London is one of the most famous cities in the world and has a long, eventful history. London's position as one of the world's main financial centers reflects its important role as a trading city for thousands of years. London is also famed for its iconic attractions like Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London.
Let's journey through London's history, from tragedy and trade to one of the world's most important cities.
Roman London: From Trading Town to Capital City (AD 47 to AD 410)
Archaeological evidence shows that the area of modern London may have been settled as early as 6000 BC. The area was also important during the Bronze Age, and archaeologists have even found the remains of a Bronze Age bridge constructed over the Thames. However, London's history didn't truly begin until the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43.
In AD 47, the Romans founded the small town of Londinium. Positioned at a narrow crossing point on the River Thames, the settlement became a vital port – the start of a long relationship between city and river. The settlement was destroyed by Boudicca's vengeful army in approximately AD 60.
After suppressing Boudicca's revolt, the Romans rebuilt Londinium as a traditional planned town. Initially, Londinium played second fiddle to cities like Camulodunum (Colchester) and Verulamium (St. Albans). But by the 2nd Century AD, Londinium became the capital of the province of Britannia.
At its height, Roman Londinium had a population of about 40,000 inhabitants. The city was protected by the London Wall – a series of defensive fortifications that stood 20 feet high and would survive for 1600 years. Six of London's seven city gates were added to the perimeter sometime during the 3rd Century AD.
Unfortunately, the Romans largely abandoned Britannia in AD 410, leaving Londinium to the mercy of the Saxons.
The Saxon Interlude (5th Century AD to 1066 AD)
During the 5th Century, Saxon settlers colonized the area around the old Roman town. The main settlement was Lundenwic – a major trading town centered around the modern area of Trafalgar Square. As Christianity spread throughout Saxon England, King Aethelberht of Kent commissioned the bishop Mellitus to found a church near the town – the first incarnation of St. Paul's Cathedral. The church was consecrated in 604 AD.
Saxon London weathered various Viking raids during the 9th Century, with major sackings in AD 842 and AD 851. For the next 160 years, London was occupied by competing Viking and English rulers. In AD 1016, a royal palace was built at Westminster and may have been the residence of the Viking King Cnut.
In AD 1042, London was reclaimed by Edward the Confessor, ending Viking rule. Edward laid the foundations for one of London's most famous landmarks – Westminster Abbey. The area surrounding Westminster became the royal center of England.
From Normans to Tudors (AD 1066 to AD 1485)
In 1066, Edward the Confessor died at Westminster Abbey without declaring an heir. The resulting power struggle was won by William the Conqueror, who enforced Norman rule across England. William became the first ruler to be crowned in Westminster Abbey.
William set about reinforcing the city's place as the center of England. In 1067, he awarded London a Royal Charter that enshrined the city's laws and rights. William also began construction of the Tower of London in 1078 by erecting the White Tower – the first stone castle in England. After William died, his son William Rufus expanded the Palace of Westminster.
London continued to grow throughout the Middle Ages, weathering several disasters and revolts. In AD 1348, the Black Death reached London and ravaged England. It's thought that approximately 62,000 Londoners died of the plague – an estimated 50 to 60% of the city's population.
In AD 1381, the Peasant's Revolt erupted across England. Wat Tyler, one of the major leaders of the uprising, invaded London with an army of disgruntled peasants and overran the Tower of London. The peasants rampaged through the city until Tyler was killed battling the forces of King Richard II.
During the Medieval period, London became one of the most important trading centers in Europe. The city itself largely consisted of wooden buildings and narrow, winding streets. The city had one major bridge – an incarnation of London Bridge that had been rebuilt in stone in AD 1176.
Tudors, Stuarts, and Tragedies (AD 1485 to AD 1714)
Before Henry VIII became king in AD 1509, around half of London's land was owned by churches and monasteries. London's trading connections with Europe encouraged the spread of Protestant ideas, which Henry embraced after the Catholic Pope would not grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, London's monasteries were divided up between the king and various lords, changing the landscape of the city.
During the reign of Elizabeth I, England's influence spread across the globe thanks to explorers like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Goods from Asia, India, and the newly-discovered Americas flooded into London. In 1600, the British East India Company was established in London thanks to a Royal Charter.
London also grew rapidly in size, expanding beyond the old Roman walls and reaching an estimated population of 225,000 in AD 1605. That year also saw one of the most infamous events in English history as several ardent Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, tried and failed to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The attempt became known as the Gunpowder Plot.
After decades of growth, London suffered two huge tragedies in AD 1665 and 1666. The Great Plague of London struck first. As many as 100,000 Londoners – nearly a quarter of the population – died from the bubonic plague in 18 months.
Just as the plague began to die out, another tragedy struck. A small fire broke out in a London bakery in September 1666 and was spread by the wind. The city government failed to react quickly, and the blaze engulfed most of central London in a matter of days. St. Paul's Cathedral, which has stood since AD 1087, was one of the thousands of buildings destroyed by the inferno.
It took more than 30 years to rebuild London, but the city that emerged after the blaze is largely recognizable today. Sir Christopher Wren, one of England's leading architects, was commissioned to rebuild St. Paul's into the stunning cathedral that we see today. The finished cathedral was consecrated in 1697.
The Epicenter of Empire (18th Century & 19th Century)
London continued to grow through the 18th and 19th Centuries into the epicenter of the British Empire. As the bounty of imperial rule flooded into the city, London became one of the richest and most important cities in the world. In 1800, the city was home to approximately one million residents.
Throughout the Georgian and Victorian eras, some of London's most famous landmarks were built. In AD 1703, the first incarnation of Buckingham Palace was built as a private home for a wealthy duke. After being extensively renovated by King George III, the palace became the official residence of the British Royal family when Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837.
During Victoria's rule, Britain fought numerous campaigns in Europe and across the world, especially against Napoleon. To commemorate Admiral Nelson's naval victory over Napoleon's forces at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Trafalgar Square was named in 1835 and Nelson's Column was erected in 1840.
In 1834, a major fire decimated the Palace of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. Over the next 42 years, the site was rebuilt into the famous landmark that stands today. The Clock Tower, known affectionately as Big Ben, was completed in 1859 and is revered as one of London's most iconic buildings.
Another impressive landmark constructed during this period is Tower Bridge. This 800 ft long suspension bridge was finished in 1894 and features two stunning towers straddling the Thames.
The Industrial Revolution turned Victorian London into a city of industry and ingenuity. However, for many of the city's poorer residents, life was a struggle against smog and appalling conditions. In 1900, over 6.7 million people lived in London.
War, The Blitz, and the Modern Day (20th Century to present)
When the First and Second World Wars raged across Europe, London became a target as modern total warfare became the norm. Bombing raids from German zeppelins in World War One targeted London's civilians.
In World War Two, the Blitz saw Londoners pull together as German warplanes conducted bombing raids during the night. One of the most iconic images of the war is a photo of St. Paul's Cathedral standing strong amidst clouds of black smoke. Over 43,000 Londoners were killed during the Blitz.
Fast-forward to the present day, and London continues to be a thriving, multicultural city and important global financial center. London is visited by millions of tourists every year and has also played host to major global sporting events such as the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Major Attractions: