can get the London underground to connect you to almost anywhere within London.
The SEO Vikings LOVE being a part of London histoy and adding towards London’s booming economy.
The SEO Vikings is only a few hops away from the museums in London some of which you can walk to from SEO Vikings London location. In between stops are parks such as green park, waterlow park, regents park and more.
You wont be disappointed by the diverse London culture and history that lives on throughout London.
Museums in London
National History Museum
The Natural History Museum, located in the heart of London, houses nearly 4 million exhibits. The structure is separated into four zones, each of which focuses on a distinct topic. The collection of birds, insects, and fossils can be found in the Green Zone. You can learn about the evolution of the Earth, planets, and universe in the Red Zone. The Blue Zone is home to a dinosaur and animal collection. Finally, the Orange Zone takes you into the museum’s Wildlife Garden, which is only open between April and October.
Victoria & Albert Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum has the world’s biggest collection of European and British sculpture. Works by British and European sculptors, as well as loaned works from other institutions, are on display at the museum. These collections vary from classical Greece and Rome to contemporary art. The Codex Forster, which contains sketches and references to Renaissance equine sculpture, is one of the highlights. In 1876, John Forster left the book to the museum, and in 1869, Reverend Alexander Dyce left the institution with almost 14,000 books.
The Science Museum Of London
The Science Museum in London is a cutting-edge research and exploration centre. More than 300,000 pieces, ranging from Charles Babbage’s first calculating computer to a complete Apollo 10 command module, are on display. The museum features award-winning exhibitions, unique artefacts, and tales about humanity’s tremendous scientific achievements. Whether you are interested in physics or space exploration, a visit to the Science Museum in London will be an unforgettable experience.
The British Museum
The British Museum has two million years of human history as well as ancient wonders from throughout the world. Visit the Great Court to see the museum’s collections from every angle. You’ll also learn about the incredible diversity of human culture and past empires. Everyone should visit this London museum! And, while you’re there, don’t miss the library, which has over 3.5 million items from all around the world.
Parks in London
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park, one of London’s most beautiful parks, was previously a part of Westminster Abbey. In 1536, King Henry VIII claimed it as his hunting ground. For many years, monks from adjacent Westminster Abbey used the grounds not only for worship but also to cultivate plants and find inspiration. After Henry VIII confiscated the park, it was renamed and offered to the public. It is now one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the capital.
Green Park, London
The Green Park, also known simply as Green Park without the definite article, is one of London’s Royal Parks. It is located in the southern – or core – part of the City of Westminster, Central London, but prior to the zone being extended to the north to include Marylebone and Paddington, it was located in its north centre. It is located north of Buckingham Palace’s gardens and semi-circular forecourt.
It was first fenced in the 16th century and landscaped in 1820. It is unique among central London parks in that it lacks lakes and buildings and has very modest flower planting in the form of naturalised narcissus.
Waterlow Park, London
Waterlow Park is a 26-acre (11 ha) park in the southeast of Highgate Village, in north London. It was given to the public (i.e. the London County Council[1]) by Sir Sydney Waterlow, as “a garden for the gardenless” in 1889.
Regents Park, London
Regent’s Park (formally The Regent’s Park) is one of London’s Royal Parks. It is located on high ground in northwest Inner London, divided administratively between the City of Westminster and the Borough of Camden (and historically between Marylebone and Saint Pancras parishes). In addition to its enormous central parkland and decorative lake, it has a number of public and private structures and organisations on its outskirts, including Regent’s University and the London Zoo.
Victoria Park, London
Victoria Park (also known informally as Vicky Park or the People’s Park) is a park in Tower Hamlets, East London, England.
With about 9 million people per year, it is Tower Hamlets’ largest park and one of London’s most visited green spaces.
The park has an area of 86.18 hectares (213.0 acres) and was opened to the public in 1845.
Art Galleries in London
The National Gallery
In 1824, the National Gallery was founded. A financier named John Julius Angerstein left the British government a collection of 38 paintings. The collection comprises works by artists from the Netherlands, Italy, and England. As a result, Sir George Beaumont, a British government official, proposed to gift the collection to the gallery on the condition that parliament construct a facility for it. The new edifice was designed by architect William Wilkins and opened in Trafalgar Square.
The National Portrait Gallery
The NPG’s major collection includes the work of approximately 2,000 artists. Paintings, sculptures, sketches, and other media are on display. Portraits can also be purchased in a variety of various formats, such as tiny paintings, cartoons, mosaics, and more. The museum’s portrait collection is also diversified, including pieces by Clara Barton, who was originally the gallery’s director.
Historical London
London, England’s and the United Kingdom’s capital city, has a long and illustrious history. It has since grown into one of the world’s most important financial and cultural capitals. It has survived the plague, terrible fires, civil war, aerial bombardment, terrorist assaults, and riots, among other things.
The City of London is the historic heart of the Greater London metropolis and its principal financial area today, albeit accounting for only a small portion of the overall city.
Londons’ Booming Economy
In 2019, London’s gross regional product was £503 billion, accounting for roughly a quarter of UK GDP. The city of Westminster, Canary Wharf, Camden & Islington, and Lambeth & Southwark are the five major business areas in London.
The City of London is the historic heart of the Greater London metropolis and its principal financial area today, albeit accounting for only a small portion of the overall city.
SEO Vikings are proud to be part of Londons’ vibrant economy.
Some of the major London Based Companies Include:
- HSBC
- Royal Dutch Shell
- BP
- Barclays
- Llyod TSB Group
- SEO Vikings
- Aviva
- Unilever
- Vodafone Group
- Anglo American
- Tesco
- Prudential
- AstraZeneca
- Rio Tinto
- BT Group
- UBS
- British American Tobacco
- Standard Chartered
- BBC
- Canonical
- Virgin Atlantic Airway
Educational Opportunities in London
London is a major global hub for higher education teaching and research, with Europe’s highest concentration of higher education institutes. According to the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, London has the highest concentration of world-class universities and the largest international student population of any city in the world, with over 110,000 students. According to a survey published by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2014, London is the global capital of higher education.
Brampton Manor Academy
Brampton Manor Academy (formerly known as Brampton Manor School).
Brampton Manor School is a secondary school (n 11–18 mixed) and selective sixth form academy with academy status in East Ham, London, England. The school is the second largest in the London Borough of Newham. In 2019, 41 of the schools’ students were offered places at Oxbridge; in 2020, 51; and in 2021, 55. (7 more than Eton College).
City and Islington College
City and Islington College (also called CANDI) is a further education college in the London Borough of Islington, England. It was established in 1993 and has four major locations, including a sixth form centre. It is part of Capital City College Group, alongside Westminster Kingsway College and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, which altogether have 25,000 students by 2020.
City of Westminster College
City of Westminster College is the further education college found in the City of Westminster, England. It was originally founded as Paddington Technical Institute in 1904 but gained its current name in 1990. The college has locations in Paddington and Maida Vale, both in central London. The Cockpit Theatre also lives here as a fully operational studio theatre used for training and performances and a range of outreach centres. Since 2017 it has been legally merged with the College of North West London (CNWL). The United Colleges Group has over 9,000 students enrolled since 2019 in young or adult study programmes and their popular apprenticeships programmes.
David Game College
David Game College is a private school and sixth form in the London neighbourhood of Tower Hill. Students between the ages of 13 and 22 can go to the college, which is open to both men and women. Each year, up to 400 students enrol to take full-time classes. The David Game College is associated with the CIFE group of independent colleges. Who promotes an ethos of optimism, hard work and ambition to improve grades and enter a university of the student’s choice. In 2017–2018, 67 percent of people with an A-Level got into a university in the Russell Group. In the most recent inspection by Ofsted, David Game College got an “Outstanding” rating in every sector.
Ealing College
Ealing Art College (aka Ealing Technical College & School of Art) is a further education institution on St Mary’s Road, Ealing, London, England. Today, the University of West London’s Ealing campus is there. In 1960 the School of Art was composed of Fashion, Industrial Design, Photography, Graphics and Fine Art Departments. Notable musicians Freddie Mercury, Ronnie Wood and Pete Townshend famously attended the college.
Hammersmith and West London College
West London College, also known as the Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, is a further education college in West London, England. It was formed in 2002 by merging Ealing Tertiary College, Hammersmith, and West London College. The College is based across four campuses located in Park Royal, Ealing, Hammersmith and Southall districts. You’ll find the main campus of the College is situated on the north side of the A4 dual-carriageway, between Hammersmith and Earls Court. As of 2016, there are more than 13,000 students.
Leyton Sixth Form College
Leyton Sixth Form College (aka LSC) is a public sixth form college located in the southern part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. There are more than 2,100 students, and 80% take courses at Level 3. The college offers a wide array of academic and vocational full-time courses. It contains more than 35 A level subjects, 15 BTEC subjects, some International GCSE subjects, GNVQ subjects and ESOL programmes. Course analyses are long and hard to do every year. The college is partnered with the Queen Mary University of London and the University of Westminster.
London Academy of Excellence
The London Academy of Excellence, Stratford (aka LAE) is a selective free school and sixth form college located in Stratford, London Borough of Newham, England. There are about 480 students and 32 teachers. The school opened in 2012 in collaboration with seven independent schools. Brighton College, Eton College, Caterham School, City of London School, Highgate School, Forest School, and University College School. Today these six educational facilities continue to support the school as ‘partner schools’. Due to the close relationship with Eton College, the school has been dubbed ‘the Eton of the East End’ by the national media.
Tower Hamlets College
Tower Hamlets College (THC) opened in 1990. The college is housed in the former building of the School of Marine Engineering and Navigation, established by the London County Council and opened in 1906. The largest building of the Tower Hamlets campus is on Poplar High Street, about 700 m north of Canary Wharf; the others are at Arbour Square, Bethnal Green and the TowerSkills on East India Dock Road.
Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre (The NCS)
Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre, also known as The NCS, opened in 2014. It is a free school sixth-form college located in East Ham, London, England. The City of London Academies Trust run it. The college is open to both men and women and has a partnership with University College London. Ofsted states that it is “Outstanding.”
Private Schools
In London, there are also a number of private schools and colleges, some of which are old and well-known, such as:
City of London School
The City of London School, (aka CLS and City), is an independent day school for boys in the City of London, England. A private Act of Parliament founded the school in 1834, for poor children in the City of London. The original school was located at Milk Street, then it moved to the Victoria Embankment in 1879 and then to Queen Victoria Street in 1986. Now you’ll find it located on the banks of the River Thames next to the Millennium Bridge, opposite Tate Modern. There is also a partnership from the City of London School for Girls and the City of London Freemen’s School. The City’s Cash is used to fund all three schools. As a member of the Conference of Head Teachers and Headmistresses, (HMC). Regarding academics, it’s one of the most highly regarded schools in the UK.
Harrow School
Harrow School is a public school (English independent boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. John Lyon, a landowner and farmer under a Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth 1 founded the school in 1572. Harrow is one of the most prestigious schools in the world because of its long history and influence. There are around 820 students enrolled at the school, all of whom live in one of the twelve boarding houses.
St Paul’s School
St Paul’s School is an independent boys’ school for ages 13–18. It was founded in 1509 by John Colet and located on a 43-acre site by the Thames in London. The school was omitted from the Public Schools Act 1868 as it had successfully argued that it was a private school. In 1881, St Paul’s added the addition of St Paul’s Juniors (formerly Colet Court), its very own preparatory school.
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
Haberdashers’ Boys’ School (until September 2021, known as Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School). It is a public school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. Both the Principals and the Rugby Group recognise the school as a member of their respective organisations. A Royal Charter founded the school granted to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1690. With the aim to create a hospital for 20 boarders with £32,000 from the legacy of Robert Aske.
University College School
University College School (aka UCS) is an independent day school located in Frognal, Hampstead, northwest London, England. University College London founded the school in 1830 and inherited many of that institution’s progressive and secular views.
The John Lyon School
The John Lyon School (formerly The Lower School of John Lyon) is a highly academically selective independent boys and girls’ day school, located in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The Governors of Harrow School for the education of boys founded the school in 1876. Holding the belated wishes of John Lyon, Harrow School’s founder. The school continues the ‘English Form’ that was founded in 1853 to educate local scholars. The John Lyon School continues to maintain its historic ties with Harrow School, and the two institutions are in close partnership. The institution belongs to the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC).
Highgate School
Highgate School, (formally known as Sir Roger Cholmeley’s School at Highgate). It is an English co-educational, fee-charging, independent day school, founded in 1565 in Highgate, London, England. It educates over 1,400 pupils in three sections – Highgate Pre-Preparatory School (ages 3–7), Highgate junior school (ages 7–11) and the senior school (11+). Together making the Highgate Foundation. The school’s primary corporate sponsor is Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
Westminster School
Westminster School is a public school located within the grounds of Westminster Abbey in Westminster, London, England. It derives from a charity school that was founded by Westminster Benedictines before the 1066 Norman Conquest. The Croyland Chronicle and a charter of King Offa documented it. Its academic results place it among the top schools nationally; about half its students go to Oxbridge, giving it the highest national Oxbridge acceptance rate.
World Leading Hospitals in London
St Thomas’ Hospital
St. Thomas’ Hospital is one of the largest NHS teaching hospitals in London’s central district. It is one of the institutions making up the King’s Health Partners, an academic health sciences centre. Administratively part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, together with Guy’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital, University Hospital Lewisham, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This Hospital is the location of the King’s College London GKT School of Medical Education.
Weymouth Street Hospital
London, England’s Weymouth Street Hospital is a private hospital with consulting rooms at 9 Harley Street. The Phoenix Hospital Group, which bought 25 Harley Street in January 2018, owns it. Dr Aubrey Bristow and Mr Ghassan Alusi, two consultants from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, founded the hospital. They opened it after a complete rebuild in 2010. The hospital was featured in a television programme called Transformation Street in January 2018, which featured patients having transgender surgery.
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital, formerly known as the Military Orthopaedic Hospital and later the Special Surgical Hospital. It is a major teaching hospital in White City, West London. It is also part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine. The hospital is not found in Hammersmith, confusingly, but it is located in White City, next to Wormwood Scrubs and East Acton.
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, also known as Barts, is a teaching hospital in central London. It was founded in 1123 and is managed by Barts Health NHS Trust currently. Barts is famous for being the oldest hospital in Britain that still provides medical services operating on the site it was originally built on. The building also has a long history and is stated as an architecturally important building. The main entrance to the hospital continues to be the so-named Henry VIII gate. (Named so as it features a statue of King Henry VIII.)
London also housed the first NHS Nightingale Hospitals, which were established by NHS England in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hosted in East London’s ExCeL London convention centre. The hospital was quickly planned and built, opening on 3 April 2020 and receiving its first patients on 7 April 2020. During the first wave of the pandemic, it served 54 patients, and during the second wave, it served non-COVID patients and provided immunizations. It was decommissioned in April 2021.
The Diverse Cultures in London
London is one of the world’s most varied cities. Every day, more than 300 languages are spoken in the capital, but sculptures, plaques, and street names do not reflect the city’s diverse population or history. A Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm is being formed by City Hall.
London also has one of the world’s most ethnically diversified populations. Over 200 languages are spoken in the capital, and approximately one-third of Londoners were born overseas.
The city is one of the world’s four fashion capitals, and it is the world’s third busiest film production centre, hosts more live comedy than any other city, and has the world’s largest theatre audience, according to government figures.