The following is a timeline of the history of London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom.
Prehistory
120,000 BC – Elephants and hippopotami are roaming on the site of Trafalgar Square. 6000 BC – Hunter-gatherers are on the site of Heathrow Terminal 5. 4000 BC – Mesolithic timber structure exists on the River Thames foreshore, south of the site of Vauxhall Bridge. 3800 BC – Stanwell Cursus is constructed. 2300–1500 BC – Possible community on Chiswick Eyot in the Thames. 1500 BC – A Bronze Age bridge exists from the foreshore north of Vauxhall Bridge. This bridge either crosses the Thames, or goes to a subsequently lost island in the river. 300–1 BC – An Iron Age oppidum in Woolwich, which is possibly London's first port, in the late-Roman period reused as a fort.
Early history to the 10th century
47 AD – Original settlement of Londinium founded by the Romans. 50 The original London bridge is constructed out of wood. Grim's Ditch (Harrow) is dug from this year onwards. 57 – 8 January: The earliest known handwritten document in the UK is created in London, a financial record in one of the Roman 'Bloomberg tablets' found during 2010–13 on the site of Londinium. Another dated to 65/70-80 AD gives the earliest known written record of the name of Londinium. 60 or 61 – Londinium is sacked by forces of Boudica. 122 – Construction of a forum in Londinium is completed; Emperor Hadrian visits. There is a major fire in the city at about this time. c. 190–225 – The London Wall is constructed. During 3rd century - London's population is around 50,000 due to the influence of its major port. c. 214 – London becomes the capital of the province of Britannia Inferior. c. 240 – The London Mithraeum is built. c. 250 – Coasting barge "Blackfriars I" sinks in the Thames at Blackfriars. 255 – Work begins on a riverside wall in London. 296 – Constantius Chlorus occupies Londinium, saving it from attack by mercenary Franks. 368 – The city is known as Augusta by this date, indicating that it is a Roman provincial capital. 490 – Saxons are in power, and the Roman city is largely abandoned. By early 7th century – Settlement at Lundenwic (modern-day Aldwych). c. 604 – Mellitus is the first Bishop of London in the modern succession to be consecrated. 650 – A market is active. 675 An early fire of London destroys the wooden Anglo-Saxon cathedral, which is rebuilt in stone over the following decade. The Church of All Hallows-by-the-Tower is founded in the City by Barking Abbey. By 757 – London has come under the control of Æthelbald of Mercia and passes to Offa, who has a mint here. 798 – An early fire of London takes place. 838 – Kingston upon Thames is first mentioned. 842 – London is raided by Vikings with "great slaughter"; they besiege it in 851. 871 – Autumn: Danes take up winter quarters in Mercian London. 886 King Alfred the Great restores London to Mercia. The London Mint is established. 893 – Spring: Edward, son of Alfred the Great, forces invading Danish Vikings to take refuge on Thorney Island. 911 – Edward the Elder, King of Wessex, transfers London from Mercia to Wessex. 918 – Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders and daughter of King Alfred, donates Kentish lands, including Lewisham, Greenwich and Woolwich, to St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent. 925 – 4 September: Coronation of Æthelstan as King of Wessex at Kingston upon Thames. 978 – The coronation of Æthelred as King of the English takes place in Kingston upon Thames. 982 – An early fire of London takes place. 989 – An early fire of London burns from Aldgate to Ludgate.