London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It is the most populous region, urban zone and metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1.12-square-mile (2.9 km2) mediaeval boundaries and in 2011 had a resident population of 7,375, making it the smallest city in England. Since at least the 19th century, the term London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
Peel In London
Peel left America in March 1967 for London, bringing his first wife Shirley Anne Milburn with him. Peel and Shirley moved into a flat in Fulham and Peel began looking for work. His first job was for the pirate station Radio London, where, on the advice of a secretary working at the radio station, he dropped his surname Ravenscroft and adopted the name Peel. After Radio London was closed by the Marine Offences Act in August 1967, Peel found work for the new BBC Radio One station in London a month later and debuted on 01 October 1967 with Pete Drummond. Peel worked for Radio One until his death in October 2004. During his time at Radio One, Peel would visit record shops and do many gigs in London. Yet because of what he described as his "provincial" roots and rural upbringing, he remained wary of the city and never felt at home in what was known as "Swinging London". After living in flats in Regent's Park and Notting Hill, he and Sheila were happy to leave the city for the peace of the Suffolk countryside in 1972.
John Peel's London
- St Paul's church in Lorrimore Square SE17, where John and Sheila were married on 31 August 1974.
- The Holme in Regent's Park, where the wedding reception was held.
- Buckingham Palace, where Peel received his OBE in November 1998.
- BBC Yalding House, former home of Radio 1.
- BBC Maida Vale studios. Home to many a Peel session.
- Former Middle Earth club, a regular venue for Peel as DJ in 1967.
- Former Roxy Club, London's first punk venue. Peel attended his first gig there on 29 January 1977.
- Former Vortex Club, where Peel saw the Slits play live on 15 August 1977.
- 100 Club on Oxford Street. Peel attended two punk gigs there in 1976.
- Former Subterranea club, where Peel's surprise 50th birthday celebrations were hosted.
- Fabric club, where Peel performed his DJ set from 2002 onwards.
- Former Rainbow Theater, where Peel saw the Prefects, but not the Clash, on 09 May 1977.
- Former Rough Trade record shop. Original home of UK indie record shop chain and label.
- Former Sterns record shop. African music shop often visited by Peel and Andy Kershaw.
- Wembley Stadium. Peel saw Liverpool win the 1978 European Cup final at the original ground.