2. Geography
• It is the capital of the United Kingdom
• It is in the southeast of England
• It has got temperate oceanic climate, like most of the British islands
• Its area is 1,579 square kilometers, which makes it the 37th largest urban area
in the region in the world
• It is built on the banks of the River Thames
3. Education
• The education system is divided into early years (ages 3–4), primary education (ages
4–11), secondary education (ages 11–18) and tertiary education (ages 18+)
• Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 17
• Higher education often begins with a three-year bachelor's degree. Postgraduate
degrees include master's degrees, either taught or by research, and the doctorate, a
research degree that usually takes at least three years. Universities require a Royal
Charter in order to issue degrees, and all but one are financed by the state via tuition
fees, which cost up to £9,000 per academic year for English, Welsh and EU students
• Until 1870 all schools were charitable or private institutions, but in that year the
Elementary Education Act 1870 permitted local governments to complement the
existing elementary schools, to fill up any gaps. The Education Act 1902 allowed
local authorities to create secondary schools. The Education Act 1918 abolished fees
for elementary schools.
5. Sports
• It has hosted major international tournaments and has professional teams in
many sports
• London has hosted the Summer Olympics in 1908 at White City and 1948 at
Wembley Stadium. In July 2005 London was chosen to host the Games in
2012, making it the first city in the world to host the Summer Olympics three
times
• London hosted the Paralympic Games in 2012, for the first time.
6. Arts
London is Britain's leading centre for arts education. London's four
music conservatories are the Royal College of Music, the Royal
Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music, and the Guildhall School
of Music and Drama. Other drama schools include Royal Academy of
Dramatic Arts, and the Central School of Speech and Drama. Art &
Design schools include Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,
Chelsea College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts,
Wimbledon School of Art and London College of Communication and
London College of Fashion, and Goldsmiths College, University of
London and the Slade School of Art, and The Design School and the
Royal College of Art. The former Hornsey College of Art is now part of
Middlesex University. The University of East London has an Institute
for Performing Arts Development
