The Story of London

The history of the United Kingdom is rich with pageantry and tradition, an interweaving of the past and the present. Up and down the length of the country are examples of how the history of these islands had been formed, but nowhere is that more evident than in the nation's capital, London. It is here that most of the country's great occasions in public and state life take place.

London is a green city. There are hundreds of squares, major areas of land like Wandsworth, Wimbledon, or Clapham Common and thousands more privately owned spaces, gardens, and expanses of land, but the centerpiece of London's extensive park system are eight royal parks. Covering nearly 200 hectares, or almost 5000 acres, they are former hunting grounds of the monarchs now for use by the public.

The Thames is the longest river that flows from source to sea entirely in England. It travels through some of the most desirable places to live in the country: Oxford, Henley, Windsor before it reaches London, but it's there that the river really comes into its own. From Dickens to Ray Davies, writers have understood the importance of the Thames to the city.

The building of a defensive line of castles like the one at Lewis along the coast of Dover was William the Conquerer's way of making sure his retreat was secure. Lewis Castle, built about 1000 years ago, is a prime example of shutting the door behind yourself and making sure its bolted closed. William went on to secure land all over Europe and established 36 castles thus fortifying his kingdom.

London is the home to some of the most famous royal residences in the world. Kensington Palace, St. James', Hampton Court, the Banqueting House, the Tower of London, Kew and Eltham Palaces are all evidence of London's rich and regal past. If one building had to represent all the pomp and ceremony that makes the royal capital so celebrated then it is undebatably Buckingham Palace.