From Darwin’s Discoveries to the Largest Botanical Gardens, Explore London’s Unparalleled Diversity

Walking the streets of London, you’ll hear a variety of dialects, from Mandarin to Jamaican. As the most culturally diverse city in Europe, one-third of its residents come from abroad. This metropolis brings heritage into celebrations of art, history and science. But there are some smaller details worth seeing among its famous attractions.

London has been nicknamed the “Great Smog” for the thick fog that once hung over the coal-fired city. Although the British capital is still referred to by its air pollution-inspired name, it is striving to become the world’s greenest city by 2050. There are 3,000 parks across the city, including the Kew Gardens, home to the world’s largest collection of plants. At this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll marvel at 50,000 species of living plants, including the rare Indonesian corpse flower and the Namibian millennial orchid. A large 18th-century tower in a Victorian conservatory overlooks the grounds. Japanese Landscape Tour In spring, visitors will be immersed in the iconic cherry blossom bloom. While rainfall for more than half the year allows this landscape to flourish, there’s plenty to discover indoors, too.

At the Natural History Museum, Charles Darwin’s discoveries form part of 8000 million specimens. See the first edition of his On the Origin of Species at the Treasure Gallery. Other samples preserved at the museum include corals, which prompted biologists to understand the relationship between volcanoes and coral reefs, and pigeons that helped develop his theory of evolution. In the tank room was his favorite specimen – an octopus the size of the palm of his hand.

In addition to the monumental animals in the museum, lions made of molten cannons on Trafalgar Square guard the city’s main meeting place. For centuries, it has been a rallying place, witnessing women’s suffrage rallies, anti-war demonstrations and climate change protests. Today, festive celebrations such as Chinese New Year’s Eve Night, St. Patrick’s Day and Diwali attract thousands of people to the square. Join them here and experience London’s unparalleled diversity.

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