London

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life"

says Samuel Johnson, one of England's greatest literary figures of the 18th century. London conjures up so many different ideas in the collective imagination that it is impossible to do justice to the city in just a few paragraphs. For some it's simply the most cosmopolitan city in the world, for others it's a tourist attraction with the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, its red double-decker buses and the London Eye. 

At the same time it's a thriving cultural centre with some of the world's renowned museums and theatres. So here are just a few of the most characteristic features of the most populous city of the European Union.

The BIG BEN

It is a colloquial name for the Clock Tower at the north-eastern end of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The towe was built after the Palace of Westminster had bemm destroyed by fire in 1834, but was not fully completed until 1858. 

HYDE PARK

Right in the middle of London you can fine Hyde Park, covering 142 hectares, with over 4000 trees, a lake, and acres of grass where people can go horse-riding or rollerblading, or simply go for a stroll. 

The LONDON UNDERGROUND

With its characteristics logo - known as the "roundel"- consisting of a red circle and a blue bar across it on a white background, the Underground is one of the most iconic features of England's capital.