London, England is the largest urban area in England and the United Kingdom. Over 7,500,000 people live within this city filled with diversity. People from all over the world call London home as shown in the over 300 languages spoken within the city. London is one of the world’s leaders in the business, finance, and cultural centers. It also contains four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. Because of these attractions, London is considered a major tourist attraction for people from across the world.
London has a very strong economy which generates approximately 20% of the UK’s GDP which comes out to a little more than $446 billion. Most businesses within London are service-based businesses making up about 85% of the entire workforce. Another 15,000 businesses in London are manufacturing companies specializing in clo0thing, fabricated metal, furniture, and food and drink. Some of London’s most notable businesses are HSBC, Reuters, Barclays, and Clifford change which is the second largest law firm in the world.
Along with the companies that contribute to London’s success, tourism is also a vital part of London’s economy. Tourism provides the people of London with over 350,000 full-time jobs and brings in over 15 billion Euros each year. There are many parks and attractions that lure visitors into the city. Among some of the more known attractions are the London Zoo, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Hyde Park, and the London Eye which is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.
The arts are very big in London including literature and music. Charles Dickens based many of his novels on a Victorian London. Many major music companies such as EMI and Decca Records are also based in London. Along with music companies, many well known musicians such as Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Elton John, and The Rolling Stones all have ties to London.
