London – as we have said many a time before – has 2,000 years of history. But, when we say this, this is not just to say that it is two millennia old since its permanent establishment, but that throughout its history there have been massively consequential events that have sent ripples throughout the sea of mankind (albeit localised from the beginning). If you’re reading this and you’re from the United States of America, there is a strong possibility that you either have British heritage or your ancestors were in someway effected by the British Empire or the English (consider the difference before India, John Smith in 1606 or the Act of Union 1703 – whichever best suits your train of thought). However you look at it, the influence of England and Britain on global history has been significant, and there is no doubt of it. Realising or appreciating this lends a hand to the next stage of appreciating London. Whilst today there is much resentment in this phenomenon due to cultural and socio-economic disparities (akin to any capital or metropole such as Dublin in Ireland when the Irish resent the infrastructure monopoly leading to the east), you must the remember saying: “all roads lead to Rome”. In this regard, whilst those outside of it’s municipal claws (especially the North) detest the notion, all roads lead to London.
London is not just the capital, it has been the capital for at least a thousand years (if we disregard breaks and continuity, Londinium was established the Roman capital of Britannia and later Britannia Superior from c.100AD). Those who have sought success, fame, mobility and moved to (or at least strongly considered it) to London. But what should be primarily considered is that money and power has predominantly remained within London – the primacy of London for the Parliament was established by Edward I in the late thirteenth century, and the Bank of England (the purse of the empire) was established in 1694. Therefore, power and money has meant for people to come, work and live in London – and since at least the sixteenth century, most of the famous parts of history including the most famous of people were and are in London. It is not just a case of ticking off London as an obvious choice, it is essentially the best all-in-one choice for history and visiting.
So, even though there – as a tourist – is much else to visit in England (the North, the West – the author at the time of writing this is (was) journeying to Cornwall), London offers the ultimate experience of visiting England. This is a tough one when considering visiting Britain or course, because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have so much to offer (especially Scotland), but London, nonetheless has the monopoly on history. The fact that the city has been the capital of the world’s largest ever empire serves as no coincidence in explaining why it has such a history. Consider the specific time frame of the British Empire:
In my study (Billy), I have come to the conclusion that the history of the British Empire is perfectly 500 years – from the moment Henry VII (Henry Tudor) employed Venetian sailor John Cabot to find a westward route to China in 1497 (5 years after Colombus’s expeditions that discovered and explored Central America employed by the Spanish) and thus discovered what is now Canada. And, in 1997, Britain ceded Hong Kong back to China which can be argued as the true end of the British Empire. Both the beginning of the empire and its end (for now ha) reside in the story of China. It is worth noting (for the sake of it) that in Tim Marshall’s latest book “The Future of Geography” which considered the new Space Race between USA, China and Russia (the “Big Three”) it was in this context of rushing against one another that empires sought to explore and expand. 500 years ago the English raced the Spanish, post-Second World War (early Cold War) the Americans raced the Soviets and now we see a parallel, but of course I have veered of target. The point nonetheless can be argued as this:
London has the capital of Anglo-Saxon’s since Winchester (or Witancester) declined in importan in the late ninth-early tenth century. The English expanded out to the West, London became the BRITISH capital in 1703, and from 1783 (as recognised by the Treaty of Paris) those very Englishman that braved the Atlantic ferries would develop the foundations for what is now the most powerful country in the world. This of course is an Englishman attempting to make correlations between the achievements of Americans and the British – but this too is something I accredit vice versa.
“We don’t have this much history”, a remark often made whilst on our London Black Taxi Tours. Yet, I always reply noting the heritage of Americans that of course 500 years ago Europeans established a “Neo-Europe” and for more above the Mexican Border have Anglo-Saxon, Briton or Celtic heritage. So, I offer this advice:
Do not visit London as a “visitor” assuming you are exploring an alien land, you are – even if not ethnically, culturally or socially – connected to London. The city was the metropole of the British Empire – the empire of which the “Sun always shines on”. From Magna Carta to technological innovations, the impact of the Britain is ubiquitous and much of this derived from or closely related to London. From expressions to mannerisms, from laws to morality, from heritage to ideals – London is familiar, London is central, London is home.
So, when considering what to do with your trip in London, you might as ” what is the best sightseeing tour of London ” or type ” things to do in London “. Let me tell you whether or not you choose to book our narrated London Black Cab Tours , that you must make the absolute most of it and aim to see as much as possible. London cannot be ignored, it cannot be merely popped into it, nor can you conquer it ha, you must take time to appreciate its depth and then go from there. Don’t dip your toes, dive!