Geography of London

Introduction to Geography of London

London, England, the capital of the United Kingdom, and chief city of the British Commonwealth. It is one of the world's greatest and oldest financial, industrial, and cultural centers. In population London is one of the world's largest cities.

London lies on the Thames River in southeastern England, about 40 miles (64 km) from the North Sea. Although London is as far north as southern Labrador, its climate is temperate, largely because of the moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current. Frequent periods of light rain, fog, and overcast sky, as well as considerable sunshine, are typical of London's weather.

General Plan and Description

London—or, more properly, Greater London—consists of the City of London (often called simply the City), the historic center of the metropolis, and 32 boroughs. Each of these 33 units has a semiindependent local government. The boroughs were formed in 1965 to take the place of some 90 local governmental units. The map on the facing page titled Greater London shows London's general shape and the location of the boroughs and the City. The map titled Central London shows places of interest in and around the City.

The Thames, which flows through Greater London from west to east, divides the city into two roughly equal parts. Throughout much of London, especially the central part, there are trees, quiet parks, squares, and neatly tended gardens. Perhaps no other giant city in the world has so many green, restful places as London.

The heart of London is the City, which lies on two low hills on the north bank of the Thames. The City is the commercial and financial center of Britain, and half a million workers stream into and out of it daily. Until the construction of the Barbican, an immense apartment and commercial complex completed in the mid-1970's, relatively few people lived in the City.

Tourists are chiefly interested in central London, especially the City; the West End—the area immediately west of the City; and nearby districts in the boroughs of Westminster, Camden, and Kensington and Chelsea. Most of London's historical, cultural, and entertainment attractions are located within these areas. Unless otherwise noted, this article describes central London.

Before World War II there were few buildings in London more than 6 stories high, but today buildings of 20 or more stories are not uncommon. The towers of the Barbican are more than 40 stories high. Rising 80 stories is the Canary Wharf Tower, an office building in the dockyards area, east of central London. At 800 feet (244 m), the tower is Britain's tallest structure.

Trafalgar Square is just west of the City near the Thames. In the center of the square are two large fountains and a statue of Admiral Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). The statue stands on a granite pillar 170 feet (52 m) high, flanked by four bronze lions sculptured by Sir Edwin Landseer. Trafalgar Square has long been a popular point for public celebrations.

At the river's edges in central London are the Thames Embankments. Following the great bend of the Thames is Victoria Embankment, a wide roadway with a granite retaining wall. The Albert and Chelsea embankments are farther upstream along the Thames. The river is spanned by numerous bridges, including Tower, London, Black-friars, Waterloo, and Westminster bridges. (For a picture of Tower Bridge, Several tunnels run under the river in the East End.

Many streets follow the twists of the Thames or of Roman or medieval walls that have long since disappeared. Some thoroughfares were originally village lanes. To the confusion of strangers, many streets have one name on one side of a square or street intersection and another name on the other.

Commerce and Industry

The Bank of England, on Threadneedle Street, is the central bank of the United Kingdom and Britain's chief financial institution. Also in London are scores of large privately owned British banks, foreign commercial banks, and banks run by international consortiums. Together, they make London one of the world's chief financial centers.

The Stock Exchange, near the Bank of England, is the main stock market of Britain. It was created in 1973 by the amalgamation of numerous British exchanges, including the London Stock Exchange. There are also many exchanges dealing, on a worldwide basis, in commodities, such as wool, grain, tea, sugar, rubber, and metals.

London's insurance industry operates both domestically and abroad. Prominent internationally is Lloyd's of London, an association of insurance underwriters. The Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, which deals in the charter and dispatch of cargo ships and aircraft, is the largest exchange of its kind in the world.

London's wholesale food markets serve a broad area in England. Billingsgate, which in 1981 was moved down the Thames from its centuries-old location in central London, is one of the world's chief fish markets. Covent Garden, Britain's main vegetable, fruit, and flower market for three centuries, was replaced in 1974 by the larger, more efficient New Covent Garden Market in Battersea. Smithfield and Spitalfields are smaller markets.

London specializes in light industry, such as food processing, brewing, and the manufacture of chemical products, furniture, clothing, and precision instruments. Heavy manufacturing, such as production of aircraft and automobiles, is found outside central London.

The Port of London, consisting of dock facilities at several locations on the estuary of the Thames, is one of the world's leading cargo ports. Modern facilities at Tilbury, about 20 miles (32 km) down the Thames from the London docks, handle oceangoing vessels. London's docks are used primarily for local barge traffic.

Transportation

London's efficient transport system is controlled and operated by a public body called London Transport. Its network extends slightly beyond Greater London and consists primarily of bus lines and underground and surface railways. In addition, all of Britain's mainline railways radiate from central London. Principal rail stations include Charing Cross, Victoria, Paddington, and Waterloo.

London's subways make up about two-fifths of the city's 250-mile (400-km) railway system. Some lines run in brick tunnels just below the surface and make up a system called the underground. The first such line was opened in 1863. Later lines were built in deep, metal-lined tunnels and are popularly called tubes. During World War II passenger stations in the tubes served as air-raid shelters.

London has three international airports. Heathrow, London's main airport, is west of the city. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in western Europe, serving millions of passengers each year; for international flights it is the world's busiest airport. Gatwick Airport, south of London, was opened in 1958 to ease the congestion at Heathrow. Gatwick is adjacent to the main London-to-Brighton railway line. The third airport serving London is Stansted, northeast of the city.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

The Tower of London, an 18-acre (7-hectare) complex of buildings, towers, walls, and grounds, stands on the Thames just east of the City. The crown jewels are on display here. Visitors are guided through the complex by the Beefeaters, or Yeomen Warders, in 16th-century uniforms. Nearby is 16th-century Mansion House, residence of the Lord Mayor of London (the City). Each November a newly elected lord mayor rides in a gilded state coach in a colorful, centuries-old parade called the Lord Mayor's Show. North of Mansion House stands Guildhall, built in the 15th century and the seat of the City's government.

From the southwest rises St. Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is one of the largest churches in the world and is capped by a majestic dome. Two of Britain's greatest heroes—the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson—are buried here.

Running west from the cathedral is Fleet Street, which until the late 1980's was the center of British newspaper publishing. At one corner stands Cheshire Cheese Inn, 18th-century haunt of Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, and other noted writers. Nearby is the Temple, medieval headquarters of the Knights Templar and subsequently part of the Inns of Court, legal associations and schools for law students.

Where Fleet Street merges into the Strand a column marks the site of the Temple Bar, a medieval barricade to keep the king from entering the City. Here the sovereign receives the Lord Mayor's permission to enter, as token of the City's traditional privileged status in relation to the monarchy.

The Strand leads west into the West End and Westminster. Westminster is the site of Buckingham Palace, London residence of British sovereigns; Westminster Abbey, the church in which British monarchs are crowned; and the Houses of Parliament. The Parliament building, covering an area of eight acres (3 hectares), is noted for its famous clock tower containing the clock and bell called Big Ben. (For picture, Across the Thames from Parliament is Lambeth Palace, London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Between Parliament and Trafalgar Square runs Whitehall, a street bordered by important government buildings. Just west of Whitehall is Number 10 Downing Street, official home of the prime minister. Between Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus is London's world-renowned West End theater district. More than 100 theaters are located there. North is Soho, famed for foreign restaurants and entertainment; west is fashionable Mayfair. Much of it is occupied by stately residences, elegant hotels, embassies, department stores, and specialty shops, especially on Bond and Regent streets. On Grosvenor Square stands the United States embassy.

London's largest parks are in or near the West End. Regent's Park (472 acres [191 hectares]) has a lake, rose gardens, an open-air theater, and the London Zoo.

Hyde Park (360 acres [146 ha]) includes the Serpentine (a lake), Marble Arch, the Speakers' Corner, and a bridle path called Rotten Row. Adjoining Hyde Park on the west is Kensington Gardens (275 acres [111 ha]), site of Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, and a statue of Peter Pan. The Royal Botanic Gardens are in Kew, a short distance west of central London. Greater London is ringed by the Green Belt, a parklike area in which building is banned.

Education and Culture

Education costs in London are met partly by local taxes and partly by grants from the national government. Education extends from nursery schools through technical colleges, art schools, and adult evening classes. The University of London, centered in Bloomsbury, is the largest institution of higher learning in the United Kingdom. In addition to its Bloomsbury facilities, it has a number of schools, colleges, and institutes scattered throughout London.

Also in Bloomsbury are the British Museum and British Library. The museum is noted especially for Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities and art. The library, located at St. Pancras, has one of the world's largest book collections. South of Hyde Park stand the Science Museum, with pushbutton working models; the Natural History Museum; and the Geological Museum.

London's art galleries include the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Wallace Collection. The city's auction galleries, especially Sotheby & Company, attract art buyers from all over the world.

Symphony orchestras include the London Philharmonic; the London and the BBC symphonies; and the Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic orchestras. Prominent among concert halls are the Royal Albert, Royal Festival, and Queen Elizabeth halls. The Barbican Centre for Arts and Conferences is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the London Symphony. The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera perform in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. London's other major opera company is the English National Opera.

The South Bank Art Centre, on the south bank of the Thames at Waterloo Bridge, provides facilities for concerts, plays, films, and art exhibits. It includes the National Theatre, which is one of London's outstanding centers for drama. Also on the south bank, the site of the old Globe Theatre (torn down in 1644) is the new Globe Theatre, opened in 1996. ( )

Sports

Many top sporting events, including world championships, are held in London. Among them are soccer matches at the 100,000-seat Wembley Stadium, rugby matches at Twickenham, cricket matches at Lord's Cricket Ground and The Oval, and tennis tournaments at Wimbledon. Epsom Downs, in nearby Surrey, is the site of England's most famous horse race, the Derby.