I've been to London many times (and am going again soon), but last year went to New York for the first time, fulfilling a childhood dream. Had dinner atop the WTC a week before the attack.

NY (specifically Manhattan) has to be the greatest city in the world. It seems to encompass the best and worst that modern man has acheived. Although it doesn't have the historical buildings of London it does have a vision and depth of imagination that is inspiring to say the least. To see midtown lit up with the Empire State in red, white and blue from Windows on the World was one of the greatest moments in my life.

For English cities with history, try York. To me, London represents the British Empire with all its grandiosity and pomp whilst York represents the history of the ordinary people of England , from pre-roman to present day.

Of course, all this is simply my opinion, and you know what they say about those!