During the year 1993, London became among the biggest urban municipalities within Ontario because of the annexations in 1993. Rapid commercial and residential development likewise occurred in the southwestern and northwestern areas of the city. These days, London City is considered as the eleventh largest urban area within Canada and the sixth largest city within Ontario.
London city has a long history of in the creative arts, helping to create various good Canadian talents in the visual and performing arts. Amongst the artist and actors include: Jack Chambers and the late Greg Curnoe, dancer Evelyn Hart, musician Guy Lombardo, actor Ryan Gosling, and Oscar-winning director and screenplay writer Paul Haggis. London Arts Council is committed to improving creative vitality and quality of life via its good programs and services that offer informational, educational, and networking opportunities to Londoners, tourists, and the Arts community. Museum London offers various collections of regional Canadian works and over 25,000 artifacts which reflect London's artifacts. Orchestra London gives distinctive classical and inspirational music performances and various orchestrated music. The Mabile Choirs of London and the London Youth Symphony are likewise popular in the city. There are two famous art houses at London, one is the Open House Arts Collective, which promotes cultural activities in the city and the McIntosh gallery, an art gallery on the UWO Campus. The London Public Library has art exhibitions and author readings, and the Writers Resource Center is the place of the Canadian Poetry Association (London Chapter).
London is home to many attractions and annual festivals, consisting of the Taste of London Festival, London International Hot Air Balloon Festival, London Ribfest (2nd biggest rib festival in North America), the Expressions in Chalk Street Painting Festival, Home County Folk Festival, Pride London Festival (one of the largest Pride festivals in Ontario), Sunfest (a World Music Festival and the 2nd largest in Canada), London Fringe Theatre Festival, and the London Ontario Live Arts Festival.
London has an economy that is dominated by information technology, military vehicles, insurance and locomotive industries. The city is the birthplace of General Motor's Electro-Motive Division and London Life Insurance. General Dynamics Land Systems manufactures armoured personal carriers within the city. The city of London has a strong biotechnology and life sciences related research; and much of this is spurred by the University of Western Ontario. The university brings in around one and a half billion Canadian dollars to the London financial system every year. 3M's headquarters are likewise located within London, and Carling Breweries and Labatt are established here. Kellogg's Company likewise has a plant within London, and is considered to have the most technologically-advanced manufacturing amenities in the company.