40^th World Cardiology Conference

London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom. With a population of around 8.9 million in the city and 14.9 million in the wider metropolitan area, it stands as the largest metropolitan area in Western Europe. Located on the River Thames in southeast England, London has been a significant settlement for nearly 2,000 years. The ancient core of the city, known as the City of London, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains its medieval boundaries. Adjacent to it, the City of Westminster has long been the seat of the national government and parliament. London experienced rapid growth in the 19th century, becoming the world's largest city during that period. Since then, "London" has referred to the broader metropolis around the City of London, which historically spanned the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire. Since 1965, this area has been governed as Greater London, comprising 33 local authorities and the Greater London Authority. As a major global city, London exerts significant influence in areas such as art, entertainment, fashion, commerce, finance, education, healthcare, media, science, technology, tourism, transport, and communications. Despite challenges posed by Brexit, it remains Europe's most economically powerful city and a major financial center worldwide. The city hosts Europe's largest concentration of higher education institutions, including highly-ranked universities like Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, and University College London. London is also the most visited city in Europe and has the world's busiest city airport system. The London Underground is the oldest rapid transit system globally.

London's population is incredibly diverse, with over 300 languages spoken. The population of Greater London is just under 10 million, making it Europe's third-most populous city and accounting for a significant portion of the United Kingdom's and England's populations. The Greater London Built-up Area is among the most populous in Europe, and the London metropolitan area is also one of the most populous, qualifying London as a megacity. The city boasts four World Heritage Sites: Kew Gardens, the Tower of London, the site featuring the Palace of Westminster, Church of St Margaret, and Westminster Abbey, and the historic settlement in Greenwich, home to the Royal Observatory that defines the prime meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. Other iconic landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and Trafalgar Square. London has the highest concentration of museums, art galleries, libraries, and cultural venues in the UK, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, British Library, and numerous West End theatres. The city hosts important sporting events like the FA Cup Final, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, and the London Marathon. London is also notable for being the first city to host three Summer Olympic Games, with the latest held in 2012.