Most famous Londoners (10)

Daniel Day Lewis Famous for Acting

Born: Greenwich, Borough of Greenwich, South-East London, 1957. One of the most celebrated actors of his generation, Day-Lewis was born into an Irish family in South London in 1957. He is part of a very select group of actors who have won two Academy Awards for male in a leading role for My Left Foot (1989) and There Will Be Blood (2007). His portrayal as oil prospector Daniel Plainview in the latter will go down as one of the most menacing performances in recent cinema, similar to his celebrated depiction of Bill the Butcher Cutting in Martin Scorseses Gangs of New York (2002), which also brought him a nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars that year.

Michael Faraday Famous for Science

Born: Newington Butts, Borough of Southwark, South London, 1791. Faraday can rightly lay claim to be one of the most famous scientists of modern times. Often referred to as being the man who invented electricity, Faraday was the first person to discover electromagnetic induction in 1831, the principle behind the electric transformer and generator.

John Keats Famous for Poetry

Born: Moorgate, The City of London, 1795. Known as the Cockney poet, John Keats is one of the most championed of the second generation Romantics along with his contemporaries Shelley and Byron. Like William Shakespeare, most English people first come to know of Keats at school where his works are still a fundamental part of the British secondary school curriculum which in part has led to him becoming one of the most analyzed poets in English Literature.

David Beckham Famous for Football (soccer)

Born: Leytonstone, Borough of Waltham Forest, East London, 1975. David Beckham has become a true British icon of the 21st century, and is arguably the most famous Londoner alive today. As a huge promoter of the London Olympics throughout the world it was a massive shock to many Team GB supporters when he was omitted from Stuart Pearces squad for the games. Although since gaining notoriety through fashion and modeling, Becks is still most famous as a football player, captaining his country on 58 occasions and playing in three World Cups.

Clement Attlee Famous for being Prime Minister

Born: Putney, Borough of Wandsworth, South-West London, 1883. Of all the famous Prime Ministers throughout British History, Attlee has had perhaps the greatest impact upon the state and yet remains one of the least well known. Following the Second World War, Winston Churchill was expected to cement his place as PM in the 1945 elections following his unerring leadership of the country through its finest hour, but he was defeated in a landslide by Attlees Labour Party, and for one epoch defining reason: The National Health Service.

Queen Victoria Famous for being the Monarch

Born: Kensington Palace, Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, South-West London, 1819. So its fair to say that most Kings and Queens of England could have laid claim to be on this list, so I decided to include the monarch that has overseen arguably the greatest transformation of the city into the modern day metropolis that stands today. Put simply, Victorias reign in the 19th century saw Britain reap the benefits of the Industrial Revolution to see the country develop the largest empire in history at its height, with the city of London firmly at its center. For approximately a century from the beginning of Victorias rule (1830s) to just after World War One, London was the largest city in the world.

Alfred Hitchcock Famous for Film Directing

Born: Leytonstone, Borough of Waltham Forest, East London, 1899. One of cinemas great directors, Hitchcock was a pioneer in the suspense and thriller genres, developing techniques that are now fundamental elements in many horror movies. In 2002 the American magazine MovieMaker named him the most influential filmmaker of all time. He enjoyed almost unrivaled success in the 1950s and 1960s with films such as Vertigo, North by Northwest and Psycho, which have since become cinema classics. Hitchcock location walks through the streets of London are now thriving which take in areas used in films such as The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Samuel Pepys Famous for being a Londoner

Born: Fleet Street, City of London, 1633. It could be justifiably argued that no other person has contributed to our knowledge of 17th century London than Samuel Pepys. With his exquisitely kept diaries, Pepys recorded in particular three major British historical events that he was present to witness: The Great Plague, The Great Fire and The Second Anglo-Dutch War. As a naval administrator he was also present at the execution of King Charles I in the aftermath of the English Civil War. As well as these important eye witness accounts, Samuel Pepys diaries have helped us understand 17th century London society more than any other historical source. So for his impact upon the historical legacy of this great city, Samuel Pepys has earned my top spot!

David Bowie Famous for Popular Music

Born: Brixton, Borough of Lambeth, South London, 1947. Although Bowie recently turned down an opportunity to perform at the Olympic Closing ceremony (where his decision was due to his reluctance to play live generally, than any political decision), Bowie has had a life-long association with the city. Born and raised in one of Londons multicultural centers, Brixton, in South London, Bowie has earned a reputation as one of pop musics most influential artists of the twentieth century, mentioned in the same breath as The Beatles, Dylan and the Stones. He also used Heddon Street in Central London for his cover of the seminal Ziggy Stardust album in 1972.

Charlie Chaplin Famous for Acting/Directing

Born: Walworth, Borough of Southwark, South-East London, 1889. The icon of Hollywoods golden age of the early twentieth century, Charlie Chaplin one of the most famous stars in cinema history. Beginning with silent movie acting eventually moving into acting and directing talkies, Chaplin was arguably the most famous celebrity in the world in the years between both World Wars. Born into a gypsy family in a street that houses one of South Londons busiest markets, Chaplin developed his famous slapstick routines on the London Vaudeville circuit.