Imperial College London (
Imperial) is a public research university in London, England. Its history began with Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, who envisioned a cultural area in South Kensington including museums, colleges, and the Royal Albert Hall. In 1907, these colleges â the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines, and the City and Guilds of London Institute â merged to form Imperial College London. In 1988, the Imperial College School of Medicine was formed through a merger with St Mary's Hospital Medical School. In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Imperial College Business School.