Are there any interesting facts about London? Get ready for the big reveal! As we all know, London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is one of the most visited and international cities in the world. Meanwhile, there are also many less-known fun facts about London. Follow our footprint and explore new and interesting information about London!
Interesting Facts about London
1. London is the smallest city in the UK.
In fact, London, which most of us are familiar with, is actually called “Greater London”, while the City of London itself, a small part of the whole city, is only 1.12 square miles with a rough population of 9,123. You can share this interesting information about London in casual conversation.
2. Big Ben isn't really called "Big Ben".
This fun fact about London will blow your mind! Actually, it is not the real name of the iconic London tower as “Big Ben” but “Elizabeth Tower”. Big Ben is the name of the massive clock inside the building.
3. The British government has employed cats since the 16th century.
The British government has employed cats as mousers and pets for hundreds of years. They work at 10 Downing Street. There are even 3 cats, Humphrey, Sybil, and Larry, who have been officially given the title “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office”. These cute and interesting facts about London add daily appeal to our lives.
4. Tower Bridge is haunted?
The Tower Bridge is said to be haunted. During the process of building the bridge, many workers fell to their deaths, unfortunately. For years, visitors have frequently seen strange ghostly figures wandering around. Some individuals even claimed that there were some invisible things tugging at their clothes, which can be regarded as among the odd facts about London.
5. The visitors even overnumber Londoners.
London has a resident population of 8.5 million, but the number of visitors can reach over 16 million each year. Each Londoner is photographed daily by at least 15 tourists.
6. The foxes are ubiquitous in London.
There are over 10,000 foxes in London, which is on the list of weird facts about London. They always hang out in the less bustling areas, while fewer brave foxes directly expose themselves to the central streets. But don’t worry—they are timid and harmless.
7. Over half of the Underground in London runs over ground.
Although we call it “underground”, only about 45% of it is actually under the ground, like Victoria and Waterloo & City lines. In this way, your signal always works very well during your tube journey.
8. There are 7 ravens in the Tower of London.
In the Tower of London, there are always 6 ravens as guardians. Cats, ravens… London is close to animals. It is said that if they leave, the Tower and the Monarchy will fall, which is one of the fun facts about London. Therefore, a spare one is prepared. These 7 ravens are brilliant and only interact with the raven owner. By the way, don’t come near them since they are deeply territorial.
9. Rainy London isn't such rainy as you think.
London is known around the world for its rainy weather. It is also true that Englishmen are keen on talking about the weather and grumbling about the rain. However, the weather conditions in London are not as bad as you think. In fact, London is less rainy than Paris, Rome, Sydney, Barcelona and Miami. It must be one of the fun facts about London England that challenge your stereotyped idea.
10. There was a polar bear swimming in the River Thames.
In 1251, the King of Norway gave Henry III a polar bear. Henry III kept the bear in the Tower of London. With a long chain, it had a great range of movement and even swam in the River Thames. It can be regarded as one of the interesting facts about London England.
Fun Facts about London for Kids
There are also some other interesting facts about London England that kids may be interested in:
- The London Underground, opened in 1863, is the oldest tube network in the world.
- The London Eye is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe, with a height of 135 metres.
- Rotherhide Street, the longest street in the city, is 2.5km long!
- London is actually an urban forest according to UNESCO’s definition of forest.
- The double-decker buses weren’t always red. They were painted in different colours to manifest different routes. This lasted until 1907, when the London General Omnibus Company decided to paint its buses red to stand out.
- Have you ever heard of “London Beer Flood”? In 1814, a fermentation tank with a capacity of 1.4 million litres in a London brewery suddenly ruptured, triggering a wave of beer that swept through the London parish. 2 houses were destroyed, and 9 people died.
- It is illegal to feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square and fly kites in parks.
Interesting Information about London History
- Part of the walls built by Romans are still visible today. If you have any interests, you can stroll from the Tower of London to the Millennium Bridge along the original walls.
- In 19th-century London, some road surfaces were made of wood to avoid the noise of cobbled streets.
- The Great Fire of London was solved by gunpowder, which is among the interesting facts about London United Kingdom that goes against the previous norms. The gunpowder was used to create effective firebreaks and successfully stopped the fire around the Tower of London and Cripplegate.
Final Thoughts about Interesting Facts about London
After knowing so many interesting facts about London, do you love London, this diverse city, even more? If you have decided to move or take a trip to London, you can rent cheap student accommodation in London through uhomes.com. Enjoy the highest cashback and the inclusion of utility bills! Finally, remember at least some of the fun facts about London for future pub quizzes!
FAQs about Fun Facts about London
What are 5 facts about London Eye?
There are many interesting facts about London Eye. Below are some of that:
- It’s the tallest ferris wheel in Europe.
- Its wheel never halts.
- It wasn’t the first big wheel of London.
- It’s the most visited tourist attraction in London.
- It has one royal capsule.
What is an interesting fact about London?
London is not as rainy as you imagine. In fact, there are many cities with more rainy days and precipitation, such as Paris, Rome, Sydney, Barcelona, and Miami.
What are some interesting facts about London's population?
London’s resident population is only 8.5 million, while the number of visitors reaches 16 million each year, nearly twice the number of residents.
