<h1 class="ChapterName">London Overview<br /></h1>
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<p>Beyond the blinding lights of Oxford and Piccadilly Circuses, London is just as much a working and living city as it is a
tourist destination. Comprised of 32 boroughs along with the City, London is often described as more of a conglomerate of
villages than a unified city. While this understates the pride Londoners take in their city as a whole, it is true that locals
are strongly attached to their neighborhoods. Each area’s heritage and traditions are alive and evolving, from the City of
London’s 2000-year-old association with trade to the West End’s ever-changing theatre scene. Thanks to the feisty independence
and diversity of each area, the London “buzz” is continually on the move—every few years a previously disregarded neighborhood
explodes into cultural prominence. Most recently, South London has come to prominence with the cultural rebirth of the South
Bank and the thumping nightlife of a recharged Brixton. No matter which neighborhood you start your journey in, Londoners
of all creeds invite visitors to take part. Wander between cultures in London’s diverse neighborhoods or take part in a political
rally in Trafalgar Square. Each day in London brings something new, so get ready for adventures and prepare to love the city
in all its splendor.</p>
<div class="Highlights">
<h4>Facts And Figures</h4>
<ul>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Population:</span> 7,421,600. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Land Mass:</span> 1577 sq. km, 30% of which is outdoor parks—147 registered parks and gardens and 8 royal parks. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Language:</span> English is the primary language, but over 300 languages are spoken. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Religion:</span> 58% Christian (compared to 72% nationally), 16% no religion. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Ethnicity:</span> 71% classify themselves as white; 13% Indian, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani; 7% African; 5% Caribbean; 3% mixed race; and 1%
Chinese. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Students: </span> Home to over 350,000 students of higher education. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Gdp:</span> London produces 20% of the UK’s Gross Domestic Product. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Tourism:</span> 13.8 million tourists visit London each year. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Sites:</span> Home to four World Heritage Sites (Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, and St. Margaret’s Church; Tower of London; Maritime
Greenwich; and Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew) and 17 national museums. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Workforce:</span> Of 3.4 million people, 750,000 commute from outlying areas. Average salary for manual jobs is £21K for men, £19K for women;
for non-manual jobs, £42K/39.6K. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Poverty:</span> 7.6% unemployment rate (5.5% nationally); 48% of children in inner London live in poverty (30% nationally); roughly 60,500
homeless households. </li>
<li><span class="Highlights-Run-in">Social Care:</span> London boroughs look after over 11,000 children, support more than 34,000 adults in residential and nursing homes, and spend
£5 billion annually on education. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><!-- ESSENTIALS LISTING --></p>
<h3>Essentials</h3>
<ul class="listing">
<li><span>Passport Required: </span>Yes</li>
<li><span>Visa Required for Stay Less Than Six Months: </span>No</li>
<li><span>Tourism Office: </span><a href="http://www.visitbritain.com/">www.visitbritain.com</a> or <a href="http://www.visitlondon.com/">www.visitlondon.com</a></li>
<li><span>Phone Numbers: </span>999 in emergencies; 192 for national directory assistance; 153
for international directory assistance.</li>
<li><span>Currency: </span>Pound (£)</li>
<li><span>Value Added Tax: </span>17.5%, applied to everything but food, books, medicine,
and children’s clothing. Usually included on price tag.</li>
<li><span>Public Transport: </span>The Underground or the bus system.</li>
<li><span>Measurement system: </span>Metric</li>
<li><span>Admission to national museums: </span>Free!</li>
<li><span>Changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace: </span>Approximately every
other day</li>
<li><span>Measurement system: </span>Metric</li>
</ul>
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