9: London is situated in the South-East of England in the Thames Valley.

13: Home to over 8 million people,

15: the capital of the UK has been an important financial,

19: educational and cultural center for hundreds of years.

23: Of the many gifts England has given to the world,

26: none has been greater than her language and literature.

30: And if ever there's a city that reads like an epic saga, it's London.

37: The story of London began in the Bronze Age,

42: but it didn't really get going until the Romans withdrew in the 5th century.

48: Growing into one of the great medieval trading cities,

52: she truly came of age in the 11th century,

54: when William the Conqueror built the Tower of London,

57: which was to become one of England's grimmest prisons.

63: London is very easy to navigate around,

65: and is compact enough to explore on foot.

71: This world city is filled with iconic symbols,

74: and one of the most easily recognizable is Tower Bridge,

77: an impressive reminder of London's rapid expansion during the industrial revolution.

82: Just upriver, at the Houses of Parliament,

88: Big Ben's reassuring chimes peal across the city every hour, on the hour.

98: Buckingham Palace, perhaps the most famous palace in the world,

102: is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth.

105: It's a popular London attraction, offering tours of staterooms and gardens.

111: Nearby, Kensington Palace is open to the public year-round.

117: The palace and gardens will be remembered

118: as the home of Princess Di and Prince Charles,

121: and have recently undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment.

130: Another legacy of England's monarchy are the Royal Parks of London.

134: They were once reserved as private hunting grounds for the royal family,

137: but nowadays they're open for everyone to enjoy.

142: There are eight Royal Parks, and many of them are in central London,

147: and close to royal palaces and other historic monuments.

152: Green Park and St. James's Park are right next to

155: Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch and The Mall.

159: Hyde Park is perhaps the most famous with its man-made lake, The Serpentine,

165: and on the other side, Kensington Gardens is a beautiful open expanse

170: that stretches east towards Kensington Palace.

175: The Albert Memorial is at the southern end of Kensington Gardens,

178: and the striking bronze statue looks towards the Royal Albert Hall

181: just across the road.

183: The hall is yet another reminder of Queen Victoria's

186: great love for her husband, Prince Albert.

195: Many of London's greatest stories have begun in her houses of worship,

199: and none is so impressive and important as Westminster Abbey.

204: This is where kings and queens have been crowned, married and even buried.

212: London was rebuilt after The Great Fire in 1666,

215: and St. Paul's Cathedral is the most enduring monument to the city's transformation.

221: It's a great testament to British strength and resilience.

232: The West End in central London is a story in itself.

236: Here the streets are lined with ancient buildings,

238: but the throngs of people are out to have fun.

242: By day, the charming boutiques and cafés hum with shoppers,

247: and by night the bars along Carnaby Street are packed

250: with patrons enjoying pre-show drinks.

253: This is one of the largest theater districts in the world.

257: And at times it can feel like you're on a Monopoly board,

264: with Coventry Street, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus all close by.

269: Moving away from the historic center,

272: London's trendy suburbs offer a different kind of story.

276: The Portobello Road Markets in Notting Hill attract thousands of visitors,

280: especially to the antiques markets that's held on Saturdays,

283: while the edgier Camden Town features six popular markets

287: that are open every day of the week,

289: and operate along her streets, the canal, and in her historic stables.

296: London is a city that honors not only her own story,

303: but also the story of humankind.

305: The British Museum is one of the finest in the world,

308: and her treasures cover thousands of years of history and number in the millions.

313: The museum is open every day, and best of all, it's free.

318: From the ancient to the modern,

320: The London Eye offers a complete change of pace and perspective.

328: The massive wheel is over 400 feet high,

330: and takes 30 minutes to complete one rotation.

334: From here you can see the London of old,

337: as well as some of the city's newest additions, all in air-conditioned comfort.

349: London will always be a city that looks towards

351: the past and the future in equal measure.

354: From 'Rule Britannia' to 'Cool Britannia',

357: the fabric and the skyline of this city is forever turning over a new page.

362: Which is, after all, what every great story should do.