London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It is the most populous city in the United Kingdom with a metropolitan area of over 13 million inhabitants. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within Greater London. London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence., London became a Centre for the worldwide youth culture, exemplified by the Swinging London subculture associated with the Kings Road, Chelsea and Carna by Street. London is the seat of the Government of the United Kingdom. The city is split by the River Thames into North and South, with an informal central London area in its interior. London has a temperate oceanic climate, similar to much of southern Britain. The Monument in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area while commemorating the Great Fire of London, which originated nearby. With increasing industrialization, London population grew rapidly throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it was for some time in the late 19th and early 20th centuries the most populous city in the world until overtaken by New York City in 1925. London is the most populous city and metropolitan area of the European Union and the second most populous in Europe.