London
Definition of „Metropolis“Nowadays the word „Metropolis“ is often used as a synonymous for cosmopolitan city.
In contrast to a cosmopolitan city which owns internationally absolute meaning a metropolis can even own relative meaning within a certain region or a certain society area, e.g., art metropolis or finance metropolis.
According to some definitions the number of inhabitants of metropolises lies between 1 and 10 millions.
For example London is a metropolis. London is a gigantic, world-famous town with a number of inhabitants of about 7.5 million people. The town applies more than 1,550 square kilometres and is divided into 33 administrative districts. London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and lies on the river „Thames“ in southeast narrow country.
London is one of the most important cultural centres, finance centres and commercial centres of the world (cosmopolitan city). In the city there are numerous universities, colleges, theatres and museums.
History
The origins of London go back till 2000 years.
About 47 A.D. London was founded by the Romans under the name Londinium.
About 870 appointed Alfred big London to the capital. Wilhelm of the conquerors established the Tower of London as a royal fortress, still became the seat of the ruler Westminster.
During the second world war the town had to take big bombardments. The gigantic harbour area („dock country“) was used afterwards more and more for the industry. Here in the 80s ten thousands from jobs were moved. In the Canary Wharf originated in 1991 a gigantic high rise complex. The built skyscraper 1 Canada Square is the highest building of Great Britain with 244 metres.
Because of many internal-urban traffic jam the chief burgomaster („mayor“) Ken Livingstone put through in 2003 the equipment of a town toll. Since then the traffic problems have calmed down in London.
Locations
On place one of the locations in London is the giant wheel „Eye of London“. The 135-m-high giant wheel stands directly in the next distance to the Big to Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
The Westminster Bridge is also very famous. This bridge connects Westminster with the eastern city, the district of Lembeth. It stands directly in the Big Ben.
In addition there is „Harrods shopping mall“, which Egyptian hall and the food department lend something unique.
Also there is the „Westminster Abbey“, which is over 900 years old and in which kings become crowned or members of the royal family become buried or married.
In London is the „St. Paul’s cathedral“, which was built between 1675 and 1710 and is very high.
Besides in London you can visit the „Concent Garden Market“, in which you will find some restaurants, some cafe’s and many shops.
Another location in London is the London Tower and the Tower Bridge.
Today London Tower is of one of the most important places of interest of London. Here lie the crown jewels of the queen as well as other treasures.
Today the Tower Bridge stands over the Thames and becomes opened for high ships.
There are in London more than 200 museums and galleries, thus, for example, the wax figure cabinet Madame Tussaud, the Sherlock Holm’s museum and the British museum.
Famous churches are Westminster Abbey and the Saint Paul’s Cathedral.
Other big places of interest are, for example, the Big Ben, the Towerbridge, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, the Hyde a park, Whitehall and the Westminster Palace.
In London you can visit the famous „Buckingham Palace“, which is the „lodging“ of the English monarches and was built in 1701. It serves till this day still as a seat of the queen.
And at last, but not least you can visit the „Hyde Park“, which is a big meadow optional for relaxing.
Population
The populations grows steadily. In 1600 there lived 200,000 people in London. But in 2006 there lived 7,657,300 people.
Neighboorhood
The neighborhoods are:
St Johns Wood
Primrose Hill
Camden Town
Islington
Hoxton
Paddington
Regents Park
Bloomsbury
Clerkenwell
Notting hill
Bayswater
Marylebone
Fitzrovia
Kensignton
Hyde Park
Mayfair
Soho
Covent Garden
Holborn
The City
Knights bridge
St James
Chelsea
Pimlico
Westminster
South Bank
London Bridge
Lambeth
Wandsworth
Kennington
Gentrification
In London there is a strict wall between the poor one and rich one.
Besides the thick coexistence of arm and empire leads not to new forms of the integration, but strengthens the social splittings by the everyday confrontation of the different life styles.