18 Facts About London That You Probably Didn’t Know

When in London, you might want to keep calm and carry on until you find a lovely house at 17 Cherry Tree Lane. Perhaps, the Banks family living there might welcome you with a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious greeting. Oh, hello London! Pleasure to meet you.

Okay, there is one thing I must share with you about this lovely abode located at 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London… it doesn’t exist. Well, yeah it really doesn’t exist. Not to worry, there are many streets in London that resemble Cherry Tree Lane. In the springtime, they are especially blooming with different shades of pink from the ever-so-lovely cherry blossom trees.

London is not just a place where our delightful Mary Poppins like to come and play. And that’s because the capital city of England is bustling with a rich history and stories galore that are waiting for you. So, spit spot. And off we go on an English reading adventure, discovering interesting facts about charming London.

If you’re still wearing your explorer boots, ready to explore the rest of the United Kingdom in the comfort of your own favorite cozy spot, then check out Beelinguapp now. Learn a new language by reading fascinating stories like The Beatles, Princess Diana of Wales, The Children of Lir: An Irish Legend, and more.

1. The smallest City in England is London.

The City of London is actually about 1.2 square miles in size, otherwise known as the "Square Mile" and it has a population of roughly 7,500 people. On the contrary, Greater London is a 606 square mile area of England that is home to around 8.7 million people.

2. Big Ben isn't really called Big Ben.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that iconic London tower you’ve been calling Big Ben isn’t really called Big Ben. Actually, the clock in the Tower is the one that is called “Big Ben.” In honor of the Queen's diamond jubilee, the famed Tower's name was changed from Clock Tower to Elizabeth Tower in 2012.

3. There are over 170 museums in London.

London is home to more than 170 museums and most of them are free. Some of the best museums and art galleries in the world, including The British Museum, National Gallery London, and Tate Modern, are located in the city.

4. London is considered a forest.

Trees cover around 21% of the land in London, making the city an urban forest according to the UN definition. In fact, 8.6 million people live alongside 8.3 million trees.

5. There are six ravens in the Tower of London.

There are six resident guardian ravens of the Tower of London: Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Gripp, Erin, Branwen, and Edgar. They are intelligent birds that only respond to the Ravenmaster.

6. The city has a Peter Pan Hospital.

In 1929, JM Barrie donated the Peter Pan copyrights to the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Royalties from all performances and sales continue to help pay for the care of seriously-ill children.

7. Over 300 languages are spoken in London.

London is the most linguistically diverse city in the world. The top five non-English languages reportedly spoken are Polish, Turkish, Bengali, French, and Punjabi.

8. London was once the capital of 6 countries at once.

In World War II, London served as the governing capital for Norway, Poland, Belgium, France, and The Netherlands while they were conquered by Germany.

9. Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square is illegal.

It is illegal to feed pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and seed sellers have been banned from the area since 2003.

10. The world's oldest underground rail network is in London.

The London Tube was the first public system to use steam engines, opening the Metropolitan line on January 10, 1863.

11. Double-decker buses weren’t always red.

In 1907, the London General Omnibus Company decided to paint its buses red to distinguish itself from competitors, creating the iconic look we see today.

12. Flying a kite is illegal.

The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 states it is illegal to fly a kite in public areas in a way that annoys others, carrying a fine of up to £500.

13. Cleopatra’s Needle is a time capsule.

Placed in 1878, the monument pedestal contains a time capsule with hairpins, a baby's bottle, a map of London, and even Bibles in different languages.

14. Aldgate Station is built over a mass grave.

A Bubonic Plague mass grave containing about a thousand bodies was uncovered beneath the station during construction in the 1860s.