Population
7,172,036 in city and 11,850,000 in metro

Area
1,579 km² (609 mi²)

Altitude
5 m (16 ft)

[Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Tristram Compton [Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Tristram Compton

London dates back 2,000 years to the Roman settlement of Londinium, with evidence of human habitation dating back a further two millennia. It is a city of traditions, with each new century adding its own unique layer to London's character. The result is a city in which castles, royal palaces and centuries' old churches sit comfortably alongside all the necessities of a thriving, modern-day metropolis.

For such an enormous and important city, London is relatively low rise, with tall buildings clustered in The City of London and Canary Wharf, and spread sporadically over the rest of the city.

It is not skyscrapers that define London's skyline, but a mix of architectural landmarks that have, over the centuries, come to define a city with a remarkable past. Chief among these are St. Paul's Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, but these are accompanied by hundreds of church spires and monuments.

The recent interest in high-rise construction has seen these historic landmarks joined by a new breed of stunning modern structures, including City Hall, the BA London Eye and 30 St Mary Axe.

In the near future, London could be home to some of the tallest and most exciting skyscrapers in Europe such as The Pinnacle, The Shard, The Leadenhall Building, One Blackfriars Road and Heron Tower.

In 2012 the city will be the first ever to have hosted the Olympic Games on three occasions.