London Business City Guide: introduction
Born as a small settlement on the banks of the Thames, London has grown into one of the world's great meeting points – a multicultural hub for everyone from financiers to fashionistas. Although recent years have seen ups and downs – including the rise and fall of the dot-com economy – the advent of the new millennium has ushered in a new sense of optimism. Both the City and the modern Canary Wharf business district are awash with new companies and pocketed with building sites, testament to the faith of British companies and multinationals in the unique business environment London has to offer.

London main business districts

The City and Docklands
The City, or the Square Mile, is where London began. The financial and business heart of the UK has now spilled over into the neighbouring Docklands area. A fascinating blend of old and new with historic St. Paul's Cathedral presiding over hundreds of modern buildings.

Knightsbridge/Victoria
Once known for its taverns, Knightsbridge is one of London's most upmarket areas, well known for designer shopping and luxury hotels. Neighbouring Victoria is home to one of London's transport hubs.

Kensington/Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea is one of only four royal boroughs in the UK, and home to the rich and famous. Like nearby Knightsbridge, it is reputed for its many shops, as well as the green spaces of Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.

The West End and surroundings
Renowned throughout the world for its theatre district. Oxford Street is London’s main shopping thoroughfare, with nearby Mayfair offering smaller boutiques and luxury hotels. Soho is a centre for relaxed dining and nightlife.

London: 10 facts

1. The London Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, with a greater turnover than New York and Tokyo combined.
2. More than 300 languages are spoken in London daily.
3. The London Underground, opened in 1863, was the first underground railway system in the world.
4. Heathrow is the busiest international airport in the world, with more than 63 million passengers per year.
5. Every day more than a million people enter central London during the morning rush hour.
6. London's newest landmark, a building designed by Norman Foster, is affectionately known as 'The Gherkin'.
7. At £116 billion, London’s economy is larger than that of the nations of Finland, Portugal, Norway and Greece.
8. London has a young workforce, with almost half (46%) under the age of 35.
9. London has more overseas banks than any other city in the world (450).
10. International trade in the city began as early as 43 AD, when the Romans developed the port of London.