FORMA DE ÎNVĂȚĂMÂNT: CU FRECVENȚĂFULL TIME EDUCATION [611209]

UNIVERSITATEA DIN ORADEA/UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA
FACULTATEA DE GEOGRAFIE, TURISM ȘI SPORT/
FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY, TOURISM AND SPORT S
PROGRAMUL DE STUDIU: TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING/
STUDY PROGRAMME: TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
FORMA DE ÎNVĂȚĂMÂNT: CU FRECVENȚĂ/FULL TIME EDUCATION

LUCRARE DE DISERTAȚIE /
DISSERTATION

COORDONATOR ȘTIINȚIFIC:
Lector univ. dr. MARIUS I. STUPARIU ABSOLVENT: [anonimizat]
2017

UNIVERSITATEA DIN ORADEA/UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA
FACULTATEA DE GEOGRAFIE, TURISM ȘI SPORT/
FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY, TOURISM AND SPORT S
PROGRAMUL DE STUDIU: TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING/
STUDY PROGRAMME: TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
FORMA DE ÎNVĂȚĂMÂNT: CU FRECVENȚĂ/FULL TIME EDUCATION

LONDON,
METROPOLITAN, COSMOPOLITAN
AND CENTRE OF EUROPEAN TOURISM

COORDONATOR ȘTIINȚIFIC:
Lector univ. dr. MARIUS I. STUPARIU ABSOLVENT: [anonimizat]
2017

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

3

CONTENTS

INTR ODUCTION ………………………….. ………………………….. ………………………….. …………………. 4

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH TOURISM ………………………….. ………………………….. ………… 8

Chapter 2
LONDON – COSMOPOLITAN METROPOLIS ………………………….. ………………………….. …. 18

Chapter 3
TOURISM IN THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ………………………….. …………. 22
3.1. TOURISM DIVISION OF LONDON ………………………….. ………………………….. ………. 28
3.2. THE CENTRE OF CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION IN ENGLAND …………………. 38
3.3. EONOMIC CENTRE OF BRITIAN ………………………….. ………………………….. ………… 45

Chapter 4
SPORT TOURISM IN LONDON ………………………….. ………………………….. ……………………… 47
4.1. FROM OLD WEMBLEY TO NEW WEMBLEY ………………………….. ………………….. 50

CONCLUSION ………………………….. ………………………….. ………………………….. …………………… 53

REFERENCES ………………………….. ………………………….. ………………………….. ……………………. 55

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

4

INTRODUCTION

I would first like to explain why I took the decision to choose this subject for my
dissertation ‘London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism’. As I
have a passion for tourism I wanted to study the lar gest tourism infrastructure in Europe.

Figure 1 . London
Source: https://depositphotos.com/78082286/stock -photo -london -pinned -on-a-map.html

The urban density of London and its shear size are important dimensions that help us
in the classification of a metropolis with in the largest capital cities in the world. In this case
there has been an increase in the profits from tourism as being a major European capital;
London has become more and more sought after by the populations of other European
countries.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

5 But the idea of a cosmo politan metropolis is one of record, especially if we take into
account the fact that the tourism industry has a positive influence on the increase of the
national income through the structure of tourists’ expenditures, which become income of
other branches involved in the realization of the tourist product.
The cultural diversity that continues to persist in London is a feature specific to the
great capitals of the world. The population of London is 8,250,205 (March 27, 2011) in
Greater London, to w hich are added a few more million in the metropolitan area (13.2 mil.) .
There is a huge diversity of ethnic, cultural and religious beliefs, London being one of the
most cosmopolitan Cities in Europe and the world. Here live, permanently or temporarily,
many of the most rich people of the world. London is home to numerous institutions and
corporations of global importance; Many important buildings: palaces, museums, theaters,
concert halls, airports, railway stations, railways, numerous embassies and consul ates.
Although Britain's most important universities are located outside London, this city
attracts a large number of students, offering a large number of colleges, universities,
academies and institutions. The main element of this educational network is t he University of
London in Bloomsbury, founded in 1836. It is made up of faculties, schools and institutions,
ranging from the School of Economic and Political Studies to faculties of medicine. Other
major universities are Kingston and Westminster which of fers art courses such as the Faculty
of Fine Arts, the Royal School of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Music University, the Royal
Ballet University, and the University of Contemporary Dance.
London is one of the largest centers of classical and popular culture. It enjoys the
reputation of a superb theater from the sixteenth century, from the time of the greatest writer
of English literature, William Shakespeare. As for museums and galleries, London itself is a
museum with more than 2,000 years of culture and hist ory. It has one of the highest number
of museums (over 100) compared to other cities across the world . The Pearl of London's
cultural crown is the British Museum, whose galleries stretch over four kilometers, including
more than 4 million exhibits. Museum collections range from Egyptian and classical antiquity
to pieces of Romanian and Anglo -Saxon origin and even China , India, Mesopotamia, Japan.
In the Victoria & Albert Museum (1852), you can find an important and varied
collection of applied arts. Decorat ive arts include moving parts, sculpture and painting,
clothing and jewelry.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

6 On the other side of the street we can find the Museum of Natural Sciences, including
many species of dinosaurs and the Museum of Sciences, which includes a department of
history and medicine. The London Museum simply introduces visitors to London's history,
guiding them through chronologically epochs. It, founded in 1753, has an impressive
collection of works of art, antiques and natural historical objects. The Museum of London
includes exhibits attesting the evolution of the society since the Roman period to the present.

Figure 2 . British Museum
Source: http://www.madbox.it/wp -content/uploads/2014/11/britishmuseumingresso.jpg

Figure 3 . Museum of natural sciences

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

7 London is a great venue for Western art storage and a center of creation for
contemporary artists. The Trafalgar Square National Gallery contains the first British art
collection, containing pieces from the largest European art schools. Next to it is the National
Gallery of Portraits, which contains the portraits of t he British, both the famous and the least
well-known. The Tate Gallery contains the main collections of British art and modern
international art.

Figure 4. The National Gallery
Source: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

The galleries of the Courtalud Institute are specialized in the works of impresionist
artists. Commercial gall eries feature the best works of those that are currently produced in
London and internationally.
Just by doing this interesting analysis of London tourism, through further analyzing
and researching, I will be able to identify and know more beautiful and un usual things about
this metropolis and the European capital.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

8

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH TOURISM

British tourism has a wealth of elements that bring hundreds of thousands of tourists
from all corners of the world into the archipelago. The p resence of all forms of relief, the
cultural diversity or the multi dimension of the tourist objectives are some of the determining
factors in the development of English tourism. There are also other socio -cultural factors that
we have to remember: expandi ng the English language, the unarmored access of people
around the world to information, regular tourism, seasonal tourism, the evolution of the means
of communication and transport, t he spread of the phenomenon of voyage and traveling .
Because of this, to urism on the island differs from other countries where tourism is not
such a constant. Great Britain today is the place where every tourist wants to go, whether he is
passionate about culture, music, history, literature, landscapes or various sports: footb all,
cricket and more .
The United Kingdom certainly has geography suitable for tourism. Because of the
altitude in general, except for the Pennines Mountains, easy fast access is possible to the
island. The archipelago is also surrounded by the North Sea, the Channel and the Atlantic
Ocean, which are also very important tourist attractions especially in the summer holiday
season for tourists around the world.
The Channel tunnel near Dover, which connects with France, is an important link
between the UK and the European continent. The most important cities of the United
Kingdom are: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Leicester and others.
As Gabriela Stănciulescu stated, “the tourist is a pretentious client. In addition, his demand is
diverse and changes in step with the transformations at the level of human society. The tourist
company offers to it many tourist offerings as there are dominant motivations, thus meeting

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

9 the tourist demand through: holiday tourism offer, cultural tourism offer, business tourism
offer and health tourism offer ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 b, 9)
Also, British tourism has evolved greatly in the light of the report between domestic
tourism and foreign tourism. Here, we can discuss tourism that is practiced in all seasons of
the year. England is generally characterized by a tem perate -oceanic climate with warmer
continental influences in the southern region (Southampton and Portsmouth) bearing in mind
that here is the Channel.
Mountain tourism takes place in very good conditions, especially as the altitude in this
archipelago is very low, Ben Nevis, 1343 meters belonging to the Highlands. The same
mountains are made up of several types of rocks; here you can practice various winter sports.
“Here, the United Kingdom combines several types of tourism and manages to
represent a true land of thanks to many lovers of mountain, sea, countryside or other
environment. Another fundamen tal aspect of the English geography is it is linked to the main
rivers of the island that are Thames , Seve n and the Trent. The United Kingdom has a
temperate -oceanic climate with mild winters, moderate summers and precipitation that can
last for more than 10 days a month. T emperature during winter is -10° C and summer
temperatures may rarely exceed 35 ° C” (Nedelea, 2003, 33).
The climate of London is generally mild and humid, although it is not stable this
region is one of the driest of the UK, and the annual rainfall is only 750 mm. The weather is
generally cloudy and rainy in half a year. With an average temperature in the month July 18 °
C, in London the summe r is warmer than in the rest of the British Isle, although heat waves
are not common and do not last long. Th e temperature rarely exceeds 26 ° C. Winters are
relatively mild, and the aver age temperature in January is 4 ° C.
Services contribute to GDP in the most significant proportion, especially the services
of banking, insurance and business consulting. The share of industry continues to decline,
although the United Kingdom remains the most important European armame nts manufacturer,
oil products, computers, televisions and mobile phones. “Tourism also occupies an important
place, with the United Kingdom being the world's sixth most popular tourist destination, with
24 million tourists a year ” (Nedelea, 2003, 33 ).
In other words, we can easily see that today, in th e British archipelago we enjoy
tourism through the excellent cosmopolitan type like that of North ern Europe . Not like in the
past, where the Scandinavian peninsula and/or Jutland, glacier tourism was a big part of the

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

10 summer season's mass tourism. Al so, lately, the mass tourism of the United Kingdom is an
original matter, not a borrowing matter from Central or Eastern Europe. There is a lot of
evidence in this regard that brings tourism English origin in millenary tourism of Celtic
origin. Besides thi s, the presence of numerous geographical forms, from the south to the north
mountains (Ben Nevis peak with 1343 m ) of Great Britain, has the complexity and breadth of
the ability to attract tourists from all over the world.
The most obvious are under the a uspices of island -type tourism, or rather, it is clear
that we are dealing with an archipelago surrounded by three parts of the sea and the ocean
(see the map of the United Kingdom), to the south of the Great Ocean Or the Channel to the
south east, to the North Sea and also to the northeast and to the west with the Atlantic Ocean
or the North Atlantic to the north -east.
The presence of an oceanic climate with influences of continental transition, especially
in the winter season and the spring time also give them a great opportunity to practice various
sports for tourists coming from around the world. “After emerging from a recession in 1992,
the British economy recorded a record: the longest period of economic expansion; during
which this growth has exceeded most Western European countries. However, in 2008, the
global financial crisis hit the economy quite harshly, mainly due to the importance of its
financial sector. The sharp decline in domestic prices, the high consumer debt and the
slowdown the world eco nomy has brought the British economic sector into many
shortcomings, pushing the economy into recession by the end of the second half of 2008, and
causing the Brown government at that time to implement a series of measures to stimulate the
economy and stab ilize financial markets; Including the nationalization of parts of the banking
system, the reduction of taxes and duties, the suspension of public sector loan rules and the
advancement of public spending on capital projects ” (http://www.scientia.ro ).
Also related to British tourism, we have to put together the economic environment that
is “a great trading power and a strong financial center, it is the third largest economy in
Europe, after Germany and France. Over the last two decades, the government has privatized
much of its public property and has mastered the growth of social assistance programs.
Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized and efficient according to European standards,
producing 60% of the food dem and with less than 2% of the force for work. The United
Kingdom has large coal, gas and oil resources but has a decrease in natural gas and oil, and
the UK has become a net energy importer in 2005. Services, especially banking, Insurance,

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

11 and business – accounts for the bulk of the proceeds in GDP while industry continues to
decline ” (http://www.scientia.ro ).
Because of this, in British tourism but also the political and administrative center, the
most important city is London. The capital city is located in the south -eastern part of the
island. London is home to numerous institutions and corporations of global importance; Many
important buildings: palaces, museums, theaters, concert halls, airports, railway stations,
numerous embassies and consulates. The Westminster (Palace and Abbey) and St. Margaret's
Church in London were listed on the UNESCO Heritage List in 1987. The symbol of London
is ‘Big Ben ’, the clock tower of the Parliament Palace, built in the nineteenth century in neo –
gothic style. Although Big Ben is the name given to the bell and not the tower/clock itself,
this is what it has come to be known as.

Figure 5 . The Westminster

London is also not only the core of English administration and culture, but a lso the
business center where the most important banking operations are taking place, being one of
the most important business centers in Europe and the world. With a population of more than
7 million, this includes the metropolitan area; certainly London is a centre, a true fortress of
British civilization.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

12 “The existence of major buildings and monuments in the metropolis encompasses
London in the top most prestigious capitals in the world. Of these buildings and important
vestiges we mention: 1 Canada Squ are, Bank of England, Millennium Dome, Buckingham
Palace, Westminster Palace, which is in fact the Parliament of England, Royal Albert Hall,
BT Tower and Cleopatra's Arch. Besides these representative buildings that delight tourists,
the UK has an impressi ve feature of numerous events organized for charitable purposes or to
encourage tourists to visit it ” (Nistoreanu, 2002, 22)
Being stable, ancient tourism in the UK is a fundamental branch of the economy.
Cambridge The cradle of the second British universi ty, Cambridge has opened its doors to
students since the 13th century. As a sign of gratitude, each generation of architec ts built a
group of buildings representing the spirit of the epoch, so that here are the most beautiful
edifices all over England. “The greatest of the colleges of the complex, Trinity College, was
founded by Henry VIII in 1546. It is remarked by the beauti ful 17th -century courtyard with a
splendid library designed by Christopher Wren. Above the massive gate of the goalkeeper is
Great To m, a large clock that announces the sound of the passing of each hour and which you
may have admired without know ing in the movie Chariots of Fire. Among the college students
are Prince Charles, who attended it in the 1960s ” ( Nistoreanu, 2002, 22).
Englan d has a vast and influential culture that includes both old and new elements.
Modern culture of England is sometimes difficult to identify and difficult to separate from the
culture of the whole of the United Kingdom because its nations are so intertwined. However,
traditional and historical English culture remains distinct from substantial regional
differences.
The English Legacy is a governmental body with a wide remittance of historical sites,
artifacts and environs of England. The British Museum of Lond on, British Library and the
National Gallery contain the most beautiful collections in the world.
More than a university center, Oxford is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
“Excellently preserved, this is a conglomerate of narrow alleys, house s built from stone –
colored honey and guarded by statues representing fantastic animals. The complex University
includes 40 independent colleges, the oldest of them (and all over the country) being set up in
1200. Also here is the Bodleian Library, one of t he first libraries of its kind in the world,
which opened its doors in 1602. Its shelves are sheltered about 5 million rare books,
including a collection of very valuable manuscripts ” (Nistoreanu, 2002, 22).

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

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Figure 6 . Oxford City
Source: https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk

“Much of England is hilly, gen erally mountainous in the north with a chain of
mountains not too high, the Pennines Mountains, which divide the western east. Other hilly
areas in North and Midlands are The Lake District, North York Moors (North York Swamps)
and Peak District. The approx imate line of demarcation between land types are often
indicated by the Tees -Exe line. To the south of this line theres stretched flat land, including
East Anglia and the Fens, hilly areas including the Cotswolds, the Chilterns and the North
and South Down s” (Bran, 1998, 17).
Taking into account the geographical and tourist area of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland , Northern Ireland's tourist offer as a whole , is fueled by tourist
production through products specific to each component of the offer. These products, varied
and elaborated, involve a heterogeneous and complex natur e of tourism production. As this
development progresses the t ourism phenomenon, tourist production records a division of
labor, a specialization high on several specific activities compartments. All these categories of
activities mean their tourism makes for an excellent tourist area.
British tourist attractions can cause tourists to visit some areas or to prepare holidays
in certain regions of England, plan them as they please, and then stay in the right place,
usually following the quality -price ratio. The first category is represented by the natural
attractions, as mentioned above, the attractions that revert to the forms of geography, fauna,
flora on the one ha nd, and on the other hand refer to those historical or anthropic attra ctions,
where they are included , Cathedrals, vestiges, historical buildings, ancient monuments and

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

14 others. The other category refers to the culture itself, represented by language, music ,
folklore , dances, gastronomy etc.
A great variety of accommodation types are within easy reach of the modern tourist
who wants to visit the UK. They could be classified in hotels, motels, different vacation
homes, caravans, but with the indication that t hey are determined by the geographic position
and the cultural spectrum the tourist wishes to experience .
In other words, “the first concern of the private sector in tourism development is
making profit. The nature and expansion of the private sector is in fluenced by profit, the
diversity of forms of tourism and its complex geographic nature. Attention is often attributed
to larger and more visible operators and agencies, namely multinational hotel chains and
airlines, a multitude of small and medium scale operators, especially in the areas of
attractions or aux iliary services ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 b, 17).
So there is a predisposition for mass tourism that is practiced around the world, but in
the UK we can notice that the supply is well above the average of other developed or
developing countries. Bid -to-price binomial is also a fun damental element in the profits of
tourism companies. Nowadays, we can also discuss tourism in the United Kingdom, where
there are many vestiges, monuments, cathedrals, even in the urban centers of cities such as
London, Norwich, Liverpool, Newcastle and a lso rural tourism w hich are included in natural
tourism.
The most constant forms of modern tourism contain natural elements and human
elements made by man. Such a vestige is the famous Stonehenge, which is probably the most
prehistoric monument in England. It is not known exactly when it was built or by whom. A
well-known theory has advanced the hypothesis that a population existing in England before
the Roman conquest was built by druids. Modern archeological techniques have shown that
Stonehenge was built at least 1000 years before the druids in 2950 BC, reaching the form we
know today in 1600 BC. The 2008 surveys indicate the construction period as being 2400 –
2200 BC. On December 18, 2011, geologists from the University of Leicester and the
National Museu m of Wales announced the discovery of the exact source of the rock used to
build the complex.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

15

Figure 7. Stonehenge
Source: http://www.english -heritage.org.uk

Researchers identified the source located at 70 meters in Crai g-y-Rhos Felin near Pont
Saeson in northern Pembrokeshire (located 220 km from Stonehenge). "
As expected, Stonehenge is a monument that was built to worship ancient gods. Those
ancient men considered the god to be immortal like the stone while man is mort al like wood.
That is why, a rather small distance away, another monument was built, but this one
reminding us of the condition of the people, or of the British natives in ancient times. From a
certain position the sun is very bright, people thinking it is the deed of a god. They traveled by
a river near Stonehenge, where they prayed again to their god at dusk. At night they were
celebrating.
“The Stonehenge ensemble consists of four concentric c ircles built of stones. The 33 m
outer diameter circle (circle Sarsen) is made up of 30 huge stone blocks (megaliths –
menhire), placed vertically; Today only 17 of these blocks are still standing. Above these
stone blocks, other curved blocks (in the form of a circle arc) were placed as thresholds

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

16 (loudspeakers). In side this outer chain is another circle of smaller blocks of stone. They
enclose a horseshoe arrangement. Built in stone, in the interior of which there is a small stone
tile called the Stone of the Altar ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 b, 17)
Stonehenge has been the s ubject of many theories around its origin, ranging from
Archeology to explanations from mythology or paranormal. Many historians have been
influenced in their explanations by popular supernatural stories. So me legends claim that
Merlin had a giant build th e stone structure for him or that he transported them through magic
from Mount Killaraus to Ireland, w hile others believe the devil was responsible.
But beyond this imposing and famous vestige in southern England, there lay many
others, but we must note th at Stonhenge is the monument that any tourist interested in the
mystery of the past would like to see. It is, in fact, an accomplished element of the
consciousness of the spirit left by the ancient British to modernity and contemporaneity. That
is why the desire of many tourists to visit it is justified. It's not just about the imposing and
romantic scenery, but in essence it's about the sacrifice of the ancient British, the people who
have labored to leave a living proof for posterity.
Otherwise, the thirs t for information, the concern for knowing life, the economy,
tourism and culture of the various peoples will be met in an important proportion by direct
contact with the reality of those who are eager to meet it. Being a traveling tourists will
increasing ly become a complex learning process, both for children and young people, as well
as for mature people.
“Evolution of international tourism in the past and the prospects of its development in
the decades the following are closely related to the detente tha t is recorded in political
relations between states. But the continued growth of the number of those who participate in
tourism activities has, besides important economic consequences, favorable effects without
any exaggeration, that there is an interdepen dence between international collaboration and
the number of international tourists ” (Snak, 1994, 37).
“We live today in a world in which what cannot be measured, cannot be understood.
What cannot be easily under stood cannot be reduced and pre sented in easy sound bites and
tends not to warrant government or media recogn ition. In 2005 as in 1950, althou gh there
has been real progress, such measures of tourism consumption as exist are flawed and widely
recognized as inaccurate. We do not know with any expectation of accuracy how large the
tourism sector in Britain is; we do not know how many peo ple it employs; we do not know the

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

17 many nuances of its impacts on society. There are broad guesstimates, of course, but they
cannot withstand detailed scrutiny at national, regional or local level. The available data
cannot stand u p to Treasury analysis. By contrast, for example, car pro duction is counted at
factory gates and valued at wholesale and retail prices: beef and sheep production can be
counted at farm gates; oil can be measured in barrels or metered in pipelines and so o n. By
its nature tourism consumes the outputs of parts of at least two -dozen di fferent sec -tors of the
economy, including retailing, transport, entertainment, food production, sport and every kind
of recreational activity, and expenditure and investment in capital goods ” (Lickorish, 2012,
16).
But if we are talking about the multiple factors that influence contemporary tourism
we can ’t help but remember the phenomenon of multiculturalism that Br itain, especially
London, has. A phenomenon resulting from globalization and its crystallization. The
organization of British tourism is, at least for the near future, closely linked to the
organization and strategies of the European Union's tourism that i ncludes the free movement
of personnel by means of many modern means of transport.
London is a major international aerospace hub with the world's largest air space for a
city. Approximately 157 million passengers used airports around London in 2016. Eight
airports use the words “London Airport ” on their behalf, but most traffic passes through six
major airports . London Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world for international
traffic and is the main hub of the country's air carrier, British Air ways. In March 2008, the
fifth terminal was opened and the opening of a sixth terminal was considered.
“A similar type of traffic, with the addition of low -cost and short -haul flights, is
handled at London Gatwick Airport. London's Stansted Airport, the ma in access point for
Ryanair and London Luton Airport, mainly serves short -haul low -cost flights. London City
Airport, the smallest and most central airport, is focused on business travelers with a mix of
regular short distance services and business traffic . London Airport Southend is developing
new services in 2009 to expand business traffic and freight services ” (Nistoreanu, 2002, 27 ).
There have been controversies about capacity expansion, such as the construction of a
third runway at Heathrow Airport and the construction of a new airport.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

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Chapter 2
LONDON – COSMOPOLITAN METROPOLIS

The urban agglomeration of London, but its surface is size important for the
classification of the metropolis within the largest capital cities in the world. In this c ase, in
recent years there has been an continuous increase in profits from tourism. Being an important
European capital, London has become more and more sought after by the population of the
extra -European continents.
In this context, we can first discuss the position or ‘the geo’. The London
administration and further, the objectives that are part of the English capital's patrimony.
Also, the metropolis is made up of several subdivisions taken as a whole, giving it the
impression of urban agglomeration (on e of the largest in the world). The Thames River,
which crosses the capital of the United Kingdom, is the central axis of the hydrographic
network with important tributaries. The river is oriented in the West -East direction, providing
permanent access to i ts hydrographic network.

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Figure 8 . Thames river

But “international tourism is the essential component of invisible trade, its an
important factor in the development of the national economies of recipient countries. At the
same time, international touris m, together with the domestic one, also fulfills a multiplier role
in the economic circuit of a country (areas, tourist resorts) ” (Snak, 1994, 57). Although
London was in the process of modernization, the streets were poor, unpaved, and in winter
often imp ractical. Consequently, the fastest way of transport was the Thames, which became a
very crowded maritime artery over the years. The well -known cry "Up the frames!" echoed

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

20 endlessly on the banks of the river. There were noisy barges who gathered on the qua ys,
searching for the harrows to take them from one bank of the river to the other, up or down,
along its tributaries, or even along the subterranean rivers like Fleet and Walbrook which are
now long gone under the London streets which today bear their nam es.
Time has passed, and London has begun to have some in common with Venice.
Terraces of splendid palaces on the bank of the Thames gave way to the river. It was already
fashionable for the nobles to live on the bank of the river, and the palaces of Green wich,
Whitehall and Westminster confirm it with greatness. Hampton Court was the home of many
kings and queens of England, and Windsor Castle, up the river, is now a royal residence.
The boundaries that converge to support this hypothesis are even more obv ious if we
consider the structure of the capital, the urban population, but also the economic and cultural
potential of the area. Also, tourism is an indispensable craftsman for the economy of a giant
city, like London. Besides the official data on the cit y's population, there are other figures that
refer strictly to the flow of tourists entering and leaving the capital, which are also very high.
Once again including London, in this classification, with the largest capital cities in the world.
In the ninete enth century it was the largest and most influential city in the world, the
center of a strong sea empire. Although it is no longer placed among the most populated cities
in the world, London remains one of the major cultural and financial centers.
In folk tradition, the term London applies to a restricted area that was the base location
(called Londinium) and is now part of the metropolitan financial and business district. The
city of London and 32 surrounding suburbs in old London represent an area of 157 9 km2 (610
miles).
“Global tourism demand has been subject to fluctuation in recent years, and as a
tourist des tination has recently had to cope with both the significant forces at play in the
wider environment and radical change in the way that tourism is to be managed across the
UK. The pur pose of this paper is to review the post -disaster destination marketing activity
conducted by Lon don in its attempt to regain its position as a premier destination for
domestic and international visitors, set within the wider context of the devolution of tourism
across the country. A number of the issues arising from Lond on's post -disaster marketing
campaign are identified, and a set of guiding principles for any future such action are
discussed. The p aper concludes that diversifica tion of both the product and market is

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

21 necessary if London is to retain its position as o ne of the world's leading 'iconic' city
destinations ” (Ladkin, Fyall, Fletcher, Shipway , 2013, 95 ).

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

22

Chapter 3
TOURISM IN THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Tourism in the UK capital is a modern tourism based on a large volume of economic,
cultural, psychosocial, demographic and political factors. In the direction of the contin uous
expansion of the international tourism phenomenon there are a series of factors with a long –
lasting character and some conjectural factors with temporary effect. Likewise, factors will
undoubtedly work in the future. Moreover, some of them will have a growing size, which
means that tourism will continue to experience continuous expansion in the future.
“National capitals play a central role in tourism in a globalised world, but their
special qualities – their capitalness – can be elusive. The tourism representation the heart of
capitalness and shapes the ways in which capitals and nations are seen. Capitals appeal to
visitors with accumulations of heritage and cultural assets, as centres of power and as
symbols of national identity, presenting the nation to itself and the outside world.
Globalisation, territorial change and the rise of sub -state nationalisms have seen new cities
becoming national capitals and established capitals significantly changing their roles. Cities
may acquire or aspire to capital status, or hav e to ada pt to a role as a lesser capita – or have
to abandon capital status altogether. In doing so, they revise buildings, spaces and cultural
assets to emphasise their new status and negotiate contested identities. Tourism is integral to
this process as new national symbols are created, existing sites are reinterpreted and
revalorised for visitors, and choices are made about how the nation should be represented to
the outside world and to itself. Tourism representation reveals how tensions between capita ls'
cosmopolitan and distinct national roles are played out, how new versions of the national
story are developed and how capitalness is contingent on particular national experiences ”
(Maitland, 2014 ).

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

23 As far as we can see, looking at the map of London, the capital has a radial -concentric
shape which means that access from the extremities to the centra l area is one that can be done
quite easily. This also results in the easier mobility of the population from north to south into
its centre and / or from inner city to neighboring areas.
The population of London in 2011 was 8,25 million inhabitants, which represents 13%
of the entire population ( 63,2 million) of Great Britain. The populat ion began to decline after
1951 . London has always attracted a large number of immigrants. During the Second World
War, a large number of immigrants turned London into a mu ltinational capital, most of them
being of Asian origin. The second group of immigrants is the black race, mainly from the
African continent, but also from Jamaica ( Snak, 1994, 57 ).
Another important aspect related to London tourism is that of the strong u rban aspect
of the metropolis on the Thames. It is obvious the excessive urbanization that has taken place
in recent years and in this process through which many countries go contributes to the
development of continental tourism and beyond.
Large agglomera tions imposed by modern civilization often create life which is tough
for the man who aspires to space, to the movement, to a return to nature – from where the need
to have a second residence, to make weekend trips, to actively and recreationally use annua l
holidays and other.
Looking further at the dynamics of tourism development, we will see more goals
important in terms of authentic British culture and civilization. London is a city full of
history. The continuous increase in the quality of British touri sm products at the constantly
evolving needs of the domestic and foreign tourism market, the development of the technical
and material tourist base and the related technical infrastructure represent a huge capital for
the successful promotion of London tou rism in tune with the planning of the entire economic
activity And social issues in the United Kingdom.
In the specific conditions of the tourism activity, apart from the aspects of the tourism
quality and besides the characteristic aspects of the spatial dispersion of the tourist flows,
there is also frequent unequal distribution of the demand for services, which in different areas
of tourist interest, with a pronounced concentration of visitors' arrivals during certain periods
of a calendar year and respe ctively the decrease – or sometimes even the stagnation of the
arrival of tourists.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

24 Seasonal variations are one of the main characteristics of modern tourism, tourism
activity is essentially distinguished from other economic activities precisely through th e
variable correlation between the volume of supply and the tourist demand within a calendar
year. In turn, the more or less constant frequency of seasonal variations is causing specific
changes in the economy of tourism, and that is the variations in tour ism revenue. Or this easy
access is due to the good administration and well -being of the local government. In London
there are many cultural and strategic objectives, one of the most important symbols of the
capital is the famous Big Ben
Big Ben is the lar gest bell clock with four faces, and the third clock tower like height
in the world. The first 61 m from the base are made of sandstone -colored Anstone stone –
carved stone. The rest of the tower is iron. The tower is based on a square concrete slab of
15m a nd 3m thick, 4m deep underground. The four sides of the clock stand at a height of
55m. The inner volume of the tower is 4,650 m³.
Although it is one of the most important tourist attractions in the world, the interior of
the tower is not open to foreign v isitors, with only UK citizens able to arrange visits (many
days in advance) through their MP. The tower has no lift, so visitors have to climb all 334
steps to the top.
"Due to the change in the state of the soil from the construction (primarily through t he
construction Jubilee subway line), the tower is slightly inclined to the northwest, with
approximately .
Big Ben weighs 13.7 tonnes, stands 7.2 ft (2.2 metres) tall and has a diameter of 8.9ft
(2.7 metres). The hammer weighs 200kg. It was raised 60m to t he clock tower , an effort that
took 18 hours. It is 2.2 meters high and 2.9 meters wide. This new bell was beaten for the first
time in July 1859. In September it cracked just two mon ths after he entered into use. The
foundry director, George Mears, accuse d Denison of using a hammer more than twice the
specified maximum mass. For three years, Big Ben was stopped and the fixed hour was
beaten by the lowest bell until the bell was reinstalled. For repair, a piece of metal was
extracted from around the crack, and the bell was rotated for the new hammer to hit another
place. The sound of the Big Ben bell has since been called in an unusual way and is still being
used today with cracks.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

25

Figure 9 . Big Ben
Source http://blog.citysocializer.com

But “if tourism is viewed systematically, as a place of origin – destination, then many
of the services and facilities sought by tourists are found at the destination. For this reason,
much of the literature that addresses tourism development is target -oriented, concentrating
on commons such as tourist attractions, accommodation, facilities and local services,
infrastruct ure, transport, inventions ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 b, 13).
In addition to this, London tourism excels in terms of services, the transport network
and access to these infrastructure areas. Also in London there are many sports centers that we
will mention in the next chapter. The great variety and the ensemble of these elements are
progressive constants of the urban center. Being one of the most important European capitals,
there are a lot of ethnicities in London, with the British population being largely British (over
44%, white, celtic, extra -European, Indian, and so on).
Also, in the demographic sphere of the London population, other nationalities are
registered following integration that has been able to represent a significant percentage among
the British pop ulation. But the demographic ratio is very much influenced by the idea of
crescendo tourism, that idea of the evolution of tourism along with the evolution of
telecommunications and means of transport are ways of fluidizing the population. We will

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

26 also dis cuss the mobility of the population in the next chapter, but we must mention that the
population of London is constantly growing.
However, reporting on the dynamics of the growth of the number of investors
enrolling in the British tourism industry, through London's excellence, we have to specify the
mass tourism aspect that is made, especially in North London and the Old Center of London.
We say in North London because here are the most important airports in Europe and beyond.
Heathrow is one of them, recei ving thousands of tourists coming from all over the world
daily. Luton Airport also makes it possible for millions of tourists to enter the archipelago of
Great Britain.
London Heathrow airport is the busiest airport in the world for international traffic,
and is the main hub of the country's air carrier, British Airways. In March 2008, the fifth
terminal was opened and the opening of a sixth terminal was considered. A similar type of
traffic, with the addition of low -cost flights and short -haul flights, is handled at London
Gatwick Airport. London Stansted Airport, the main access point for Ryanair and London
Luton Airport, mainly serves low -cost, short -haul flights. London City Airport, the smallest
and most central airport, is focused on business traveler s with a mix of regular short distance
services and business traffic. London Airport Southend is developing new services in 2009 to
expand business traffic and freight services. There have been controversies about capacity
expansion, such as the constructi on of a third runway at Heathrow Airport and the
construction of a new airport.

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27

Figure 10 . Airports map of London
Source: https://blog.privatefly.com/

Also regarding the dynamics of London tourism, analyzing in recent years, the flow of
tourists continents we can see an increase. And not just for the prestigious medieval
monuments such as Don caster, London or Norwich, as well as the natural ones we have
mentioned before.
But “besides providing these basic services, tourists require a wide range of ancillary
services. It is the case for shops, some specialized in the sale of tourist products, such as
souvenir shops or sporting goods and others that offer a range of general purpose products
such as pharmaci es, grocery stores or clothing ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 b, 13).
In this context, these ancillary applications can not be found in London, though th e
English capital is the UK's most important urban center. We will further demonstrate that the
British London cosmopolitan metropolis is in a continuous development and expansion both
in the northern region and in the other surrounding areas. But from a h istorical point of view,

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

28 tourism development has been associated with the development of all other areas: transport,
economy, services and others.
Also, the area of education is a very important element with regard to the British
metropolis. In London there are over 350,000 students, the capital being a very important
research and development center of Europe and even the whole world. London Unive rsity is
the largest university with contact with teachers teaching in the UK and Europe. It is made up
of 20 colleges, as well as several small institutions, each with a high degree of autonomy.
But tourism is one of the most important industries of the U nited Kingdom; 900,000
people worked in this area in 2014 in London alone (400,000 main and second jobs in
accommodation and food and beverage serving activities and 500,000 main and second jobs
in passenger transport, culture, sport and recreation service s) (Annual Population Survey,
2013 -2014 ). From here, we can easily see this dynamic mechanism, which greatly raises the
economy of the metropolis, involving hundreds of thousands of people. Not by accident these
figures give an incredible coefficient to th e business and tourism environment.
On the other hand, what we call the discovery of a country by tourists often confines
itself to checking the various aspects of living, traveling, leisure. These elements are leverage
through excellence essential with on the tourism field, being in fact determinants of it.
“As the tourist phenomenon develops, London's tourist production records a division
of labor, a high specialization, on segments of tourism activities. All these categories of
tourist activities represe nt the tourism industry. More explicitly, London's tourism industry
includes a wide variety of businesses that pursue a single goal: providing the necessary and
desirable products and services ” (Stănciulescu , 2003 a, 9).

3.1. TOURISM DIVISION OF LONDON

As for the tourist divisions of London, the metropolis is divided into several parts . The
City of London ( “London City ”) is the historic city center, and at the same time , the UK's
most important financial district. It is managed by the London Corporation, headed by Lord
Mayor of London. The city owns its own police unit separate from the Metropolitan Police.
The city's permanent population is only 7,000 inhabitants, but over 300,000 people work h ere.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

29 The quality of the cit y's financial center began to dilute in recent years, with the inauguration
in Docklands in the east of the city, a Canary Wharf complex.

Figure 11. View above Canary Wharf

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

30 West End ( “The West End ” – the old town) is London's commercial and entertainment
district. Trafalgar Square is the most important objective. Oxford Street is one of the most
famous shopping streets, which has numerous Famous su permarkets (Selfigries, John Lew is,
Marks and Spencer) Another famous street is T ottenham Court Road, for electronic stores,
computers and musical instruments. To the south of Oxford Street's eastern end is Soho,
London's bohemian neighborhood, full of cafes, pubs, clubs and sex shops. City and West
End form the center of London ( “Cent ral London ”).
In West London, there are luxury residential districts such as Notting Hill,
Kensington, Chelsea, parks such as Richmond (the largest in London), and sports arenas like
Twickenham, the home stadium of the English national rugby team. In White City theres the
headquarters of the BBC, and far west to Hillingdon is Heathrow Airport .
“The East of the City was the center of the London industry in the nineteenth century.
The German 1940s bombing, combined, since the 1950s, with the decline of the Lo ndon
Harbor and the move of industry outside the city, led to the abandonment of the numerous
buildings and lands, and a look of the generally desolate area. The organization of the 2012
Olympics in East London will provide an opportunity for regeneration and growth the
attractiveness of the Docklands area, the Old Port area of London, was a successful
experiment regeneration ” (Neacș u, 2002, 44).
South London hosts various districts, such as Wimbledon with the Park and Tennis
Courts on which the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is organized, as well as Brixton,
Peckham and Camberwell, where important African -American communities emigr ated in the
1950s – '70 from the Caribbean. The tournament takes place over two weeks at the end of June
and early July. The main arenas of The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club are
Centre Court with a capac ity of 15,000 seats and the Court number 1 with about 11 thousand
seats. Since 2009, the Central Court has been equipped with a retractable roof and a nocturnal
installation, with matches taking place both in rain and extreme heat. The roof closes / opens
in about 10 minutes. In the so uthern part of the Centre Court there is the Royal Box .
At the eastern extremity, on the bank of the Thames, there is Greenwich, where the
park with the same name The Royal Observatory of Greenwich that marks the zero meridian
of the world.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

31

Figure 12 . The Royal Observatory of Greenwich
Source: https://www.royalparks.org.uk

The north of the city is a more hilly region; many of the hills offer excellent views of
the city. The famous suburbs are Islington, host of Arsenal FC, Highgate, Camden,
Hampstead, Tottenham, Ha rringay.
Greater London is divided into 32 boroughs plus The City. Burgards are responsible
for most communal services in the areas they contain. "City" is not run by an ordinary local
council, but by the London Corporation.
“Burgards are coordinated by th e Greater London Authority, GLA); it responds to
city-wide municipal services such as police, firefighters, or transport. GLA is represented by
the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The mayor is elected by the additional voting
procedure (each voter indicates two candidates in order of preference) and the members of
the Assembly are elected by a mixed voting system first -past-the-post and voting on lists ”
(Nedelea, 2003, 54).
The current mayor of London (elected in May 2016) is Sadiq Khan, a 45 -year-old
laborer son of Pakistani immigrants, the first mayor of a Western capital.
For those who are in the tracks of the “timplock house ”, the meridian that sets the tone
of the planet's coordinates, but also the richness of maritime history, Greenwich is the place to
visit. Most of the attractions of the world heritage site deserve to be explored and the rich
variety of shops and restaurants worth trying over a stay for several days here. It's all found in

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

32 a relatively small ra dius at a walk able distance , the discovery of every corner of Greenwich is
a real pleasure.

Figure 13 . Univeristy of Greenwich

“The London Borough of Greenwich is multicultural and ethnically diverse It is also
one of the most deprived Boroughs in the country. It has a distinctive tourism product, largely
in the shape of the World Heritage Site, which consists of composite heritage attrac tions.
Place promotion is mainly based on its image as the 'Home of Time', as well as its maritime
past, which is inextricably linked to the theme of time. However, Greenwich has more recently
promoted other, often more co ntemporary and arts -based att ractions and events, such as the
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF), Black History Month and the
Greenwich Film Festival ” (Smith and Forest , 2012 , 143).

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

33

Figure 14 . Greenwich

Figure 15 . Greenwich Park

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

34

Figure 1 6. Ramdom picture in Greenwich

First of all, it is important to know that Greenwich is a cultural patrimony of the
world. The set of buildings here, as well as the natural setting in which they are arranged,
including The Royal Park is a powerful architect ural symbol of artistic and scientific
development of the English from the period between the 17th and 19th centurie s. Currently,
the museum hosts the beautiful collection of artistic objects, offering a special festive setting
for weddings and weddings di fferent events. Also, the Old Royal Naval College built mainly
by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, is a faithful expression of the Baroque
architectural style, with English influences.
Greenwich Park or Royal Park is a place that has been used as a settlement since the
time of the Roman Empire, becoming what it is today with the entrance of the territory under
the brotherhood of Henry V, when the monarchs loved and cared for them especially by this
park. With a surface of over five hectares, wea ning enfolds a lot of green space populated by
deer, foxes and various bird species.
Being England's oldest closed park, Greenwich Park is located on a hillside with
impressive views across London, along the Thames River, to the famous Canary Warf

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

35 District , the O2 international arena and beyond. Besides the greenery, the park hosts beautiful
flower gardens, perfectly trimmed lawns, a lake for boat rides and a large playground for
children.
“The Royal Observatory, located in the very heart of Greenwich Park, was the first
scientific -purpose building specifically built to serve this purpose. The Observatory was
founded as a scientific institution for navigation research in 1675 by Charles II. For 250
years, this observer has been the national research center i n astronomy, time regulation and
solar and magnetic events. Its navigational and temporal role led to the establishment of the
Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude), accepted as the World's First Meridian in 1884.
Watches developed by John Harrison to d etermine longitude at sea are among the most
valued possessions of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Blended by him is Peter Harrison
Planetarium, an artwork built in a new contemporary architecture building where the largest
refraction telescope in the who le of the United Kingdom is hosted ” (Nedelea, 2003, 66).
Greenwich is only 20 minutes away from the center of London, in Zone 2 of the
London tourist network. It is easily reach ed here by boat on the River Thames, light rail
(DLR), by train or by bus. It is not recommended to visit the area with a personal or rented car
because parking is limited.
“Built on Tudor's p alace, where Henry VIII and Eliz abeth I were born, the Old Royal
Naval College is one of the finest British examples of Baroque establishment. It was designed
by some of the greatest architects of the era, including Wren, Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh. The
beautiful Chapel, with its magnificent Painted Wall, where Lord Nelson 's body was deposited
following his death during the Battle of Trafalgar, is open daily to the public for sightseeing ”
(Nedelea, 2003, 44).
The Cutty Sark was the most cramped ship of her time, launched in 1869 in Scotland,
and initially sailed on the China tea route. Later, she brought the wool from Australia. Since
1954, the ship has been on a platform docked in Greenwich and was inaccessible to the public
to carry out restoratio n and preservation work and was viewable in time for the Oly mpic and
Paralympics Games held in 2012 .
The place where the tortured martyr Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered
by the predatory Vikings at the beginning of the second millennium, sinc e 1012 was a church.
The worship of this place, the third one built here, was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor,

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

36 who had his apprenticeship under Sir Christopher Wren, working with him at the Old Royal
Naval College.
The famous collection of Renaissance artef acts, as well as ancient furniture and
Georgian paintings gathered by Sir Julius Wenher, are displayed in the Rangers House, once
owned by the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield. Sir Julius, founder of De Beers, one of the largest
mining companies in the world, m ade his fortune in South African diamond mines at the end
of the 19th century.
Greenwich is also home to the fanciful Museum of Fans, the only one in the world
dedicated to art and fan production. Exceptional examples, dating back to the 17th and 18th
centuries, of this elegant accessory, are displayed for viewing in the museum housed in two
Georgian houses. Hosting more than 3,500 fans, this museum is an artistic gem.

Figure 1 7. Maritime Museum

In Eltham Palace, visitors can sink into the Art Deco decade of the 1930s, just a few
miles from the center of Greenwich. Built by the wealthy Cou rtauld family right next to the
remains of Henry VIII's early childhood, the palace is one of the finest examples of Art Deco

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

37 architecture in England. The stunning lobby, the splendid living room, the luxurious
bedrooms and the magnificent Great Hall are j ust some of the palaces' splendors. Surrounded
by charming gardens, the place is perfect for a day's walk. Also at a small distance from
Greenwich is Well Hall Pleasance , Eltham, a paradise of gardens, ponds and paddocks, dating
from the 13th century, the Charlton House, one of the finest specimens of the Jacob's
domestic architecture in England, the Royal Museum Artillery, Greenwich Greenland
Ecologist Park, near the O2 arena and made up of an indoor lake and an outdoor home, home
of a fascinating variety of living animals, and the Thames Barrier, one of the world's largest
mobile dikes.
“The cinemas are not missing in Greenwich – the most prolific is Cineworld in the O2
Arena, a multiplex with 11 halls, the largest of which offers 770 seats and the largest screen
in London. Greenwich Picture House and Odeon are also very good choices. Two big
engagement clubs in Greenwich are Up the Creek and O2. The first one is one of London's
biggest comedy clubs, where shows are held every weekend, followed by dance nig hts until
dawn. O2 is a colossal and spectacular club, unfortunately presently closed ” (Nedelea, 2003,
75).

Figure 18 . O2 Arena
Source : https://www.claytoncrownhotel.com/

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

38

3.2. THE CENTRE OF CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION IN ENGLAND

Cultural events taking place annually show a great interest in the art of the London
inhabitants. The best known of the classical music festivals is the Henry Wood Promenade
Concerts, which takes place in the Royal Albert Hall from July to October September, and has
been a tradition of London for hundr eds of years. London Film Festival, what's happening in
cinemas in the city in November, shows the best movies from all over the world. One of the
biggest public events is Notting Hill Carnival , which takes place every year in the last week of
August. This festival of the original Caribbean street is inspired by the dancing parties in
those places in the 1950s. The most appealing element of these parades is the costumes. Over
1 million people attend each year.
Among many London buildings, we can easily find many green spaces, specially
designed for parks, sports or playgrounds. The largest green space in central London is Hyde
Park, along with its e xtension to Kensington Gardens.
The Serpentine Lake, which separates these two units, is designe d for swimming and
boat racing.

Figure 19. Serpentine Lake
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Serpentine

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

39 In the east, two other parks, the Royal Park , Green Park and St. James Park provide a
stretch of greenery ending in front of the Westminster Cathedral. Other major parks include
Battersea Park, which provides activities for children, Hampstead Heath with its grass and
forest surfaces, and Regent's Park where the London Zoo i s located.
Sport occupies an important place in the recreation activities of London citizens. The
most famous being the Wembley Stadium, where matches take place between the two major
teams of London: Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Figure 20. Hyde Park
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Picadilly Circus is the center of London. Five avenu es intersect here. At night, the
billboards are enlightened, containing advertisements for England -specific brands:
McDonalds, Samsung, Coca -Cola, Fosters.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

40

Figure 21 . Piccadilly circus
Source: http://www.visitlondon.com/

Trafalgar Square, one of London's most important tourist points, was arranged
between 1829 and 1841 to commemorate Nelson's victory in the battle of the same name in
1805. In the center of the market is a gigantic column surrounded by four giant lions in
bronze.

Figure 2 2. Trafalgar Square
Source: https://www.london.gov.uk

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

41 St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and the works began nine
years after the medieval cathedral burnt during the Great Fire. The cathedral has been heavily
restored in recent years. The exterior was cleaned, and the stained glasses heavily affected by
wartime bombs were replaced with plain windows (as specified in W ren's project).

Figure 2 3. St. Paul's Cathedral

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

42 In this cathedral you can climb up t o the Whispers Gallery, where a whisper is heard
from any part of the dome; then in the Piatra Gallery where you can admire a beautiful
panorama of the city, and the Golden Gallery is at the top of the dome.
Buckingham Palace has been the home of the royal family since Queen's reign of
Victoria. It was originally built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham (where the name comes
from). It was then rearranged by Nash for George IV but did not receive the present facade
until 1913.

Figure 24 . Buckingham Palace
Source: http://www.visitlondon.com/

Every day in the summer, people gather in front of the palace to look at the change of
guard from 11:30 AM.
Westminster Abbey is London's most beautiful Gothic cathedral and it was built by
the priest Eduard in the 11th century. All coronations took place here, beginning w ith
Wilhelm the Conqueror. And most of England 's monarchs, from Henry II to George II, were
buried here.
Also in this cathedral can be found the Corner o f Poets, where many of the native
poets were buried, and the tomb of the unknown hero was also here.

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43

Figure 2 5. Westminster Abbey

Shopping is affordable and something fun to do in Greenwi ch – you can go anywhere
and easily enjoy the fascinating combination of the historic Greenwich Square and eccentric
fashion stores, alongside the popular modern Clocktower market, opened only on weekends.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

44 Greenwich is a place where tourists can find vinta ge clothing, clothes signed by famous
designers, shoe shops, books, art, CDs, furniture, gift shops, delicacies and food of any kind.
Most shops are open here from 10 am until afternoon, including Saturday, Sunday and even
on holidays.

Figure 2 6. Greenwich Shopping Street

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

45 Whether visitors are in Greenwich with business, whether they are h ere for pleasure,
they are recommended to explore all the beauties of this place. Although located a short
distance from central London, the British capital's district has a village atmosphere and offers
comfortable and affordable accommodation for the mos t important British city. In Greenwich,
accommodations include chic hotels and hostels, all within easy reach of shops, restaurants,
bars, sights and other attractions.
“Greenwich has played a key role in Britain's maritime power story for over 400
years, and today, its museums celebrate this great history. These attributes, closely related to
the Tudors and Stuarts, give Greenwich a symbolic identity without rivalry. The history of the
settlement is closely linked to that of the Thames, the Park and the Ro yal Marine Hospital.
Populated by veterans of the sea and t hose working on the River , Greenwich was an
eminently "ma ritime" spot. A nd a popular place to escape quiet for Londoners. And the
position in the vicinity of the Thames was always the key to the pr osperity of the town ”
(Minciu , Stănciulescu și Ionica , 1997, 57).

3.3. EONOMIC CENTRE OF BRITIAN

The United Kingdom ranks sixth among the world's powers. The colonies it disposed
of for centuries (Australia, India, Canada, South Africa) have provided the raw material for
various manufacturing industries; The fact that it has been a great naval power since ancient
times has helped it a lot in economic development. Hi gh-flow r ivers have boosted the
construction of hydroelectric power plants in Scotland and Wales.
“London is a huge engine of the world economy. London has produced $ 365 billion in
2004, and the entire London metropolitan area has produced about 20 percent of the U K's
GDP. The city is London's largest financial center, hosting banks, securities companies,
insurance compan ies, law firms, or accounting ” (Cosmescu, 1997 , 44).
A second financial distr ict is growing in Canary Wharf, east of the central area; its less
than the City, but not less prestigious, for example hosting the headquarters of HSBC. More
than half of the top 100 UK firms have their headquarters in central London and more than
70% in the London metropolitan area . 31% of the world's monetary transactions take place in

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

46 London; it is here that more dollars are sold and bought than in New York and more euros
than in all the other E uropean cities taken together.
Tourism is one of the UK's most important industries; over 350 thousand people
worked in business in 2003 in London alone . Though the port of London is now only the third
in the UK – and not the first in the world, as it once was – it is still transiting 50 million tons of
cargo pe r year. The docks are now at Tilbury, outside of the Great London.
“The United Kingdom became, in 2007, the largest exporter of military equipment in
the world. The United Kingdom gained £ 10 billion in arms exports in 2007, holding a 33%
share of global ar ms exports, over the US share ” (Radu , 1994, 76).

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

47

Chapter 4
SPORT TOURISM IN LONDON

In London, sport as a tourism is expected to be at home. In England there are over
7,000 teams pa rticipating in 24 leagues divided into over 480 groups (series). Only the first 5
leagues are held nationwide, the rest are divided into two or more groups (except Leagues 22,
23 and 24, which are held only in Bristol on geographical criteria.) This list o nly shows the
clubs participating in the top 5 leagues in the 2008 -2009 season: Prem ier League, Football
League Cham pionship, Football League 1, Football League 2, Conference national.
Modern sports have been systematized in England during the 19th century , including
cricket, rugby union and rugby, football, tennis and badminton. Of these, the football, cricket
and rugby association remain the country's most popular sports.
England's national football team is ranked 15th by FIFA and 8th by Elo, and won the
1966 World Cup in England . Since then they have not managed to win a final at any major
international s porting competition, although they reached the semi -finals of the World Cup in
1990, in the quarterfinals in 2002 and 2006 and Euro 2004.
The National Ru gby Team of England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup and finished
second in 2007. Rugby clubs such as Leicester Tigers, London Wasps and Northampton
Saints w ere successful in the Heineken Cup Europe. The England rugby league team is
considered by the League of Rugby 3rd place in the world and the first in Europe . They took
part in 3 World Cups finishing second in 1975 and 1995, the last being the host. In 2008 they
played for the World Cup in Australia.
The England Football League is organized by The Football A ssociation the institution
that manages English football, and represents England (not the UK as a whole) in
international football competitions such as the World Cup and the European Football
Championship. As CIOs do not accept representative regional sele ctions, the United Kingdom

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

48 is no longer taking part in the Olympics football tournament. In 1900, 1908 and 1912, when
they participated with a national selector at the Olympic Games, the United Kingdom won
three gold medals.

Figure 27 . Charlton Stadium (The Valley)

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was founded in 1868 under the name
All England Croquet Club. In 1875 a tennis court was added to the grass, and the name of the
club was changed, adding ‘And Lawn Tennis ’. In the spring of 1877, the first tennis
championship was held, the only category in which the contestants were mal e. 22 players
signed up, each paying a guinee to participate. Victoria returned to Spencer Gore, a 27 -year-
old Surrey cricket player. In the final, he defeated William Marshall in three sets, scoring 6 -1,
6-2, 6-4, in just 48 minutes. Gore received the 12t h Guinea Prize and a Silv er Cup by The
Field magazine. A round 200 people paid a shilling to follow the final. The game was held on
Thursday as a cricket game kicked off on Friday. The following year, Gore was to be defeated
in Frank Hadow's last act.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

49 In 18 82, the name Croquet was excluded from the title of the club, because this sport
is no longer practiced here, the complex becoming just a tennis destination. In 1889, the name
of the sports base became the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, only for
sentimental reasons.
Since 1884, tennis tournaments for girls and double s for men have been added. In
1913, th e first doubles and mixed doubles competitions took place. Until 1922, the winner of
the tournament was automatically qualified in the final of t he next edition. In 1937 the first
edition of the Championships took place. Like the other Big Shlem tournaments, the
Wimbledon tournament was intended for amateurs only, until 1968 with the opening of the
Era Open in tennis.

Figure 28. Wimbledon Courts
Source: http://www.tenniscourtsmap.com

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

50

4.1. FROM OLD WEMBLEY TO NE W WEMBLEY

The new Wembley Stadium in London is, after Camp Nou in Barcelona, the second
largest stadium in Europe and hosts the national team of England. It also hosts the League
Cup finals, the FA Cup and the C ommunity Shield. Wembley Stadium has a capa city of
90,000 seats. The Wembley Stadium replaced the old stadium with the same name, built in
1923 and the host of many memorable matches, considered the "football home" to the world.
The new stadium will have to meet the standards imposed by the old are na, a hard -to-see
reputation. The original Wembley was demolished in 2003, after which the construction of the
new stadium began. After a few delays, postponing his two -year inauguration, Wembley was
finalized in 2007.

Figure 29 . Old Wembley
Source: http://www.footballgroundguide.com/

The W embley Stadium officially opened on May 19, 2007, hosting the FA final Cup
between Chelsea a nd Manchester United (score 1 -0). Before this major match for British
football, several other official and friendly matches took place here, starting with the friendly

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

51 match between England and Italy f or footballers under the age of 21. The stadium was
designed by Foster & amp; Partner and Populous , and its costs are estimated at 757 million
pounds. The most prominent feature of the arena is the 133 -meter -high arch, which, along
with its 315 -meter stret ch, is the longest roof struc ture in the world. The record s continue with
the 52 -meter retractable roof. Even if the roof does not fully cover the playing field, it
manages to keep the rain out of all places in the stands, Wembley has the largest roof in t he
world. Wembley hosted the 2011 Champions League final between Barcelona and
Manc hester United (score 3 -1) and was the host of the 2013 Finals at the 150th anniversary of
the English Football Federation.
The Wembley Stadium is located in the northwest pa rt of London, about 10 km from
Paddington Station, 11 km from Marylebone Station and 12 km from Kings Cross St. Pancras
and Euston. The stadium is served by trains coming from Marylebone Station. The trip to
Wembley takes about 8 minutes. Wembley Park Unde rground Station is a 5 -minute walk
from the stadium and is on the Metropolitan and Jubilee Metro lines. Both lines connect the
London downtown arena, with the Metropolitan Line having fewer stops. The stadium is also
10 to 15 minutes' walk from Wembley Cen tral Underground Station, located on the Bakerloo
Metro Line, also serving the Overground subway.
Alternatively, Wembley Stadium can be reached via bus lines 18, 83, 92 and 224,
connecting with other local destinations as well as other parts of the city. I t is advisable not to
go by car on the day of the match unless you have booked a parking space in advance. In days
when there are no matches, the stadium can be accessed via the A406, which connects with
the M1, a little further north. Exit A406 to the sta dium are marked accordingly. From central
London, the stadium can be accessed by driving Harrow Road (A404) in the northwest
direction. Harrow Road is separated from the A40 near Paddington Station. At Wembley
Station, turn right onto Wembley Hill Road to get to the stadium (follow signs).
The Wembley Stadium boasts several indoor tours including the changing rooms, the
room dedicated to the press, the famous tunnel leading the players on the grass and the royal
box. The tour takes about 75 minutes and is o ffered every day of the week between 10:00 and
16:00. There are days when, depending on the number of visitors, they can be organized more
often. It is not available on match days and in some of the important legal holidays.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

52

Figure 30. New Wembley. Fa Community Shield final 2017. Chelsea -Arsenal

Stays are also available, depending on avai lability. The tickets can be booked online or
by calling +44 (0) 844.8 00.2755. The full tour costs 15 pounds.
For more information on booking tickets to visit the Stadium Wembley in London,
you c an send an email to: tours (at)wembleystadium.com.

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

53

CONCLUSION

So, UK tourism, especially London, offers us a wide range of historical sights,
monuments, important buildings, stadiums etc. that we can visit whenever we want to. As I
have mentioned in my work, London tourism is one of the main fact ors in the British
economy.
Here, the UK combines several types of tourism to represent one real land of thanks to
many lovers of mountai n, sea, fields or other geography . Another fundamen tal aspect of the
English geography is linked to the main rivers in the island that are Thames, Severn and
Trent.
In other words, we can easily see that today, in the British archipelago we enjoy a
tourism through the excellent cosmopolitan type of the North -European type. Not like in the
past, where the Scandinavian penin sula and / or Jutland, glacier tourism was a big part of the
mass tourism of the summer season. Also, lately, mass tourism in the United Kingdom is an
original matter, not a loan from central or eastern Europe. There is a lot of evidence in this
regard tha t brings English tourism to the Celtic millenary tourism. Besides this, the presence
of many forms of geography , from the southe rn fields to the northern mountains, Great
Britain has the complexity and breadth of the ability to attract tourists around the world.
The most obvious aspects lie under the auspices of island -type tourists , or rather, it is
clear that we are dealing with an archipelago surrounded by three parts of the sea and the
ocean (see the map of the United Kingdom), to the south adjacent to t he Great Ocean or The
Channel to the east with the North Sea and also to the north -east and to the west with the
Atlantic Ocean or the North Atlantic to the north -east.
England has a vast and influential culture that includes bot h old and new elements.
Modern English culture is sometimes difficult to identify and difficult to separate from the
culture of the whole of the United Kingdom because its nations are so intertwined. However,

Raul Adrian PÎNCOTAN – London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan and Centre of European Tourism

54 traditional and historical English culture rema ins distinct from substantial regional
differences.
The English Legacy is a governmental body with a wide remittance of sites historical,
artifacts and environs of England .
Being stable, ancient tourism in the UK is a fundamental branch of the economy.
Cambridge The cradle of the second British university, Cambridge has opened its doors to
students since the 13th century. As a sign of gratitude, each generation of architects raised
here a group of buildings representing the spirit of the epoch, so that her e are the most
beautiful edifices all over England. "The largest college of the complex, Trinity College, was
founded by Henry VIII in 1546.

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55

REFERENCES

BRAN Florina, 1998, Economia turismului și mediul înconjurător , Editura Economică, București ;
COSMESCU Ioan, 1997, Turismul -Fenomen complex contemporan , Editura Economi că, București;
LADKIN Adele, FYALL Alan, FLETCHER John, SHIPWAY Richard, 2013, London Tourism: A 'Pos t-Diaster'
Marketing Response , în Noel Scott, Eric Laws, Bruce Prideaux (editori) , Safety and Security in Tourism:
Recovery Marketing After Crises, Routledge, Abingdon;
LICKORISH J. Leonard, 2012, British Tourism, Taylor & Francis, Oxford;
MAITLAND Robert, 2014 , Capitelness is contingent : tourism and national capitals in a globalised world , în
Maitland Robert (editor ) Tourism in National Capitals and Global Change , Routledge, Abingdon ;
MINCIU Rodica, STĂNCIULESCU Gabriela , IONICA Maria , 1997, Economia serviciilor , Editura Uranus
Bucureș ti;
NEACȘU Nicolae, 2002, Economia turismului , Studiu de caz – Reglementari , Editura Uranus , București;
NEDELEA Alexandru, 2003, Piața turistică , Editura Didactică și Pedagogică, București ;
NEDELEA Alexandru, 2003, Politici de marketing î n turism , Editura Economică, Bucureș ti;
NISTOREANU Puiu, 2002, Management în turism , Editura ASE, București
RADU Emilian, 1994, Managementul serviciilor , Univ. Creștină Dimitrie Cantemir, București ;
SMITH Melanie, FOREST Karhrin, 2006, Enhancing Vitality or Compromising Integrity? Festivals, Tourism
and Complexities of Performing Culture , în Picard Davis , Robinson Mike ( edtori ) Festivals, Tourism and
Social Change: Remaking Worlds , Channel View Publications , Toronto;
SNAK Os car, 1994, Managementul serviciilor în turism , Academia Romană de Management, București ;
STĂNCIULESCU Gabriela , 2003 a, Managementul agen ției de turism , Editura ALL BECK Bucureș ti;
STĂNCIULESCU Gabriela, 2003 b, Managementul operaț iunilor de turism , Editura ALL BECK, București ;
STĂNCIULESCU Gabriela, ȚIGU Gabriela, 1999, Tehnica operaț iunilor de turism , Editura ALL BECK,
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***, 2014, Annual Population Survey , 2013 -2014, Office for National Statistics;

Site-uri web:
http://blog.citysoci alizer.com
http://www.english -heritage.org.uk
http://www.footballgroundguide.com
http://www.madbox.it
http://www.scientia.ro

Tennis Courts Map

http://www.visitlondon.com
https://blog.privatefly.com
https://depositphotos.com
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk
https://www.claytoncrownhotel.com
https://www.london.gov.uk
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
https://www.royalparks.org.uk

Universitatea
din
Oradea PROCEDURA
privind e laborarea
lucrării de finalizare a
studiilor COD:
SEAQ
PL – U. 04 Revizia
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Aprobat în ședința de Senat
din data: 03.03.2014

ANEXA 10

DECLARAȚIE DE AUTENTICITATE
A LUCRĂRII DE FINALIZAR E A STUDIILOR

Titlul lucrării
London, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan
and Centre of European Tourism

Autorul lucrării
PÎNCOTAN ADRIAN RAUL

Lucrarea de finalizare a studiilor este elaborată în vederea susținerii examenului
de finalizare a stu diilor organizat de către Facultatea de Geografie, Turism și Sport din
cadrul Universității din Oradea, sesiunea septembrie 2017 a anului universitar 2016-
2017.
Prin prezenta, subsemnatul (nume, prenume, CNP) Pîncotan Adrian Raul,
1910708055086 , declar pe proprie răspundere că această lucrare a fost scrisă de către
mine, fără nici un ajutor neautorizat și că nici o parte a lucrării nu conține aplicații sau
studii de caz publicate de alți autori.
Declar, de asemenea, că în lucrare nu există idei, t abele, grafice, hărți sau alte
surse folosite fără respectarea legii române și a convențiilor internaționale privind
drepturile de autor.

Oradea,
07.09.2017 Semnătura