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|   History of the RelationshipCurrent InitiativesPast Activities | |
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London, England is the capital of the United Kingdom. London is one of the world’s cultural headquarters, housing numerous dance and orchestra companies as well as countless museums. The famed British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum are just a few of the top tourist destinations. London is also an international theater capital, maintaining its reputation since Shakespeare’s successes in the 16th century.
With 7 million people, it is the largest city in Europe. Its metropolitan area covers 620 square miles, making it much more spread out than other European cities. London is comprised of many different sections that were originally distinct villages later incorporated into the city, and they retain much of their historical character. The City of London (capitalized to distinguish it from the larger metropolitan area), was first settled as a Roman colonial town around 50 AD when the first bridge over the Thames was built. Today it is a leading international financial center and is home to the famous St. Paul Cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren. Like New York City, London is a city of many immigrants. In the mid-19th century, half of the people of London had been born outside the city. Irish, Jewish, Chinese, African and a large group of South Asian immigrants have all come to London and settled to various degrees. A large Chinatown has recently developed in London’s West End. Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003 Kingdom. | |
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London maintains an extensive parks system for sports and recreation including Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
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Central London lies north of the Thames River, which runs through the city. It contains almost half of the city’s 33 political units, including the City of London and the City of Westminster. | |
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|  Mayor of NYC Michael Bloomberg Mayor of the Greater London Authority Kenneth Livingstone Chair for London (NYC) Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild SCP Program Liaison Maley Ong | |
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|  The dome of St. Paul Cathedral is the largest in the world. Photo credit: Dan Karran, www.dankarran.com | |
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