Greater London
One of the most visited capital cities in the world. Much of its period architecture dates from the late 17th century, including Britain's only domed cathedral, St Paul's. London has a vast array of museums, most of which are free to enter. It also has a multitude of royal residences and stately palaces, famous art galleries, theatres, street markets and world class shops. There are plenty of parks, gardens and open spaces too, from its many royal parks to the 100 acres of the London Wetland Centre.
The Greater London area (previously Middlesex) is an undulating plain, falling gently from a range of low hills in the north, down to the Thames. Here and there, isolated hills rise from this plain, such as at Harrow, Highgate and Hampstead.
'No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.'
London Boroughs: |
Inner London, Outer London |
Nearby Counties: | Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey |
Train Operators: | Most national train companies operate services to London. |
Nearest Airports: | Heathrow, Gatwick |
Major Roads: | M1, M4, M25 |
Highest point: | Bushey Heath, 504 feet |
Rivers: | Brent, Crane, Colne, Lea, Thames |
County Flower: | Rosebay Willowherb |
Local Delicacies: | Jellied eels - traditional 18th century English dish from London's East End. Pie and mash - minced beef pie and mashed potato, served with eel parsley liquor. Boiled Beef - boiled beef and carrots, served with pease pudding. |
Popular Places to Visit in London
Most of the popular places to visit are located in the Central London area:
Battersea Zoo | Carlyle's House | Chelsea Physic Garden | National Army Museum | Bank of England Museum | Dr Johnson's House | Clock Museum | Museum of London | St Paul's | Tower Bridge | Tower of London | Wesley's House | Cutty Sark | Fan Museum | Gipsy Moth | Greenwich Park | National Maritime Museum | Royal Naval College | Royal Observatory | Baden-Powell Museum | Kensington Palace | Natural History Museum | Science Museum | Victoria & Albert Museum | London Aquarium | London Eye | Florence Nightingale Museum | Imperial War Museum | Lambeth Palace | Museum of Garden History | Clink Museum | Golden Hinde | HMS Belfast | London Dungeon | Shakespeare Globe | Tate Modern | Canary Wharf | Docklands Museum | Bell Foundry | British Museum | Jewish Museum | London Transport Museum | Madame Tussaud's | National Gallery | National Portrait Gallery | Pollock's Toy Museum | Sir John Soane's Museum | Apsley House | Buckingham Palace | Cabinet War Rooms | Downing Street | Horse Guards | Houses of Parliament | Tate Gallery | Westminster Abbey
Other Places of Interest in London
London Bridges on the Thames | Historic London Churches
List of Inner London Boroughs
Camden, City of London, Chelsea, Fullum, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith, Islington, Kensington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster & West End
History of Greater London (formerly Middlesex)
In 1965, after a Royal Commission, most of the original area of Middlesex was incorporated into Greater London, with some minor areas transferred to Hertfordshire and Surrey.
First recorded in 704 as Middleseaxan. Originating from the Old English for the territory of the Middle Saxons (between Essex, Wessex and Sussex).
Map of Greater London
South East England
