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.