London, world capital on the Thames

London, capital of the United Kingdom and England, is home to 9 million inhabitants (Greater London) and ranks as one of the world's most visited and influential cities. Spread across the banks of the River Thames, London seamlessly blends centuries of royal heritage — Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London — with bold modern architecture: the Shard, the Gherkin, the Tate Modern. The city holds UNESCO World Heritage Sites, world-class museums that are entirely free, and a cultural scene unmatched anywhere on earth. With over 300 languages spoken and visitors from every corner of the globe, London is the definition of a world city.

Big Ben — officially the Elizabeth Tower since 2012 — houses the Great Bell cast in 1859 and remains the most recognisable clock tower on earth. Westminster (UNESCO World Heritage) encompasses the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey (coronation church since 1066) and St Margaret's Church. The Tower of London (UNESCO), founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, guards the Crown Jewels. Buckingham Palace, the monarch's official London residence since 1837, draws millions of visitors to the Changing of the Guard. Tower Bridge (1894), the capital's defining Victorian landmark, still raises its bascules to allow tall ships through. The Tate Modern, housed in the former Bankside Power Station, is the world's most visited modern art museum. The London Eye (135 m) offers a 40-minute panoramic revolution above the South Bank.

Westminster, the City and the Thames

London's geography revolves around the River Thames, which divides the city between North and South Banks. Westminster (west) holds the seat of British government and the royal ceremonial heart. The City of London (the original Square Mile) is Europe's foremost financial centre, home to the Bank of England (1694), Lloyd's of London and the Stock Exchange. South Bank — Borough Market, Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, the Shard — is London's cultural mile. Notting Hill (Portobello Road, Carnival), Shoreditch (street art, tech), Greenwich (Prime Meridian, Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory), Kew Gardens (UNESCO, world's largest botanical collection) and Hampton Court Palace complete an inexhaustible panorama. The London Underground, opened in 1863, is the world's oldest metro system with 272 stations across 11 lines.

• Big Ben & Palace of Westminster
• Tower of London Crown Jewels
• Buckingham Palace Royal Guard
• Tower Bridge Victorian marvel
• Westminster Abbey since 1066
• Tate Modern & South Bank
• London Eye 135m panorama
• British Museum & V&A free
• Greenwich Prime Meridian
• Kew Gardens UNESCO
• Hyde Park & Regent's Park
• Underground world's oldest metro

London webcams live streaming

Watch London's live webcams in real time: Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster at any hour of day or night, the Thames riverbank, the IET Savoy Place looking over the river, and the ever-changing London skyline.

London's webcams capture the full sweep of the capital: Big Ben striking the hour against a changing London sky, the Thames flowing beneath Tower Bridge, the IET Savoy Place camera sweeping the South Bank skyline, and the endless flow of red buses and black cabs. At night, the illuminated city — Westminster floodlit, the Shard glowing, the river shimmering — is equally spectacular.

Access & practical info: London is served by six international airports — Heathrow (LHR, 24 km west, Tube 50 min), Gatwick (LGW, 45 km south, train 30 min), Stansted (STN, 56 km northeast), Luton, London City and Southend. Eurostar connects London St Pancras to Paris (2h15), Brussels (2h), Amsterdam (4h) and Bruges. Excellent Underground (Tube, 272 stations), Overground, Elizabeth line, buses and river buses (Thames Clippers). Heathrow Express: Paddington in 15 min. Oyster card or contactless payment accepted across all Transport for London services. Nearby: Windsor Castle (40 km, royal residence), Stonehenge (145 km), Oxford (95 km, Blenheim Palace), Cambridge (95 km), Canterbury (95 km, UNESCO cathedral), Bath (175 km, UNESCO Roman Baths), Brighton (85 km). Climate: mild and wet year-round. Average temperatures: winter 7°C, summer 21°C. Time zone: GMT (UTC+0) / BST (UTC+1, late March–late October). Currency: Pound Sterling (£). London has been capital of England since the 11th century.