London

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of London}}

===Scope===
London, also known as [[Greater London]], is one of nine [[regions of England]] and the top subdivision covering most of the city's metropolis. The [[City of London]] at its core once comprised the whole settlement, but as its urban area grew, the [[City of London Corporation|Corporation of London]] resisted attempts to amalgamate the city with its [[suburbs]], causing "London" to be defined several ways.<ref name="chancery">{{Cite book|last1=Beavan |first1=Charles|last2=Bickersteth|first2=Harry|title=Reports of Cases in Chancery, Argued and Determined in the Rolls Court|publisher=Saunders and Benning |year=1865 |url=https://archive.org/details/reportscasesinc14romigoog}}</ref>
[[File:London by Sentinel-2.jpg|alt=|thumb|Satellite view of London in June 2018]]
Forty per cent of Greater London is covered by the [[London postal district|London post town]], in which 'London' forms part of postal addresses.<ref name=london_042>{{Cite book |last=Stationery Office |title=The Inner London Letter Post |publisher=H.M.S.O |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-10-251580-0 |page=128}}</ref> The London telephone [[area code]] (020) covers a larger area, similar in size to Greater London, although some outer districts are excluded and some just outside included. The Greater London boundary has been [[List of Greater London boundary changes|aligned to the M25 motorway]] in places.<ref name=london_044>{{Cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19930441_en_1.htm|title=The Essex, Greater London and Hertfordshire (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order|year=1993|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=6 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107231348/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1993/Uksi_19930441_en_1.htm|archive-date=7 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Further urban expansion is now prevented by the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]], although the built-up area extends beyond the boundary in places, producing a separately defined [[Greater London Urban Area]]. Beyond this is the vast [[London commuter belt]].<ref name=london_041>{{Cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/london_regional_200104.pdf |title=London in its Regional Setting |publisher=London Assembly |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527193714/http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/london_regional_200104.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Greater London is split for some purposes into [[Inner London]] and [[Outer London]],<ref name=london_045>{{Cite book |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |title=London Government Act 1963 |year=1996 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 May 2008 |isbn=978-0-16-053895-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817142118/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |archive-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and by the River Thames into [[North London|North]] and [[South London|South]], with an informal [[central London]] area. The coordinates of the nominal centre of London, traditionally the original [[Eleanor Cross]] at [[Charing Cross]] near the junction of [[Trafalgar Square]] and [[Whitehall]], are about {{Coord|51|30|26|N|00|07|39|W|type:city(7,000,000)_region:GB}}.<ref name=london_039>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |title=London&nbsp;— Features&nbsp;— Where is the Centre of London? |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817141948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |archive-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Status===
Within London, both the City of London and the [[City of Westminster]] have [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] and both the City of London and the remainder of Greater London are [[Ceremonial counties of England|counties for the purposes of lieutenancies]].<ref name=london_049>{{Cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970023_en_1 |title=Lieutenancies Act 1997 |publisher=OPSI |access-date=7 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522210452/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970023_en_1 |archive-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The area of [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England#Greater London|Greater London]] includes areas that are part of the [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[Middlesex]], [[Kent]], [[Surrey]], [[Essex]] and [[Hertfordshire]].<ref name="london_050">{{Cite book |last=Barlow |first=I.M. |title=Metropolitan Government |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=1991 |isbn=9780415020992 |location=London |page=346}}</ref> London's status as the capital of England, and later the United Kingdom, has never been granted or confirmed by statute or in written form.{{refn|According to the ''Collins English Dictionary'' definition of 'the seat of government',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sinclair |first1=J.M. |title=Collins English dictionary. |date=1994 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |location=Glasgow |isbn=978-0004706788 |edition=3rd updated}}</ref> London is not the capital of England, as England does not have its own government. According to the ''Oxford English Reference Dictionary'' definition of 'the most important town' and many other authorities.<ref>{{Cite book |editor1-last=Pearsall |editor1-first=Judy |editor2-last=Trumble |editor2-first=Bill |title=The Oxford English Reference Dictionary |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford, England |isbn=978-0198606529 |edition=2nd, rev}}</ref>|group=note}}

Its status as a capital was established by [[constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]], which means its status as ''de facto'' capital is a part of the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|UK's uncodified constitution]]. The capital of England was moved to London from [[Winchester]] as the [[Palace of Westminster]] developed in the 12th and 13th centuries to become the permanent location of the [[Noble court|royal court]], and thus the political capital of the nation.<ref name=london_060>{{Cite journal |last=Schofield |first=John |title=When London became a European capital |date=June 1999 |journal=British Archaeology |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |issue=45 |issn=1357-4442 |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba45/ba45regs.html |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425074539/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba45/ba45regs.html |archive-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> More recently, Greater London has been defined as a [[Regions of England|region of England]] and in this context is known as ''London''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/factgol/London/?a=42496 |title=Government Offices for the English Regions, Fact Files: London |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=4 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124102915/http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/factgol/London/?a=42496 |archive-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>

===Topography===
[[File:London from Primrose Hill May 2013.jpg|thumb|London from [[Primrose Hill]]]]
Greater London encompasses a total area of {{convert|1583|km2|sqmi|order=flip}} an area which had a population of 7,172,036 in 2001 and a population density of {{convert|4542|PD/km2|PD/sqmi|order=flip}}. The extended area known as the London Metropolitan Region or the London Metropolitan Agglomeration, comprises a total area of {{convert|8382|km2|sqmi|order=flip}} has a population of 13,709,000 and a population density of {{convert|1510|PD/km2|PD/sqmi|order=flip}}.<ref name=Metrop>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgcl.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/lu_pour_vous/les_grandes_metropol/downloadFile/attachedFile/metropolislondres.pdf?nocache=1254397828.63 |title=Metropolis: 027 London, World Association of the Major Metropolises |access-date=3 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427084411/http://www.dgcl.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/lu_pour_vous/les_grandes_metropol/downloadFile/attachedFile/metropolislondres.pdf?nocache=1254397828.63 |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>

Modern London stands on the [[River Thames|Thames]], its primary geographical feature, a [[Navigability|navigable]] river which crosses the city from the south-west to the east. The [[Thames Valley]] is a [[floodplain|flood plain]] surrounded by gently rolling hills including [[Parliament Hill, London|Parliament Hill]], [[Addington Hills]], and [[Primrose Hill]]. Historically London grew up at the [[lowest bridging point]] on the Thames. The Thames was once a much broader, shallower river with extensive [[marsh]]lands; at high tide, its shores reached five times their present width.<ref name=london_065>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9qvtYYhRtAC&pg=PR11 |title=London: A History |first=Francis |last=Sheppard |page=10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-19-285369-1 |access-date=6 June 2008}}</ref>

Since the [[Victorian era]] the Thames has been extensively [[Thames Embankment|embanked]], and many of its London [[Tributaries of the River Thames|tributaries]] now flow [[Subterranean rivers of London|underground]]. The Thames is a tidal river, and London is vulnerable to flooding.<ref name=london_066>{{Cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/flooding/?version=1&lang=_e |title=Flooding |publisher=UK [[Environment Agency]] |access-date=19 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215080725/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/flooding/?version=1&lang=_e |archive-date=15 February 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The threat has increased over time because of a slow but continuous rise in [[Tide|high water]] level caused by [[climate change]] and by the slow 'tilting' of the British Isles as a result of [[post-glacial rebound]].<ref name=london_067>{{Cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/sealevels/?version=1&lang=_e |title="Sea Levels"&nbsp;– UK Environment Agency |publisher=[[Environment Agency]] |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523225152/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/eff/1190084/natural_forces/sealevels/?version=1&lang=_e |archive-date=23 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{main|Climate of London}}
London has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''). Rainfall records have been kept in the city since at least 1697, when records began at [[Kew]]. At Kew, the most rainfall in one month is {{Convert|189|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in November 1755 and the least is {{Convert|0|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in both December 1788 and July 1800. Mile End also had {{Convert|0|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} in April 1893.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.trevorharley.com/weather-april.html |title=Weather April |website=trevorharley.com}}</ref> The wettest year on record is 1903, with a total fall of {{Convert|969|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}} and the driest is 1921, with a total fall of {{Convert|308|mm|in|order=flip|abbr=}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://old.wetterzentrale.de/klima/pkewgar.html |title=Niederschlagsmonatssummen KEW GARDENS 1697–1987 |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224100657/http://old.wetterzentrale.de/klima/pkewgar.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The average annual precipitation amounts to about 600&nbsp;mm, which is half the annual rainfall of [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Average Annual Precipitation by City in the US – Current Results |url=https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-precipitation-by-city.php|access-date=25 March 2021 |website=currentresults.com}}</ref> Despite relatively low annual precipitation, London receives 109.6 rainy days on the 1.0&nbsp;mm threshold annually. London is vulnerable to [[climate change in the United Kingdom|climate change]], and there is concern among [[hydrology|hydrological]] experts that households may run out of water before 2050.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/london-water-drought-climate-change-b2079811.html?amp|title=London could run out of water in 25 years as cities worldwide face rising risk of drought, report warns|author=Saphora Smith|newspaper=The Independent|date=16 May 2022|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref>

Temperature extremes in London range from {{convert|40.2|°C|°F|1}} at Heathrow on 19 July 2022 down to {{convert|-17.4|°C|°F}} at Northolt on 13 December 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/mintemp_map.php?date=1981-12-13 |title=Minimum Temperatures observed on 13th Dec 1981 at 06Z (SYNOP)/09Z (MIDAS/BUFR) UTC (529 reports)|access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search |title=Search &#124; Climate Data Online (CDO) &#124; National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729134639/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Records for [[atmospheric pressure]] have been kept at London since 1692. The highest pressure ever reported is {{convert|1049.8|mbar|inHg}} on 20 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51180211 |title=London breaks a high-pressure record |date=20 January 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>

Summers are generally warm, sometimes hot. London's average July high is 23.5&nbsp;°C (74.3&nbsp;°F). On average each year, London experiences 31 days above {{convert|25|°C|°F|1}} and 4.2 days above {{convert|30.0|°C|°F|1}}. During the [[2003 European heat wave]], prolonged heat led to hundreds of heat-related deaths.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=The impact of the 2003 heat wave on daily mortality in England and Wales and the use of rapid weekly mortality estimates |journal=Eurosurveillance |volume=10 |issue=7 |date=1 July 2005 |first1=H |last1=Johnson |first2=RS |last2=Kovats |first3=G |last3=McGregor |first4=J |last4=Stedman |first5=M |last5=Gibbs |first6=H |last6=Walton |pages=15–16 |doi=10.2807/esm.10.07.00558-en |pmid=16088043 |url=http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=558|doi-access=free}}</ref> A previous spell of 15 consecutive days above {{convert|32.2|°C|°F|1}} in England in 1976 also caused many heat related deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Brian |year=2002 |title=1976. The Incredible Heatwave. |url=https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=libgen&id=1432 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712080114/https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=libgen&id=1432 |archive-date=12 July 2008 |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=TheWeatherOutlook}}</ref> A previous temperature of {{convert|37.8|°C|°F}} in August 1911 at the Greenwich station was later disregarded as non-standard.<ref name="metoffice.gov.uk">{{Cite web |year=1911 |title=Monthly Weather Report of the Meteorological Office |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/i/7/aug1911.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113123406/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/i/7/aug1911.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2017 |access-date=25 March 2021 |publisher=Wyman and Sons, Ltd.}}</ref> Droughts can also, occasionally, be a problem, especially in summer, most recently in summer 2018, and with much drier than average conditions prevailing from May to December.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=UK Droughts: SPI |url=https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/droughts/ |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=[[UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology]]}}</ref> However, the most consecutive days without rain was 73 days in the spring of 1893.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/philip-eden/Longest-drought-for-2-years.htm |title=Philip Eden: Longest drought for 2 years – weatheronline.co.uk |website=weatheronline.co.uk |access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref>

Winters are generally cool with little temperature variation. Heavy snow is rare but snow usually falls at least once each winter. Spring and autumn can be pleasant. As a large city, London has a considerable [[urban heat island]] effect,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/docs/UHI_summary_report.pdf |title=London's Urban Heat Island: A Summary for Decision Makers |publisher=Greater London Authority |date=October 2006 |access-date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015955/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/docs/UHI_summary_report.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2012}}</ref> making the centre of London at times {{convert|5|C-change|0}} warmer than the suburbs and outskirts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eden |first=Philip |date=9 June 2004 |title=Ever Warmer as Temperatures Rival France |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463994/Ever-warmer-as-temperatures-rival-France.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326104750/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463994/Ever-warmer-as-temperatures-rival-France.html |archive-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>

{{London weatherbox}}

===Areas===
{{main|List of areas of London|London boroughs}}
Places within London's vast urban area are identified using area names, such as [[Mayfair]], [[Southwark]], [[Wembley]], and [[Whitechapel]]. These are either informal designations, reflect the names of villages that have been absorbed by sprawl, or are superseded administrative units such as parishes or [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|former boroughs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historytoday.com/ad-harvey/london%E2%80%99s-boroughs|title=London's Boroughs|publisher=History Today|access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref>

[[File:London (44761485915).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The [[West End theatre]] district in 2016]]
Such names have remained in use through tradition, each referring to a local area with its own distinctive character, but without official boundaries. Since 1965, Greater London has been divided into 32 [[London borough]]s in addition to the ancient City of London.<ref name=london_071>{{Cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/city-government/boroughs.jsp |title=London boroughs&nbsp;— London Life, GLA |publisher=London Government |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213025156/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/city-government/boroughs.jsp |archive-date=13 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The City of London is the main financial district,<ref name=london_073>{{Cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/business-and-jobs/financial-centre.jsp |title=London as a financial centre |publisher=Mayor of London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106051217/http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/business-and-jobs/financial-centre.jsp |archive-date=6 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Canary Wharf]] has recently developed into a new financial and commercial hub in the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] to the east.

The [[West End of London|West End]] is London's main entertainment and shopping district, attracting tourists.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1608619.stm |title=West End still drawing crowds |work=BBC News |access-date=6 June 2008 |date=22 October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511121403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1608619.stm |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[West (London sub region)|West London]] includes expensive residential areas where properties can sell for tens of millions of pounds.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/apr/17/tax.g2 |title=Super Rich |date=17 April 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=7 June 2008 |location=London |first=James |last=Meek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501134745/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/apr/17/tax.g2 |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The average price for properties in [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea|Kensington and Chelsea]] is over £2&nbsp;million with a similarly high outlay in most of central London.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation/planningpolicy/idoc.ashx?docid=bf56bda1-575c-435b-92ac-9a71625c1746&version=-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010131732/https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation/planningpolicy/idoc.ashx?docid=bf56bda1-575c-435b-92ac-9a71625c1746&version=-1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 October 2016 |title=Information on latest house prices in the Royal Borough |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/aug/08/housing-london-jump-19-per-cent-year |title=Average house prices in London jump 19 percent in a year |first=Rupert |last=Jones |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=24 September 2014}}</ref>

The [[East End of London|East End]] is the area closest to the original [[Port of London]], known for its high immigrant population, as well as for being one of the poorest areas in London.<ref name="East End">{{Cite news |url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8487518/site/newsweek/ |date=6 July 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829024354/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8487518/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=29 August 2006 |title=Tomorrow's East End |work=Newsweek |author=Flynn, Emily |location=New York |url-status=dead}}</ref> The surrounding [[North East (London sub region)|East London]] area saw much of London's early industrial development; now, [[brownfield land|brownfield]] sites throughout the area are being redeveloped as part of the [[Thames Gateway]] including the [[London Riverside]] and [[Lower Lea Valley]], which was developed into the [[Olympic Park, London|Olympic Park]] for the [[London 2012 Olympic bid|2012 Olympics and Paralympics]].<ref name="East End"/>

===Architecture===
{{main|Architecture of London|List of tallest buildings and structures in London|List of demolished buildings and structures in London}}
[[File:Aerial Tower of London.jpg|thumb|The [[Tower of London]], a medieval castle, dating in part to 1078]]
London's buildings are too diverse to be characterised by any particular architectural style, partly because of their varying ages. Many grand houses and public buildings, such as the [[National Gallery]], are constructed from [[Portland stone]]. Some areas of the city, particularly those just west of the centre, are characterised by white [[stucco]] or whitewashed buildings. Few structures in central London pre-date the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire]] of 1666, these being a few trace [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] remains, the [[Tower of London]] and a few scattered [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]] survivors in the city. Further out is, for example, the Tudor-period [[Hampton Court Palace]].<ref>{{cite book| author = Summerson, John | year = 1969| title = Great Palaces (Hampton Court. pp. 12–23)| publisher = Hamlyn| isbn = 9780600016823| url = https://archive.org/details/greatpalaces0000unse| author-link = John Summerson}}</ref>

Part of the varied architectural heritage are the 17th-century churches by [[Christopher Wren]], neoclassical financial institutions such as the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] and the [[Bank of England]], to the early 20th century [[Old Bailey]] courthouse and the 1960s [[Barbican Estate]]. The 1939 [[Battersea Power Station]] by the river in the south-west is a local landmark, while some railway termini are excellent examples of [[Victorian architecture]], most notably [[St Pancras railway station|St. Pancras]] and [[Paddington railway station|Paddington]].<ref name=london_078>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paddington_Station.html |title=Paddington Station |publisher=Great Buildings |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525164017/http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paddington_Station.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The density of London varies, with high employment density in the [[Central London|central area]] and [[Canary Wharf]], high residential densities in [[inner London]], and lower densities in [[Outer London]].

[[File:Buckingham Palace from side, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|The east wing public façade of [[Buckingham Palace]] was built between 1847 and 1850; it was remodelled to its present form in 1913.]]
[[File:Trafalgar Square by Christian Reimer.jpg|thumb|[[Trafalgar Square]] and its fountains, with [[Nelson's Column]] on the right]]

[[The Monument]] in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area while commemorating the [[Great Fire of London]], which originated nearby. [[Marble Arch]] and [[Wellington Arch]], at the north and south ends of [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]], respectively, have royal connections, as do the [[Albert Memorial]] and [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[Kensington]]. [[Nelson's Column]] (built to commemorate [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Horatio Nelson]]) is a nationally recognised monument in [[Trafalgar Square]], one of the focal points of central London. Older buildings are mainly brick, commonly the yellow [[London stock brick]].<ref name=london_077>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1&xml=/property/2008/03/27/lpgreen127.xml |title=Eco homes: Wooden it be lovely... ? |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=12 October 2008 |location=London |first=Sarah |last=Lonsdale |date=27 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308205754/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1&xml=/property/2008/03/27/lpgreen127.xml |archive-date=8 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the dense areas, most of the concentration is via medium- and high-rise buildings. London's skyscrapers, such as [[30 St Mary Axe]] (dubbed "The Gherkin"), [[Tower 42]], the [[Broadgate Tower]] and [[One Canada Square]], are mostly in the two financial districts, the City of London and [[Canary Wharf]]. High-rise development is restricted at certain sites if it would obstruct [[protected view]]s of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] and other historic buildings.<ref name=Protected/> This protective policy, known as 'St Paul's Heights', has been in operation by the City of London since 1937.<ref name=Protected>{{cite news |title=Protected views and tall buildings |url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/planning/planning-policy/protected-views-and-tall-buildings |access-date=28 June 2022 |website=City of London.gov.uk |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101182326/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/planning/planning-policy/protected-views-and-tall-buildings |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nevertheless, there are [[Tall buildings in London|a number of tall skyscrapers]] in central London, including the 95-storey [[Shard London Bridge]], the [[List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom|tallest building in the United Kingdom]] and Western Europe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Take a tour of The Shard's viewing platform |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-20979547 |access-date=16 June 2023 |agency=BBC}}</ref>

Other notable modern buildings include [[The Scalpel]], [[20 Fenchurch Street]] (dubbed "The Walkie-Talkie"), the former [[City Hall, London (Southwark)|City Hall]] in [[Southwark]], the [[Art Deco]] [[BBC Broadcasting House]] plus the [[Postmodernism|Postmodernist]] [[British Library]] in [[Somers Town, London|Somers Town]]/[[Kings Cross, London|Kings Cross]] and [[No 1 Poultry]] by [[James Stirling (architect)|James Stirling]]. The [[BT Tower]] stands at {{convert|620|ft|0}} and has a 360 degree coloured LED screen near the top. What was formerly the [[Millennium Dome]], by the Thames to the east of Canary Wharf, is now an entertainment venue called [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/2788214/The-lemon-Dome-that-was-transformed-into-O2s-concert-crown.html |title=The Lemon Dome That Was Transformed into O2's Concert Crown |last=White |first=Dominic |date=15 April 2008|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref>

{{Wide image|Palace of Westminster from the dome on Methodist Central Hall (cropped).jpg|900px|The [[Houses of Parliament]] and [[Big Ben|Elizabeth Tower]] (Big Ben) on the right foreground, the [[London Eye]] on the left foreground and [[The Shard]] with [[Canary Wharf]] in the background; seen in September 2014}}

===Natural history===
The [[London Natural History Society]] suggests that London is "one of the World's Greenest Cities" with more than 40 per cent green space or open water. They indicate that 2000 species of flowering plant have been found growing there and that the [[Tideway|tidal Thames]] supports 120 species of fish.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212143739/http://www.lnhs.org.uk/Index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2007 |title=Wildlife in London, England: LNHS Home page |website=lnhs.org.uk}}</ref> They state that over 60 species of bird nest in [[central London]] and that their members have recorded 47 species of butterfly, 1173 moths and more than 270 kinds of spider around London. London's [[wetland]] areas support nationally important populations of many water birds. London has 38 [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London|Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs), two [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]]s and 76 [[List of local nature reserves in Greater London|local nature reserve]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Natural History Society – Home |url=https://lnhs.org.uk/ |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=lnhs.org.uk}}</ref>

[[Amphibians]] are common in the capital, including [[smooth newt]]s living by the [[Tate Modern]], and [[common frog]]s, [[common toad]]s, [[palmate newt]]s and [[great crested newt]]s. On the other hand, native reptiles such as [[slowworm]]s, [[common lizard]]s, [[barred grass snake]]s and [[Vipera berus|adders]], are mostly only seen in [[Outer London]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuffrey |first=Laurie |date=27 July 2012 |title=London's Amphibians and Reptile Populations Mapped |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/27/london-amphibian-reptile-map |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102204944/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/27/london-amphibian-reptile-map |archive-date=2 January 2021 |access-date=25 March 2021 |work=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Flickr - Duncan~ - Fox Trot.jpg|thumb|left|A fox on Ayres Street, [[Southwark]], [[South London]]]]
Among other inhabitants of London are 10,000 [[red fox]]es, so that there are now 16 foxes for every square mile (6 per square kilometre) of London. Other mammals found in [[Greater London]] are [[European hedgehog|hedgehog]], [[brown rat]], mice, [[European rabbit|rabbit]], [[shrew]], [[vole]], and [[grey squirrel]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mammals|url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/mammals |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307135419/https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/mammals |archive-date=7 March 2020 |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=[[The Royal Parks]]}}</ref> In wilder areas of Outer London, such as [[Epping Forest]], a wide variety of mammals are found, including [[European hare]], [[European badger|badger]], [[field vole|field]], [[bank vole|bank]] and [[European water vole|water vole]], [[wood mouse]], [[yellow-necked mouse]], [[European mole|mole]], shrew, and [[least weasel|weasel]], in addition to red fox, grey squirrel and hedgehog. A dead [[Eurasian otter|otter]] was found at The Highway, in [[Wapping]], about a mile from the [[Tower Bridge]], which would suggest that they have begun to move back after being absent a hundred years from the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/946018.londons_first_wild_otter_found/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401110428/http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/946018.londons_first_wild_otter_found/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 April 2010 |title=London's first wild otter found |first=Peter |last=Law |website=This Is Local London}}</ref> Ten of England's eighteen species of bats have been recorded in Epping Forest: [[soprano pipistrelle|soprano]], [[nathusius' pipistrelle|Nathusius']] and [[common pipistrelle]]s, [[common noctule]], [[serotine]], [[barbastelle]], [[Daubenton's bat|Daubenton's]], [[brown long-eared bat|brown long-eared]], [[Natterer's bat|Natterer's]] and [[Leisler's bat|Leisler's]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/wildlife-and-nature/Pages/Mammals.aspx |title=Mammals |website=cityoflondon.gov.uk |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318070552/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/wildlife-and-nature/Pages/Mammals.aspx |archive-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Herds of [[Red deer|red]] and [[fallow deer]] roam freely within much of [[Richmond Park|Richmond]] and [[Bushy Park]]. A cull takes place each November and February to ensure numbers can be sustained.<ref name="Deer cull begins">{{Cite news |author=Bishop |first=Rachael |date=5 November 2012 |title=Richmond Park Deer Cull Begins |work=Sutton & Croydon Guardian |location=London |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/10026864.Richmond_Park_deer_cull_begins/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307135458/https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10026864.richmond-park-deer-cull-begins/ |archive-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> Epping Forest is also known for its fallow deer, which can frequently be seen in herds to the north of the Forest. A rare population of [[melanistic]], black fallow deer is also maintained at the Deer Sanctuary near [[Theydon Bois]]. [[Reeve's muntjac|Muntjac deer]] are also found in the forest. While Londoners are accustomed to wildlife such as birds and foxes sharing the city, more recently urban deer have started becoming a regular feature, and whole herds of fallow deer come into residential areas at night to take advantage of London's green spaces.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 February 2014 |title=In Pictures: London's Urban Deer|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/in-pictures-londons-urban-deer-9149902.html|url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301073242/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/in-pictures-london-s-urban-deer-9149902.html |archive-date=1 March 2021}}</ref>