Alexander Smotrov has lived in the UK since 2003. For almost ten years, Alexander was RIA Novosti’s own correspondent in London, telling Russians about various aspects of life in Great Britain and its capital. This book is for those who come to London and want to get to know the city closer and deeper, understand how it lives and works, and why it remains a desirable destination for people from all over the world. History, regional studies, a guide and a calendar of events under one cover - to understand and feel London's dynamics and continuity. The author of the book talks about what makes up the modern way of life in London: how urban transport is developing and whether a car is needed in the city, how hipster influences culture on the restaurant business and why traditional pubs are losing popularity, what determines the cost of housing and how safe London is from a crime point of view, at what time of year London is flooded with tourists and how best to plan a trip to catch interesting events from the city life calendar.