Culture of London.

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Here are 6 of the many reasons why London is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world.

                                           

1. Three of the top ten museums and galleries in the world are in London and 857 art galleries in total. London has over 170 museums with 11 national museums including the British Museum (home to thousands of years of culture including the Rosetta Stone)

The British Museum 

• Located right around the corner from the Academic Centre in Bloomsbury.
• Over 13 million collections making it one of the largest in the world.
• Has 9 departments with subjects including Greek and Roman Antiques to Ancient Egypt and the Sudan to the Middle East.

                               

The National Gallery

• Houses over 2300 paintings from the 1300s-1900s.
• Located in the picturesque Trafalgar Square.
• Has important works from the different art periods, from Early Renaissance to Post- Impressionism.
                            

2. London has four UNESCO world heritage sites: 
                                    

                                  

Westminster Palace which includes Westminster Abbey and  Saint Margaret's Church

                                    

  Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens. 

                                                            

3.  There are more Languages spoken in London than in any other city in the world.

4. Around 250 festivals take place in London every year including London’s largest free festival - The Mayor’s Thames Festival and Europe's biggest street festival- The Notting Hill Carnival which attracts near one million people.          

5. London Fashion Week 2012 generated over £100m of orders, saw the return of Philip Treacy and was the most socially savvy yet with over 2 million viewers tuning in from more than 100 countries to the live-streamed of Topshop's latest collection.                     

                                                           
6. Parks in London: There are many famous parks in London, but you can't leave London without having visited the London's Lungs:

Hyde Park

• Famous for its Speakers’ Corner where public speaking is allowed.
• Serpentine River divides Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
• Hyde Park Corner is located just south east of Hyde Park and features the famous Wellington Arch and World War I and II memorials.

                                                                     

Hampstead Heath

• Is a large ancient London park covering 320 hectares.
• This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge. 
• One of the highest points in London.

                                                      

ARCHITECTURE AND PLACES TO VISIT

30 St Mary Axe (formerly the Swiss Re Building, and informally also known as "the Gherkin") is a skyscraper in London's financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened at the end of May 2004.

The building has become an iconic symbol of London and is one of the city's most widely recognised examples of modern architecture. Architect: Foster and Partner. 

Buckingham Palace

Is the official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.If you are trying to attend a Changing of the Guard ceremony, arrive early. Architectual style: Classicism, Neoclassicism and Gregorian. 

The London Eye



It is the world’s largest big wheel. 32 glass-enclosed gondolas glide slowly and gracefully. The entire journey takes about 30 minutes. Both daytime and nighttime views are breathtaking. This big wheel is the best option to have a panoramic view of London. I encourage you to go!!

DRESS AND FOOD

Although England is a country rich in folklore and traditions, has no defined costume. The best known folk costumes are those of Morris dancers. They can be seen in many locations during the summer months performing folk dances.
The outfits consist of white trousers, a white shirt, bell pads placed around the calf, and a hat made of felt or straw, decorated with ribbons and flowers.

TYPICAL DISHES

FISH & CHIPS   
                                         
This dish is a battered and fried hake grilled with potatoes fries seasoned with salt and vinegar.       

   

                      

ROAST BEEF

Another dish is the famous "roast beef" beef grilled. The accompaniment of this dish is usually the horseradish sauce or mustard and steamed vegetables or boiled vegetables to finish filling the plate.

MUSIC

London has historically been a centre for world famous music for centuries. In the past one hundred years alone London has produced some of the world’s most loved and highly regarded musicians and is at the very epicentre of Britain’s lucrative record industry.
 

The rock and roll phenomenon that took the world by storm had a particularly strong impact in London. The Beatles spent a lot of time in the nation’s capital, and The Rollingstones are from London. In the following years, other bands made their mark on the city such as Cream, The Who, The Kinks, and the Jimi Hendrix.

In the seventies and eighties, musicians like David Bowie, Elvis Costello and Cat Stevens made their fame and fortune using London as a base. Bands such as The Clash, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden, Led Zepplin, Wham!, T.Rex, The Police and The Sex Pistols made the streets and rhythms vibrating through London. 

In recent years London has given birth to more amazing artists and bands such as Coldplay or Jamiroquai. The perfect place in London to make gigs is The Wembley Stadium with 90,000 capacity venue. In Wembley, fantastic artists such as George Michael, Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Green Day, Metallica, Madonna, Foo Fighters, The Killers or Robbie Williams has performed their music.