London today is one of the greatest cities in the world, as it was one hundred years ago, capital of the world’s first industrialised nation and hub of the British Empire, the largest the world has ever seen. Although Britain is no longer the predominant world power, London retains its prominent position, recognized as a centre of arts such as theatre and pop music, and finance. The ‘City of London’, a commercial centre since Roman times, is one of the world’s three major financial powerhouses. Landmarks like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace are familiar to millions. It is a city rich in history, which everyone wants to see at least once in a lifetime, though one visit barely skims the surface of its 2000-year history.