London

London's food scene reflects its position as a global crossroads. Traditional British dishes sit alongside excellent South Asian, Caribbean, Turkish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, West African and European cooking, often within the same neighborhood. Curry in particular is deeply woven into the city's eating habits.

Markets are a good way to sample the range, from produce and street food stalls to long-established food halls. Pubs serve hearty meals, Sunday roasts are a weekly ritual, and afternoon tea remains a popular treat. Cafes and bakeries offer everything from a classic full English breakfast to modern brunch.

Tipping is customary in sit-down restaurants, and a service charge is often added to the bill, so check before adding more. Pubs typically involve ordering and paying at the bar rather than being served at the table.

London began as Londinium, a Roman settlement founded around 47 to 50 AD beside the Thames. It grew into a major trading town with a bridge, forum and city walls, some traces of which can still be seen. After Roman rule ended in the early fifth century the area declined, then revived as the Anglo-Saxon trading town of Lundenwic and later a fortified settlement within the old Roman walls.

After the Norman conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror built fortifications including the White Tower, and Westminster became the seat of royal power and the site of coronations. Medieval London grew as a merchant city governed by its guilds and corporation. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed much of the walled city, and rebuilding brought new streets and Christopher Wren's St Paul's Cathedral.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries London expanded rapidly as the center of a global empire and of finance, industry and the railways. It was heavily bombed in the Blitz of 1940 to 1941, and postwar rebuilding, immigration and later regeneration of docklands and industrial areas shaped the modern city.

Londoners are known for queuing patiently, saying please and thank you, and respecting personal space. On escalators in the Underground, stand on the right and leave the left free for people walking. Commuters move quickly at rush hour, so avoid blocking doorways and gates.

Social life often centers on the pub, where rounds of drinks are common among groups. Conversation tends to be understated and humor is often dry or self-deprecating. People are generally private on public transport and rarely chat loudly with strangers.

The city is diverse and tolerant, with major cultural festivals, Pride, Notting Hill Carnival and many religious celebrations held through the year. When visiting churches, mosques, temples and other places of worship, dress modestly and follow posted guidance.