london is the capital of the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland, the largest city in the British Isles. The city was founded in 43 ad, during the invasion of Britain the Romans led by Emperor Claudius. The modern name of the city comes from the Roman «Londinium». In the Saxon era London has lost all meaning. However, in the year 884 Alfred the Great made the city his capital.
The terrible plague of 1665 claimed the lives of 70,000 Londoners, and a year later a terrible fire turned to ashes and the ashes 4/5 buildings in the city. Project a brilliant architect Christopher Wren was soon built St. Paul’s Cathedral and fifty city churches. A century later the city fathers decided to demolish the last remnants of the city wall, which prevented London to grow and develop. The Grand world exposition of 1851 at the crystal Palace demonstrated to the world the wealth and power of the British Empire. At that time, the number of residents exceeded 1 million. Today, the population of London Metropolitan area exceeds 12 million people and the capital of the UK is one of the largest cities in the world.
