The capital of the British Empire was London - though the empire has since passed , London is one of the world 's leading business , financial , and cultural centres , and its influence in politics , education , technology , entertainment , media , fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as a major global city . Many of the world 's largest corporations have their headquarters in London , the city taking a central role as a part of the wider global economy . In addition London in time and on maps is on the Prime Meridian , running directly through Greenwich ( also known as the Greenwich Meridian ) , with its time zone as GMT +0 ( UTC +0 ) . The decision made at the International Meridian Conference was due to the dominance of the British Empire ; for logistical reasons , and because the United Kingdom and London remain a major global influence , this position of the Prime Meridian remains
International Meridian Conference
International Meridian Conference
Caput Mundi