Team London

London has unrivalled scale

• London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• London is Europe’s global city with a trillion-dollar European economy, the largest in Europe.[1]
• London has a population of nine million – 13% of the UK’s total population, and the second largest urban population in Europe (after Paris).
• London is one of the most ethnically diverse major cities in the world with about four in 10 Londoners born overseas (more than other major global cities including Paris, New York and Tokyo), and more than 230 languages spoken in the capital.[2]
• London’s scale has breadth and depth bringing together a unique mix of sectors – the city is a global centre for business, arts and culture, sport, education, research and technology.
• London is the largest financial centre in Europe and second largest in the world.[3]
• London is the world’s leading foreign exchange centre.
• London is no.1 in Europe for inward investment.[4]
• London attracts more headquarter (HQ) investment projects than any other city globally.[5]
• London dominates globally in professional and business services, and is a unique place where different disciplines and expertise meet.  

London is globally connected

• London is the most globally connected place on the planet.
• The city sits in a time zone between North America and Asia, in the centre of global trade.
• English is the national language.
• More than 230 languages are spoken in the city.
• London serves as a springboard to the rest of the UK and to other European and global markets.
• London Heathrow is the no.1 airport in Europe.
• London has six airports, more than any other European city, plus international rail connections.
• Visitors from across the globe reach London via 395 direct destinations, with roughly 1,500 daily flights – the highest in Europe.[6]
• With a diverse population of nine million consumers, its agglomeration of business sectors and world-leading talent, London consistently ranks as Europe’s most innovative city[7] – making it an ideal market for testing and rolling out new products, and as a springboard to global markets.

London takes safety seriously

• Crime is falling in London – take a look at the latest information on crime and safety in the capital [PDF 114 KB].

London boasts exceptional talent

• London attracts a highly educated workforce and top students from around the globe.
• London is ranked top globally for human capital.[8]
• Excellent transport allows people from across the city and beyond to travel to jobs, giving London-based businesses access to a vast workforce.
• London's infrastructure development, such as the recently opened Elizabeth Line, has brought 1.5 million more people within a 45-minute commute of some of our key business districts.[9]
• London has more than 40 universities and 56 further education colleges.
• The city is home to four of the top 100 universities in the world[10] and the top two arts schools: the Royal College of Art and University of the Arts London.[11]
• London has 13 top universities running courses in AI and machine learning.[12]
• The educational attainment of the working age population is higher than in the rest of the UK – with nearly six in 10 London residents holding higher education qualifications.[13]

London celebrates its diversity

• London is an inclusive global city that welcomes ideas and people from all over the world.
• The UK ranks among the most tolerant countries globally and London, as the most diverse UK region, reflects these attitudes strongly. The UK public is one of the most trusting of their neighbours internationally – 84% of UK residents trust their neighbours and are among the most comfortable globally living alongside people from different backgrounds.[14]
• London is one of the most ethnically diverse major cities in the world with about four in 10 Londoners born overseas (more than other major global cities including Paris, New York and Tokyo), and more than 230 languages spoken in the capital.[15]
• The city has 233 different languages spoken[16] and more than 449,000 students.[17]
• London is open and welcoming for business and entrepreneurship. More than 70% of startup founders in London are born overseas, significantly more than in Paris (25%) or Berlin (55%).[18]
• London is the best city in the world for female entrepreneurs.[19]

London is a brilliant place to live, work and experience

• London has ranked no.1 in the World’s Best Cities report for 11 years running[20] and is regularly voted the world’s favourite city.[21]
• London is the world’s smartest and most sustainable city (out of 183 cities in 92 countries), according to the annual Cities in Motion Index.[22]
• London is a leading destination for international business events, supported by the work of the London Convention Bureau.
• London is frequently ranked the top European destination for meetings and events, most recently in 2025.[23]

London offers exceptional experiences

• London welcomed 20 million international visitors in 2024, who spent approximately £17bn.[24]
• Visitors reach London via 395 direct destinations, with roughly 1,500 daily flights – the highest in Europe.[25]
• London’s experience economy – including culture, events, sports, attractions, retail and hospitality – is booming, with up to £10bn planned for investment over the next 10 years, from hotels to attractions.[26]
• London ranks above New York City as one of the best cities for a theatre break.[27]
• Many visitors are drawn to London by its profile in film and television. 87% of those visiting a film or TV location in the UK choose to head to the capital, with two in three of these setjetters visiting London locations only.[28]
• London has 80 Michelin-starred restaurants[29], as well as more than 16,000 others catering to all tastes.[30]
• The city boasts more than 550 museums and public and commercial art galleries[31], including globally renowned institutions such as the National Gallery and Tate galleries, which attract visitors from around the world.
• London is the sporting capital of the world, home to seven Premier League football clubs and with a strong track record of staging the biggest and best international events, including Wimbledon, UEFA Champions League finals, the London E-Prix, London Athletics Meet, Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) regular season games.
• London is a global hub for women’s sport, home to iconic teams like the Red Roses (England’s women’s rugby team) and the Lionesses (England’s women’s football team), as well as world-class venues such as the Queen’s Club tennis grounds – with more than one million fans attending events in the capital in 2025.[32]

London provides top-quality education

• London’s primary and secondary schools are ranked the best in England.[33]
• England’s schools scores for mathematics and reading were significantly above the OECD average in the latest (2022) PISA rankings.[34]
• London has more than 40 universities, including four of the top 100 universities in the world[35] and the top two arts schools in the world: the Royal College of Art and University of the Arts London.[36]
• London is also home to 56 further and adult education colleges[37] with more than 232,000 adults (19 years old and above) participating in education and training programmes in London in 2024-25 – the most of any English region.[38]

London is green – and blue

• London is one of the world’s greenest capitals with more parks than any other city in Europe.
• London is the world’s first National Park City with nearly 50% green and blue space.[39]
• The city operates the largest zero-emission bus fleet in western Europe.[40]
• London leads by example on air quality, steadily reducing emissions across the city[41], and is ranked ahead of other major capitals including Paris, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin and Singapore in IQ Air’s World Air Quality Report 2024.[42]

London’s leadership backs the city for growth

• London has a new 10-year economic strategy, the London Growth Plan, aligned to the UK’s national Industrial Strategy.
• The London Growth Plan aims to grow the economy by expanding the skilled workforce, promoting high-growth sectors, boosting investment in innovative companies and helping businesses to scale internationally.[43]

London is a world-leading innovation and technology hub

• London is Europe’s leading technology hub and one of the top three globally – its scale, depth and global reach are unmatched.[44]
• The city is an innovation and technology hub, attracting startups, established tech giants and venture capital.
• London has the highest number of $1bn-plus tech unicorn businesses in Europe.[45]
• Londoners are early adopters of technology – the city has a long history of innovation, from the first underground railway to congestion charging.
• London’s universities and research institutes produce discoveries and inventions that change the world.