What is the capital of United Kingdom?
London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile tidal estuary running down to the North Sea.
London is the capital and seat of government of United Kingdom. United Kingdom itself has an estimated population of 69,487,000 (2025).
London is also the largest city in United Kingdom, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
London at a glance
| City population | 9,089,736 (2024, Greater London) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Founded | around AD 47 |
| Largest city in United Kingdom | London |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (GMT) |
| Currency | British pound (GBP) |
About London
London was founded by the Romans as Londinium around AD 47.
The City of Westminster, at London's core, has been the site of England's national government and parliament for centuries.
London has Europe's largest city economy and is one of the world's major financial centres.
Greater London is the third-most populous city in Europe.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: London.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of United Kingdom?
Is London the largest city in United Kingdom?
What is the population of London?
Where is London located?
What time zone is London in?
What currency is used in London?
Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of United Kingdom on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.