London

United Kingdom COUNTRY

14,257,962 CITY POPULATION

Executive Mayoralty GOVERNMENT TYPE

Introduction

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It’s situated in southeastern England. London is among the oldest of the world’s great cities and one of the most cosmopolitan. It is the country’s economic, transportation, and cultural centre. Since the Middle Ages, London has been renowned for influencing other cities around the world. It is famous for its astounding medieval buildings and modern structures that stand side by side to complement each other. Some of the places that make it famous include the amazing ancient buildings, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Art Galleries, the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye and the Tower of London.

Data and facts

Census in the United Kingdom is done after every 10 years and 2011 was the last time that it was conducted. The next census is scheduled for 2021 in England and Wales.
As of 2024, London’s population is estimated to be around 9.5 million Compared to other cities in the United Kingdom, London is considered to be more diverse.
In terms of religious beliefs, London remains one of the most diverse cities in the world. According to the latest available data for 2024, 45% of people in London identify as Christian, 14% as Muslim, 6% as Hindu, 2% as Jewish, 1.5% as Buddhist, and 0.8% as followers of other religions. Meanwhile, the percentage of people declaring no religious affiliation has risen to 25%.
As one of the most diverse cities in the world, London houses over 8 million residents, who collectively speak over 300 languages, including Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and of course English.
The Tower of London houses six ravens. Charles II ordered for six ravens to be placed in the Tower of London to protect it. Six ravens are still kept in the tower today and they must remain there at all times due to superstitious reasons.
London has the official smallest statue. Located on Philpot Lane, the statue of two tiny mice eating cheese is dedicated to two builders who fell during the construction of The Monument after an argument over a missing sandwich, that they blamed on each other but was the fault of a mice infestation.

Administration

There are two tiers of local government in London. They are citywide and local tiers. Citywide administration is coordinated by the Greater London Authority (GLA), while local administration is carried out by 33 smaller authorities. The Greater London Authority (GLA) consists of two elected parts. They are the Mayor of London, who has executive powers, and the London Assembly, who scrutinise the Mayor's decisions and can accept or reject his budget proposals each year. The GLA is responsible for strategic planning, policing, the fire service, and most aspects of transport and economic development. On the other hand, the 33 local authorities are the 32 London borough councils and the City of London Corporation. They are responsible for local services not overseen by the GLA, such as local planning, schools, social services, local roads and refuse collection. The London boroughs each have a council made up of representatives from political parties and single-issue organisations elected every four years by residents.

Economy

London continues to be a major global financial and commercial hub, boasting one of the largest city economies in the world. The city thrives on trade, finance, and commerce, with a dynamic business culture. As of the most recent data, London’s economy generates a GDP of over $750 billion (approximately £600 billion), accounting for around 23 per cent of the UK's total GDP. Its economic size surpasses that of many European countries. The Port of London remains a vital part of the city's economy, handling around 50 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Business Environment

London is home to many banks and financial institutions and has the maximum number of foreign banks in any city. The city is also a major centre for forex trade. London trades more US dollars than New York does, and more Euros than all other cities in Europe combined. The service sector employs 3.2 million people in London, which is about 85 per cent of all jobs available in London's service industries. Out of this, the financial sector alone employs about 1.25 million people or about one in every three jobs available. The manufacturing and construction industry, in contrast, employs half a million residents of Greater London, which is about 11 per cent of the employable population of Greater London. London is today the centre of operations for almost two out of every three Fortune 500 companies and the European hub for one out of every three large global conglomerates. Several well-known businesses such as HSBC, Barclays Bank, Virgin, BBC and many others have their headquarters in London. The London Stock Exchange is the largest in the world and accounts for about 32 per cent of all global transactions.

Infrastructure

The GLA took positive steps with its draft London Infrastructure Plan 2050. The Mayor of London took a big step forward in planning for growth with the publication of the GLA’s London Infrastructure Plan 2050. It identifies a range of infrastructure priorities for London, from new energy, water and sewerage infrastructure, to enhanced digital connectivity and new Tube, rail and road schemes. Some of the investment is provided by the private sector, through the privatised utilities. This has generally worked well in London, although businesses is particularly concerned about the lack of capacity in digital infrastructure. The take-up of high-speed broadband by business is low compared to other world cities; and just over 10% of premises cannot access superfast broadband in the first place, with these “not spots” particularly prevalent in the City of London and Tech City. Business sees these as priority areas for action by the Mayor.

Technology

London is one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. It has a huge number of financial transactions that take place electronically each day through its financial services industry. Because London relies on its financial sector so much, it has invested heavily in its communications infrastructure and continues to do so, under the auspices of its private IT sector and other partners, such as the Greater London Authority and the Corporation of the City of London. However, the technology industry that is part of London's economy is not simply there to support the financial services sector. It is a big player in its own right.

Social Wellness and Human Resources

Education

In London, education is mandatory for children from the ages of 5 to 18. After 16, students can choose to continue their education for two more years (sixth form), with many pursuing A-level qualifications. The education system is divided into two main types: state schools and independent schools (often called public schools).

State schools are funded by the government and are overseen by local education authorities. Most of these schools are either comprehensive, grammar, or free schools (the latter are set up by local parents and run by organisations).
Independent schools operate outside of state funding and often charge fees.

The education system is structured as follows:

Nursery (ages 0–3) and preschool nursery (ages 3–4)
Primary education (ages 4–11)
Secondary education (ages 11–18)
Tertiary education (ages 18+)

Health

Healthcare in London is primarily provided through the National Health Service (NHS). London accounts for about one-fifth of the NHS budget in England. In 2013, the Mayor of London set up the London Health Commission to look at how healthcare could be improved in the city. This commission worked for a year to develop recommendations and started a wider conversation about health improvements for Londoners. London has a unique healthcare landscape compared to other parts of the UK, with specialised hospitals and healthcare services serving the city's population.

Media

London is home to one of the largest media industries in Europe. About a fifth of London’s workforce is employed in the media sector, which continues to grow each year. The BBC, the world’s largest broadcaster, has its headquarters in London. Other major networks based in the city include CNN International, ITV, BskyB, Channel 4, and Five. Most of the UK’s television studios are located in London, with some planning to move to the city in the coming years.

London’s media industry also includes numerous radio stations and newspapers. The Metro and Evening Standard are two main daily newspapers distributed for free across the city.

Sports

London boasts a wide variety of sports, with football and tennis standing out as particularly popular. London has hosted the Olympic Games three times, in 1908, 1948, and 2012, making it the city chosen most frequently to host the modern Olympics. Other popular sports in the city include cricket, rowing, rugby, basketball, and even American football in recent years.

Tourism

London is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, welcoming around 30 million international visitors each year. People from all over the globe come to see its famous landmarks, experience its rich cultural scene, and enjoy theatre in the West End. Additionally, about 26 million overnight visits are made annually by people from other parts of the UK. London’s tourism continues to thrive, offering a wide range of attractions and experiences for all visitors.