London: The City Where Time Begins
The world is full of fascinating places. And, whether someone is looking for a secluded mountain getaway, a two week beach holiday or a city break, there is plenty to choose from a world that is positively bursting at the seams with weird and wonderful places to visit.
But, whilst there is indeed an abundance of choice in terms of where to go for a break, very few places in the world offer a genuine opportunity to sample something that is truly one-of-a-kind. However, London — the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom — is such a place, and ranks as one of the world’s true ‘global cities’, given its status as a hub of international activity and its prominent position within the global economic system.
And, for those who are seeking a city that is as much a living relic of times gone by as it is a modern metropolis, then London is the place to go.
There are, of course, the usual iconic images that are synonymous with London the world over – Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Big Ben, to name a few. But, there are so many fascinating facets to London that it would take years of living and breathing the city to even come close to discovering it all.
Indeed, it may surprise some to learn that London can lay claim to being the place where time itself begins. And, whilst this may seem like a very bold claim, one only needs to do a little research on the district of Greenwich in south-east London to realise that there is more than just a shred of truth in this.
Perhaps the best way to travel to Greenwich is via a half-hour boat ride down the River Thames from Westminster. From here, it’s worth walking up to the Royal Observatory, which is the place British Astronomers have used for centuries as a basis of measurement, and is where the earth’s line of longitude, or ‘Greenwich Meridian’, runs through.
It is possible to stand with one foot on either side of the meridian, which is the point at which longitude is defined as being 0°, and ‘time’ throughout the whole world is now measured in relation to ‘Greenwich Mean Time’.
But, whilst this only serves to emphasise London’s historical importance as a major global city, London isn’t a city that has rested on its laurels. Today it’s a bustling, vibrant metropolis that receives over fifteen million visitors each year. And with an abundance of theatres, landmarks, parks, restaurants and anything else that could be expected from a major cosmopolitan city, it’s hardly surprising that hotels in London are always in such great demand.
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Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
