Quick Facts about London

For anyone who has not been to London, it is a city not like any other. Walking the streets of London is similar to stepping back into history. Famous landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, The Globe Theatre, and countless others gives visitors the chance to step back in time and walk the streets that Shakespeare and John Lennon did. Brits and visitors also have the opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and travel to the outskirts of London, which include elite schools such as Oxford and Cambridge, Liverpool (home to The Beatles), Stratford-upon-Avon (home to Shakespeare), and Bath (site of the Roman baths).

Since the city's founding in 43 AD by the Romans, London has developed into an increasingly global city. There are more than 300 languages represented within the greater city, with a population of more than 8 million people. London is the leading country in arts, entertainment, finance, media, higher education, tourism, and transportation. The stereotypical idea of London includes afternoon tea followed by strolls in Hyde Park while the men grab a pint of pale ale at the pub. Although you must have a high tea, visit Hyde Park, and order a pint of beer at Bag O'Nails (pictured below), there are so many aspects of London that visitors miss out on because they are blind-sighted by the idea of London and not the actual city. Therefore, I want this blog to show my readers how to explore all of the wonderful landmarks in London based off of my study abroad experience.

Below are 5 Amazing Fun Facts about London that will give you an instantaneous attraction to London:

1.  The Palace of Westminster is the official name of the Houses of Parliament and is the largest palace in the country.

2. There are many famous leaders that are buried in Westminster Abbey, including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Sir Issac Newton.

3. The original London Bridge was in use for more than 600 years and was covered with heads on spikes for more than half of that time, including that of Guy Fawkes.

4. It is insanely difficult to become a cab driver in London: the test is called "The Knowledge" that challenges those wanting to become a cab driver to memorize 320 routes, 25,000 streets, and 20,000 palace of interest within a six-mile radius of Charring Cross (just south of Trafalgar Square in London).

5. The Palace of Westminster has eight bars, six restaurants, 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases, 11 courtyards, a hair salon, and a rifle shooting range.

There are so many more reasons to fall in love with London, so keep reading my blog to see the other incredible experiences that I have encountered :)

Bag O' Nails, famous pub near Buckingham Palace 

Trafalgar Square

Bag O' Nails is a famous pub located around the corner from Buckingham Palace. It is my favorite pub to go to in London. The atmosphere inside the pub makes me feel like a true Brit. I highly recommend this pub when you visit London.