Running in London: the world city
- audreyubertino
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
Patrie de Shakespeare, de Dickens, des Beatles et d' Harry Potter, l'Angleterre n'a plus à se bâtir une réputation. Mais qu'en est-il de sa capitale ? La plus grande métropole d'Europe, façonnée par des siècles d'histoire, possède une personnalité unique. C'est le cœur palpitant de la nation, le lieu où tout le monde converge ; en somme, une ville-monde.
‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for in London one finds all that life can afford,’ wrote the 18th-century man of letters Samuel Johnson.
Today, London has lost none of its vitality. The capital, with its bubbling energy, is still the talk of the town.
And with good reason: it is considered to be one of the most important cities in the world, in terms of its impact on the economy, the arts, the media, fashion and education. With a population of 8 million and counting, the city is home to 270 different nationalities and almost 300 languages are spoken every day.
Along the Thames
Located in the south-east of England, London is bordered by the Thames, a river with which it became inseparable very early on. As the city's main thoroughfare and a major trading route thanks to the Port of London, the river dominates the city. Many painters have taken pleasure in immortalising these iconic waters, but none better than the Englishman William Turner. On your journey along the river, you may pass the Tate Britain gallery, where some of his greatest masterpieces are housed.
From its very beginnings, the city has been built around the river and its commercial activities, as evidenced by the thirty-three bridges it boasts. The most famous of these, Tower Bridge, features striking neo-Gothic architecture and an ingenious mechanism that allows it to tilt to let boats pass. It is often confused with London Bridge, one of the first bridges to be built over the river. It links the City of London business district with Southwark, famous for its theatres, notably the Globe, which hosted many performances of Shakespeare's plays before being burnt down.
Palace of Westminster, Tower of London, Big Ben, London Eye: the monuments lining the Thames are numerous and their history fascinating. While you're out and about, you can find out more about their origins. Did you know, for example, that the hands on Big Ben's clock were the size of a bus? The famous clock has recently been restored and will be as good as new!
Unesco World Heritage
London has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Palace, Kew Gardens and Greenwich Village.
The site of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament, will delight history buffs who may already have seen its majestic architecture in Tom Hooper's feature film The King's Speech.
A must-see tourist attraction, the imposing Tower of London was originally a fortress built by William the Conqueror to defend the city. The district of Greenwich is famous for its collection of buildings reflecting the artistic and scientific projects of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Take advantage of a clear day to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, a 121-hectare park emblematic of the Victorian era!
London, a cosmopolitan city
London's influence is not limited to its monuments, or even its leading financial centre. The city also shines through its multitude of districts, whose diversity reflects that of the communities that make it up, giving each its own identity.
London has been designated the world capital of gastronomy and is the ideal place for those who want to broaden their culinary horizons. So if you've got an appetite for a bit of running around, the terraces of Covent Garden or Chinatown are the place to be. For more local fare, the city is full of fish and chips and pubs where you can sample some of the country's best beers. Whether you fancy Jamaican, Indian, Chinese, vegetarian or British food, there's something to suit every taste and every price!
At night, London is full of life. The hustle and bustle of Camden Town will appeal to the most avant-garde, while others will prefer the intimacy of trendy Soho. If you want to dance to the rhythm of drum and bass, head to Brixton, the Caribbean district.
London has become so iconic because so many literary and cinematic works have chosen it as the setting for their stories. Among the cult films shot in London are James Bond, Clockwork Orange, Mary Poppins and Harry Potter. So maybe you'll bump into Hugh Grant as you stroll through Notting Hill... And if you decide to run near King's Cross station, try to catch a glimpse of Platform 9¾ and its Hogwarts Express before heading towards Charing Cross Road, the street of bookshops where J.K Rowling set up the Leaky Cauldron pub.
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