• Britons react with horror and anger to London attack

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    A woman bows her head after leaving flowers outside Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich Headquarters, on May 23, close to the scene where a soldier was murdered in Woolwich, southeast London.

    By Alastair Jamieson and F. Brinley Bruton, NBC News

    LONDON -- A man was killed by knife-wielding assailants on a London street Wednesday, and a bloodstained suspect at the scene holding a meat cleaver was captured on video telling passers-by: "We swear by the almighty Allah."

    Eyewitnesses said the two attackers were later shot by officers, and described the victim as being chopped like a "piece of meat." Those two men were taken to a hospital where they were later arrested. Read full story

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    Members of the public shout racist slogans as the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, (unseen) arrives on May 23 at the scene where a soldier was murdered in Woolwich, southeast London.

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    British police officers work close to the scene on May 23, the day after a soldier was murdered in Woolwich, southeast London.

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    A woman carries flowers May 23 close to the scene of the attack.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    British Prime Minister David Cameron, left, leaves after visiting Woolwich Barracks in southeast London on May 23. Cameron vowed that Britain would be resolute against violent extremism following the gruesome murder of a soldier by two suspected Islamists on a London street.

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    Women bring flowers to the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich Headquarters, close to the scene where a soldier was murdered.

    Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

    A British police officer carries a knife in an evidence bag on May 23 close to the scene of the attack.

     

  • Banned garden gnomes make triumphant return to Chelsea Flower Show

    Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images

    Photographers gather around garden gnomes during the Chelsea Flower Show press day in London on May 20.

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    Decorated gnomes designed by celebrity figures Alan Titchmarsh, Elton John, Julian Fellowes and Lily Allen are displayed at Chelsea Flower Show on May 20 in London, England.

    By Jon Sweeney, NBC News

    For this year only, the Royal Horticultural Society lifted its 100-year ban on garden gnomes and other "brightly coloured mythical creatures" at the Chelsea Flower Show in London England to celebrate its centenary year and raise funds for the next generation of gardeners.

    The RHS invited celebrities including Elton John, Judi Dench, and Dolly Parton to paint and decorate gnomes to feature at the world famous gardening event, before auctioning the gnomes online to raise funds for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

    Gnomes have been banned from the Chelsea Flower Show and other prestigious gardening events because many believe they are tacky and detract from tasteful garden design. Gnome supporters accuse event officials of snobbery.

     

  • London marathon kicks off with a moment of silence

    Luke Macgregor / Reuters

    Runners observe a moment of silence before the start of the London Marathon in Greenwich, southeast London, on April 21.

    Undaunted by the Boston Marathon bombings, big crowds lined the route of the London Marathon on Sunday to cheer on some 36,000 runners who paid their respects to the Boston victims by wearing black ribbons and holding a 30-second silence before the start.

    London's is the first major international marathon since the double bomb attack near the finish line in Boston, which left three people dead and more than 170 injured, including many who are still hospitalized.

    -- Reuters, Associated Press

    Luke Macgregor / Reuters

    Jason Darnall of Kentucky, who ran the Boston Marathon in 2012 and chose to compete in London's marathon on Sunday, wears a black ribbon at the start of the mass race in Greenwich Park, southeast London.

    Chris Jackson / Getty Images

    Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya runs down the Mall towards finish line and victory in the Women's Elite section during the London Marathon on Sunday.

    Matt Dunham / AP

    Lulu, a member of a British police explosive dog search team, patrols during the London Marathon on Sunday.

  • No GPS! Aspiring London taxi drivers memorize a tangle of streets

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    A student ponders while drawing routes on a map of London in a test center in north London. All London black cab drivers are required to pass the Knowledge in order to be issued with a Hackney Carriage Licence. On average, between three and four years are needed to acquire this knowledge. A recent scientific study has shown that the area of the brain responsible for spatial memory, the hippocampus was significantly larger in taxi drivers. Aboard London taxis, drivers do not use GPS, they know the city by heart, preferring to rely on their memory rather than on modern technologies.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    Locations are numbered on a map of central London in a Knowledge test center.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    A student draws a route on a map of London in the test center.

     

  • Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    Police officers stand guard outside the King Edward VII Hospital in central London, where Queen Elizabeth was being treated on March 3, 2013.

    Little and large cop duo stand guard outside Queen's hospital

    Britain's tallest policeman, 7 feet 2 inch Anthony Wallyn, was among the officers standing guard outside the London hospital where Queen Elizabeth was admitted for treatment over the weekend, ITV News reports.

    To the delight of photographers gathered outside King Edward VII Hospital, he was partnered by the smallest officer in the Metropolitan Police's Westminster Borough Support Unit, PC Tony Thich, who stands 5 feet 6 inches tall.

    The pair, known in the force as Big Tone and Little Tone, ensured unwelcome visitors both large and small were kept away from the monarch, who has been hospitalized by a stomach bug.

    ITV News is the U.K. partner of NBC News

  • British politicians flip (pancakes) for a good cause

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    Participants run in the annual Parliamentary Pancake Race in front of the Houses of Parliament on Shrove Tuesday in London. Now in its 16th year, the annual Pancake Race, which raises money for the charity Rehab, sees teams of politicians and journalists racing in a circuit while tossing pancakes in frying pans. The team of MPs won this year's event.

    Related links:

  • Pub holds on to tradition brick by brick in London

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    The Albert Tavern, a Victorian public house built in 1864, stands next to the modern office redevelopment of Selborne House, left, on Victoria Street, Feb. 7, in London, England. The pub, which stands a short distance from Parliament, was named in honor of Queen Victoria's husband, the Prince Consort and has survived the extensive redevelopment of many of its neighbors.

  • Clowns brighten Sunday church service in London, remembering one of their own

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume sing during the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Clowns attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church service in memory of Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), the most celebrated English clown who was born in London. The service has been an annual tradition since 1946 with the attending clowns usually performing for the public afterwards.

    -- Getty Images

     

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    A clown carries a cake during the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Karel Prinsloo / EPA

    A clown hugs a woman as they attend a service at the Holy Trinity Church in London, Britain, on Feb 3.

     

  • Life to scale - Abbey Road station in 'OO'

    Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    Model train enthusiasts view a replica of the Abbey Road Tube station which also depicts the Beatles' famous album cover, at The London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace on Jan. 18, in London.

    Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    Model steam locomotives, left and model warships, right, on display at the London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace Jan. 18, in London.

    Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    A ride on miniature steam locomotive at The London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace, Jan. 18 in London.

    Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    A model of Abbey Road Tube station at The London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace, Jan. 18, in London.

    The London Model Engineering Exhibition which opens today, features more than a thousand models from over 50 national and regional clubs and societies. A wide range of locomotives, boats and aircraft are on show, including a ‘OO’ scale model of the Abbey Road station, built for the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground. The show runs through Sunday, Jan. 20.

    Editor's Note: Abbey Road station is not the same place as Abbey Road crossing where the Beatles had their recording studio and the well-known album cover was photographed.

     

  • Frosty fun in Britain

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    People share a sledge as they take advantage of the snow covering the Bath Approach Golf Course besides Victoria Park on Jan. 18 in Bath, England.

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    A man and a little girl pull a sledge up a hill in Brockwell Park, Jan. 18 in London.

    Andrew Winning / Reuters

    A deer sits in the snow in Richmond Park, London, Jan. 18.

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    A woman feeds a squirrel in the snow covered St James' Park, London, Jan. 18.

    Andy Rain / EPA

    Gulls sit on an icy lake at St.James's Park in London, Jan. 18.

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    The River Thames and Britain's Houses of Parliament are pictured through falling snow in central London, Jan. 18.

    Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty Images

    A small snow man sits on a bench in Regent's Park, London on Jan. 18.

    Slideshow: Winter's frozen splendor

    Ice and snow changes our environment, as winter engulfs our world.

    Launch slideshow

    Heathrow Airport briefly shut a runway and canceled dozens of flights, schools were closed and travel disrupted across Britain as snow fell. Forecasters are predicting up to 12 inches of the white stuff in some areas, making for good sledding and snowman making. 

  • Helicopter hits crane, crashes onto busy London street

    Victor Jimenez / Getty Images

    Smoke pours from the burning debris of a helicopter which crashed in the Vauxhall district of London on Jan. 16, 2012.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    A damaged crane that was hit by a helicopter is pictured following the crash on Jan. 16, 2013.

    Neil Hall / Reuters

    Debris from a crashed helicopter is seen in Vauxhall on Jan. 16, 2013. A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest residential blocks in central London on Wednesday, killing two people as it burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air.

    Courtesy Nic Walker

    A fire burns after a helicopter crashed in Vauxhall on Jan. 16, 2013.

    By Ian Johnston and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News

    LONDON -- Two people were killed and nine others injured when a helicopter apparently hit a crane atop a skyscraper and then crashed on a street in the U.K. capital Wednesday morning, police said.

    The crash happened at 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) in the South Lambeth area of London.

    In a message on Twitter, London Fire Brigade said they had "rescued a man from a burning car at the scene of the helicopter crash." Read the full story.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Wreckage at the scene after a helicopter reportedly collided with a crane attached to St Georges Wharf Tower in Vauxhall, on Jan. 16, 2013. According to reports, the helicopter hit the crane before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour.

    A helicopter's pilot and a bystander on the ground was killed in central London this morning when it hit a crane and fell to the ground in a fiery crash. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

     

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