Fun Facts About The Summer’s Worldwide Stage

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee starts on the first full week of June in 2012 – and London will certainly be busy, since the summer Olympics begin in July. People worldwide will be heading to London this summer for vacation and to take part in the festivities. London’s history is centuries old, and there’s much more to the city than just Big Ben, London Taxis and Westminster Abbey. If you’re planning to travel to England for the summer-or if you’re just interested in knowing more about one of Europe’s oldest and most powerful cities, these little-known and interesting facts about the capital city of England may prove useful.

Fact 1: We’re Not in Ludenwic Anymore

London, with a total of 1,706 square kilometers and a population of over 7.5 million people, is the world’s ninth largest city. London was called Londinium when it was settled in the 2nd century during the Roman Invasion. It was also known as Ludenwic in Saxon times, and Ludenburg when Alfred the Great ruled. London became the capital of England in the 12th century. By 1811, London had over one million people and held the title of the world’s largest city until 1957, when Tokyo matched it.

Fact 2: Location, Location, Location

London’s full name is actually London Town, and the actual city, the ancient core of London, is only one square mile, which is today’s financial district.

Fact 3: Nicknames

Those born in London are often called Cockneys, though if a person is a true Cockney, he or she was born in the area where the Bow Bells – located at St. Mary Le Bow Church in the East

End – can be heard. London’s upper classes used to call the working class Cockneys, using it as a derogatory term.

The city dwellers never saw livestock and, according to legend, a London child asked a gentleman if a cockerel made the same noise as a horse: “Does a cock neigh?” Over time, the upper class used the term to refer to a simpleton. The term caught on and was used by the upper class for all working class people. Since most of London’s people were working class, the derogatory term also meant any inhabitant of London.

Fact 4: One Lump or Two?

The English drink 20 times more tea than people in America. In this year’s Jubilee, it’s expected that at least 200,000 cups of tea will be consumed just during this event.

Fact 5: Is it Hot or is it Just Me?

In 2003, a heat wave hit England, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees for the first time since the temperatures in the country have been recorded.

Fact 6: “Bad Dog!”

In Medieval England, animals were tried for bad deeds. If they were convicted, their owners paid fines for damages caused by the animals.

Fact 7: Not So Fast

A popular tourist route on the “Tube“ is from Leicester Square to Covenant Garden, but it’s faster to walk between the two places. The Tube was the first underground system in the world – and costs the most to run. The system contains 409 escalators.

Fact 8: Does That Ring a Bell?

Many people refer to the famous clock as “Big Ben.” The clock tower is actually called St. Stephen’s Tower. Big Ben is the name of the bell in the tower. The bell weighs 13 tons.

Fact 9: My Fair Lady

The nursery rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down,” could very well be over 1,000 years old. In Saxon times, the Saxons used boats and ropes to tear the bridge down. On the subject of bridges, the River Thames has over 20 tunnels and 200 bridges crossing it.

Whether you’re in London for vacation or learning more about England in general, facts like these can give you an insight into one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.