London 2006

It seems that the origins of London lie in Roman times because to date, there are no definite indications of pre-Roman settlement in the London area.

The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43 and crossed the Thames in that part of London now known as Lambeth. They built the first permanent wooden bridge, just east of the modern London Bridge. A town called Londinium grew up. The name is Celtic and sources say that a small Celtic settlement existed in the vicinity.

The first great fire in London was in AD 60 as a result of a major revolt against Roman rule by the Iceni tribe, under Queen Boudicca,  from what is now East Anglia. Roman troops were based near London during the winter time. Late 1st century buildings have been excavated beneath Cannon Street Station and at Southwark.

By about AD 200 the famous walls which have circled the present district "City of London" and which were about 20ft high were erected.

One year after Christianity became officially tolerated by the Romans London had its own Bishop. At the height of Roman prosperity and power London had about 45,000 inhabitants.

The Romans left London in the 4th century AD when the city fell into a decline. The invading Anglo-Saxons had no use for the Roman city but founded their own settlement to the west of the Roman city. This was called Lundenwic or Aldwic (Old English meaning "old town"); the name lives on today as the area of Aldwych. Eventually the expansion of Anglo-Saxon culture caused London to expand from about the 7th century. About 604 AD the first St. Paul's Cathedral was founded.

The second great fire occurred when Danish Vikings attacked and burned London to the ground.

In the 11th century London was the largest city in the islands of Britain. At this time the foundation of the abbey at Westminster took place and the Royal court moved to London. In 1176 the first  London Bridge built of stone, was constructed. The next bridge over the River Thames was not built until 1739. ...