[center][color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']A major settlement for two millennia, its history goes back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile' financial district, retains its mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the metropolis developed around it. Today, the bulk of this conurbation forms the London re[/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']gion and the Greater London administrative area, note with its own elected mayor and assembly. [/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']London is a leading global city being one of the world's largest financial centers and has the largest city GDP in Europe. Central London is home to the headquarters of most of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the FTSE 100) and more than 100 of Europe's 500[/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']largest. London's influence in politics, finance, education, entertainment, media, fashion, the arts and culture in general contributes to its global position. It is a major tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors. London hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympics and will host the 2012 Summer Olympics. London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church.[/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.[18] In July 2007 it had an official population of 7,556,900 within the[/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']boundaries of Greater London, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. The Greater London Urban Area (the second largest in the EU) has a population of 8,278,251. while the metropolitan area (the largest in the EU) has an estimated total population of between 12 million and 14 million. The London Underground network, administered by[/font][/color]
[color:2b41=black][font:2b41='Times New Roman']Transport for London, is the oldest and most extensive underground railway network in the world, London Heathrow Airport is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers and the airspace is the busiest of any urban centre in the world.[/font][/color][/center]