London

London ranks among the largest cultural and financial hubs on the planet. This book traces how the city came to serve as the capital of the United Kingdom and describes what everyday existence there looks like today.

The chapters move through the city's geography and population, its historical development, and its political and economic life. They also take up environmental concerns and sustainability, crime and violence in local neighborhoods, security matters, natural hazards and how emergencies are managed, cultural habits and ways of living, the city's portrayal in popular culture, and what may lie ahead for it.

Boxes headed "Life in the City" are set within the text and carry personal recollections from people born in London or who have lived there, offering a closer look at daily routines. Sidebars, a chronology, and a bibliography complete the volume. It is written for students and general readers curious about this global metropolis.