Interesting Facts About London

Millions of eager travelers visit London every year, making it one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world. And given the depth of its culture and history, it's hardly surprising. No matter how many times you go, there will always be interesting tidbits about London that you could have missed.


1 - The name of the tower is not Big Ben.

Big Ben

Big Ben is not the name of the famous London Tower, despite how frequently this is misunderstood. The name of the clock in the tower is actually Big Ben. These days, everyone—even locals—calls this structure the Big Ben tower. The tower is situated at the northern end of London's Palace of Westminster. The object was once referred to as the Clock Tower; however, as of 2012, it has been given the name Elizabeth Tower.


2 - Being a black cab driver is not simple.

London Street

To work as a cab driver, you typically only need a driving license. But with London, this is certainly not the case. Before being hired, black cab drivers, whom you see all throughout the city, go through extensive training. The training often lasts between two and four years, and candidates are required to memorize every street in London. They must also have the quick judgment necessary to determine the path that will get them from one place to another in the shortest amount of time. Now you can see with ease why they charge such expensive prices.


3 - Numerous times, the city has been completely destroyed by fire.

London

Several times, the city has been completely destroyed by fire. In AD 61, when Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, burned it down, in the 9th century, when Alfred drove the Danes out in 883, and in September 1666, during The Great Fire of London, which began in Pudding Lane and raged throughout the city for four days. At least 80% of the city was destroyed by the Pudding Lane fire.


4 - One-third of the people in Europe died in the Great Plague.

London

The Great Plague of the 15th century caused the deaths of around 25 million people, or nearly one-third of the population of Europe. Due to the city's packed streets and poor sanitation, London was especially affected.


5 - King's Cross Station contains Platform 9¾ from Harry Potter.

London Street

This is undoubtedly one of those London facts you can't miss if you're a lover of the Harry Potter fantasy books and movies. A sign for Platform 9¾ may be found in King's Cross Station, along with a half-trolley that looks exactly like the ones in the movies. It would definitely be best to avoid colliding head-on with it, though.


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London

Some of the River Thames and the River Lea's tributaries had to be filled in order to develop the streets and other structures inside the metropolis of London. There are about 20 underground rivers in the area surrounding London, with the River Fleet being the biggest. The majority of these underground rivers now play significant roles in the city's sewage system.


7 - There is an official tiny statue in London.

London

It's comforting to know that London has the world's tiniest official statue in a city that is surrounded by massive sculptures and impressive structures. The statue of two small mice eating cheese, which can be found on Philpot Lane, is in honor of two builders who lost their lives while working on The Monument. The two fell out of a construction site after arguing about a sandwich that had been missing but was actually the result of a mouse infestation.


8 - More than 300 languages are spoken in London.

London

One of the most homogeneous cities in the world is London. Around 8.7 million people call it home, a significant number of whom are foreigners from various countries. They continue their traditional customs and speak their native tongue. It is claimed that there are around 300 languages spoken within London due to its incredible diversity. If you're traveling to London, there's a good chance you can find someone with whom you can speak your native tongue.


9 - It is illegal to feed pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

London

Thousands of feral pigeons were originally known to live in Trafalgar Square, where visitors would frequently feed them or take pictures with them. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone prohibited feeding animals and selling food close to the square in 2003. They even went so far as to use a hawk to keep them at bay, which obviously worked.


10 - The underground railway was first introduced to the world in London.

London

London had an underground railway system before any other city in the world. The tube is today considered the standard form of transportation for getting around the city, together with the overground, trams, cable cars, and river cruises. Read More: Facts To Know More About The UK And Their History

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