Information about Greater London

Greater London
London region

London London region shown within England
Geography
Status	Region † Administrative area Ceremonial county *
Area — Total	Ranked 9th 1,579 km 609 sq mi
NUTS 1	UKI
Demographics
Population — Total — Density GDP per capita	Ranked 2nd 7,512,400[1] (mid-2006) 4,758/km² (mid-2006) 27,633 (1st)
Government
HQ	City Hall, Southwark
Assembly — Type	London Assembly directly elected
Authority	Greater London Authority
Mayor	Ken Livingstone
European parliament	London
Website
Notes
† - called London * - excluding the City of London

Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. The administrative area was created in 1965 and covers the City of London and 32 London boroughs. Its area also forms the London region of England and the London European Parliament constituency. The Greater London region has by far the highest GDP/capita in the entire United Kingdom.

It covers 1579 km² (609 square miles) and had a 2006 mid-year estimated population of 7,512,400.^[1] It is bounded by the Home Counties of Essex and Hertfordshire in the East of England region and Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Kent in South East England. The highest point is Westerham Heights, in the North Downs and on the boundary with Kent, at 245 metres (804 ft).

Status

Greater London is not a city in that it does not have official city status granted by the Crown. This is because one of the London boroughs, Westminster, is officially a city,^[2] as well as the City of London itself which would make such a status anomalous. Despite this, Greater London is commonly regarded as a city in the general sense of a municipality. A Lord Lieutenant of Greater London is appointed for its area, less the City of London; an area identical to the Metropolitan Police District; and for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 this area is defined as a county.^[3]

The term "London" is normally used in reference to Greater London or to the overall conurbation, but not often to the ancient, tiny City of London in east central London. Instead, this small area is often referred to simply as "the City" or "the Square Mile" and it forms the main financial district. Archaically the urbanised area of London was known as the Metropolis. In common usage, the terms 'London' and 'Greater London' are usually used interchangeably to refer to the conurbation.

It is officially divided for some purposes, with varying definitions, into Inner London and Outer London. For strategic planning purposes the region is divided into five sub regions.

Politics

Regional government

It is the only English region with a directly elected mayor with wide ranging devolved powers and an elected regional assembly which together comprise the Greater London Authority (the "GLA"). The current Mayor of London is Ken Livingstone. He is scrutinised by an elected London Assembly, which may amend his annual budget (by two-thirds majority) but otherwise lacks the power to block his directives. The headquarters of the GLA is at City Hall in Southwark. The Mayor is responsible for London's strategic planning and is required to produce a London Plan document.

Local government

Further information: London borough

Greater London is divided into 32 London boroughs, each governed by a London borough council; and the City of London, which has a unique government dating back to the 12th century. They are often considered as unitary authorities but not named as such. All London borough councils belong to the London Councils association. Two London boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea, and Kingston, carry the purely honorific title of Royal borough.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of London and Religion in London With increasing industrialisation, London's population grew rapidly throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, and was the most populated city in the world until overtaken by New York in 1925. Its population peaked at 8,615,245 in 1939. There were an estimated 7,512,400 official residents in Greater London as of mid-2006.[1] However, London's continuous urban area extends beyond the borders of Greater London and was home to an estimated 9,332,000 people in 2005, while its wider metropolitan area has a population of between 12 and 14 million depending on the definition of that area.[70] According to Eurostat, London is the most populous city and metropolitan area of the European Union.[71]

Country of Birth Population (2001) United Kingdom 5,230,155 India 172,162 Republic of Ireland 157,285 Bangladesh 84,565 Jamaica 80,319 Nigeria 68,907 Pakistan 66,658 Kenya 66,311 Sri Lanka 49,932 Ghana 46,513 Cyprus 45,888 South Africa 45,506 United States 44,622 Australia 41,488 Germany 39,818 Turkey 39,128 Italy 38,694 France 38,130 Somalia 33,831 Uganda 32,082 New Zealand 27,494 The region covers an area of 1,579 square kilometres. The population density is 4,761 people per square kilometre, more than ten times that of any other British region. In terms of population, London is the 25th largest city and the 17th largest metropolitan region in the world. It is also ranked 4th in the world in number of billionaires (United States Dollars) residing in the city.[72] London ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world, alongside Tokyo and Moscow.[73]

Ethnic groups In the 2001 census, 71.15% of these seven and a half million people classed their ethnic group as white, including White British (59.79%), White Irish (3.07%) or "Other White" (8.29%, mostly Polish, Greek Cypriot, Italian and French). 12.09% classed themselves as British Asian, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and "Other Asian" (mostly Sri Lankan, Arab and other Southern Asian ethnicities). 10.91% classed themselves as Black British (around 7% as Black African, 4.79% as Black Caribbean, 0.84% as "Other Black"). 3.15% were of mixed race; 1.12% as Chinese; and 1.58% as other (mostly Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and other "British Orientals"). 21.8% of inhabitants were born outside the European Union. The Irish, from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, number approximately 200,000, as do the Scots and Welsh combined.

In January 2005, a survey of London's ethnic and religious diversity claimed that there were more than 300 languages spoken and more than 50 non-indigenous communities which have a population of more than 10,000 in London.[74] Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that, as of 2006, London's foreign-born population is 2,288,000 (31%), up from 1,630,000 in 1997.[75] The 2001 census showed that 27.1% of Greater London's population were born outside the UK, and a slightly higher proportion were classed as non-white.[76]

The table to the right shows the 'Country of Birth' of London residents in 2001, the date of the last UK Census. (Top 21).[77] Note that a portion of the German-born population are likely to be British nationals born to parents serving in the British armed forces in Germany.[78]

London has been a focus for immigration for centuries, whether as a place of safety or for economic reasons. Huguenots, eastern European Jews and Cypriots are examples of the former; Irish, Bangla Deshis and West Indians came for new lives. The East End district around Spitalfields has been first home for several ethnic groups, which have subsequently moved elsewhere in London as they gained prosperity.

Religion See also: List of churches and cathedrals of London

Mayor Ken Livingstone (on the left) at a City Hall reception for HanukkahThe largest religious groupings in London are Christian (58.2%), No Religion (15.8%), Muslim (8.2%), Hindu (4.1%), Jewish (2.1%), and Sikh (1.5%). London has traditionally been dominated by Christianity, and has a large number of churches, particularly in the City. The famous St Paul's Cathedral in the City and Southwark Cathedral south of the river are Anglican administrative centres, while the head of the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has his main residence at Lambeth Palace in the London Borough of Lambeth. Important national and royal ceremonies are shared between St Paul's and Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is not to be confused with nearby Westminster Cathedral, a relatively recent edifice which is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in England and Wales. Religious practice is lower than any other part of the UK or Western Europe and is around seven times lower than American averages.[79] Despite the prevalence of Anglican churches, observance is very low within the Anglican denomination, although in recent years church attendance, particularly at evangelical Anglican churches in London, has started to increase.[80]

London is also home to sizeable Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish communities. Many Muslims live in Tower Hamlets and Newham; the most important Muslim edifice is London Central Mosque on the edge of Regent's Park. London's large Hindu community is found in the north-western boroughs of Harrow and Brent, the latter of which contains one of Europe's largest Hindu temples, Neasden Temple.[81] Sikh communities are located in East and West London, which is also home to the largest Sikh Temples in the world, outside India. The majority of British Jews live in London, with significant Jewish communities in Stamford Hill (the most Orthodox Jewish area outside New York City and Israel) and St. John's Wood, Golders Green, Edgware in North London

City of London City of Westminster Kensington and Chelsea Hammersmith and Fulham Wandsworth Lambeth Southwark Tower Hamlets Hackney Islington Camden Brent Ealing Hounslow Richmond Kingston Merton

Sutton Croydon Bromley Lewisham Greenwich Bexley Havering Barking and Dagenham Redbridge Newham Waltham Forest Haringey Enfield Barnet Harrow Hillingdon

London Assembly

Further information: London Assembly constituencies

For elections to the London Assembly, London is divided into fourteen constituencies. The constituencies are formed from the area of two or three boroughs combined. The City of London forms part of the City and East constituency.

UK Parliament

Further information: List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London

London is divided into 74 Parliamentary constituencies, which are all small borough constituencies. They are formed from the combined area of several wards from one or more London Boroughs. Typically a single borough is covered by two or three constituencies. Their number will be reduced to 73 before the next general election.

History

Creation

Although the London County Council had been created as a London-wide authority covering the County of London in 1889, the County did not even cover all the built-up area of London then, particularly West Ham and East Ham; furthermore many of the LCC housing projects, including the vast Becontree Estate, were constructed outside its formal boundaries. ^[4]

London County Council pressed for an alteration in its boundaries soon after the end of the First World War, noting that within the Metropolitan and City Police Districts there were 122 housing authorities. A Royal Commission was set up to consider the issue. ^{[5] [6]} London County Council proposed a vast new Greater London, somewhere between the Metropolitan Police District and the entire Home Counties. ^[7] Protests were made at the possibility of including Windsor, Slough and Eton in the authority. ^[8]

The Commission made its report in 1923, rejecting the LCC's scheme. Two minority reports favoured change beyond the amalgamation of smaller urban districts, including both smaller borough councils and a Central Authority for strategic functions. The London Traffic Act 1924 was a result of the Commission. ^[9]

Greater London was formally created by the London Government Act 1963, which took force on 1 April 1965, replacing the former administrative counties of Middlesex and London, adding the City of London, which was not under the London County Council, and absorbing parts of Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire. The term 'Greater London' had been used well before 1965, particularly to refer to the area covered by the Metropolitan Police District or the London Passenger Transport Area and by 1958 an area somewhat larger than the current region had been defined by the Registrar General as the Greater London Conurbation.

Greater London Council

Greater London originally had a two-tier system of local government, with the Greater London Council (GLC) sharing power with the Corporation of London (governing the small City of London) and the 32 London borough councils. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 by the Local Government Act 1985. Its functions were devolved to the Corporation and the London boroughs with some functions transferred to central government and joint boards.

Greater London Authority

Greater London was used to form the London region of England in 1994. A referendum held in 1998, established public will to create a regional authority. The Greater London Authority, London Assembly and the directly-elected Mayor of London were created in 2000 by the Greater London Authority Act 1999. The 2000 and 2004 mayoral elections were both won by Ken Livingstone, who had been the final leader of the GLC. In 2000 the outer boundary of the Metropolitan Police District was re-aligned to the Greater London boundary.

Statistics

Population

The population on the current territory of Greater London rose from about 1.1 million in 1801 (back then only about 0.85 million people were in the urban area of London, while 0.25 million were living in villages and towns not yet part of London) to an estimated 8.6 million in 1939, but declined to 6.7 million in 1988, before starting to rebound in the end of the 1980s. As of 2006, the population in Greater London has only recovered the level of 1970 (which was also the level of population in the 1920s). Some researchers expect the population of Greater London to reach 8.15 million by 2016, which would still be 0.45 million short of the 1939 peak.

Figures here are for Greater London in its 2001 limits. Figures before 1971 have been reconstructed by the Office for National Statistics based on past censuses in order to fit the 2001 limits. Figures from 1981 onward are midyear estimates (revised as of August 2007), which are more accurate than the censuses themselves, known to underestimate the population of London.

1891	April 5/6	5,572,012
1901	March 31/April 1	6,506,954
1911	April 2/3	7,160,525
1921	June 19/20	7,386,848
1931	April 26/27	8,110,480
1939	Midyear estimate	8,615,245
1951	April 8/9	8,196,978
1961	April 23/24	7,992,616
1965	Greater London formally created
1971	April 25/26	7,452,520
1981	Midyear estimate	6,805,000[10]
1988	Midyear estimate	6,729,300[11]
1991	Midyear estimate	6,829,300[12]
2001	Midyear estimate	7,322,400[13]
2002	Midyear estimate	7,361,600[14]
2003	Midyear estimate	7,364,100[15]
2004	Midyear estimate	7,389,100[16]
2005	Midyear estimate	7,456,100[17]
2006	Midyear estimate	7,512,400[1]

Economy

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Inner London at current basic prices published (pp.240-253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.

Year	Regional Gross Value Added[18]	Agriculture[19]	Industry[20]	Services[21]
1995	64,616	7	8,147	56,461
2000	92,330	6	10,094	82,229
2003	112,090	12	10,154	101,924

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Outer London at current basic prices published (pp.240-253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.

Year	Regional Gross Value Added<ref name="fn_4" />	Agriculture<ref name="fn_1" />	Industry<ref name="fn_2" />	Services<ref name="fn_3" />
1995	44,160	51	10,801	33,307
2000	60,304	43	12,529	47,732
2003	67,582	39	13,081	54,462

Area

The area of Greater London has not changed significantly since its creation. There have been a considerable number of small boundary changes. The most significant of these were the 1969 transfers of Knockholt to Kent and Farleigh to Surrey^[22] and a series of minor adjustments during the 1990s which realigned the boundary to the M25 motorway in some places.

Education

The education system has been split into the thirty three separate LEAs, which correspond to the City of London and the 32 London boroughs, since the 1990 enactment of the Education Reform Act 1988.^[23] From 1965 to 1990, twelve Inner London boroughs and the City of London had been served by an Inner London Education Authority.^[23] The introduction of comprehensive schools, directed by Circular 10/65 in 1965, was mostly followed in Greater London, however 19 grammar schools have been retained in some Outer London boroughs.^[24] At GCSE and A level, Outer London boroughs have broadly better results than Inner London boroughs.^[25]

Wider population

Greater London is not exactly coterminous with London's built up area and a somewhat wider Greater London Urban Area has been defined and is used for mainly statistical purposes. London's wider metropolitan area is known as the London commuter belt.

See also

• Greater London Urban Area

References

External links

• Greater London Authority
• Greater London Online - London Community News, Information and Business Directory

•  • [ e] Greater London • London • City of London

London boroughs: Barking and Dagenham • Barnet • Bexley • Brent • Bromley • Camden • Croydon • Ealing • Enfield • Greenwich • Hackney • Hammersmith and Fulham • Haringey • Harrow • Havering • Hillingdon • Hounslow • Islington • Kensington and Chelsea • Kingston • Lambeth • Lewisham • Merton • Newham • Redbridge • Richmond • Southwark • Sutton • Tower Hamlets • Waltham Forest • Wandsworth • Westminster Sui generis: City of London (Enclaves: Inner Temple • Middle Temple) See also: Greater London Authority • London Assembly • Mayor of London

•  • [ e] Part of a of articles on the History of London
Evolution	Londinium Lundenwic City of London City of Westminster County of London Greater London
Local government	Metropolitan Board of Works London County Council Greater London Council Greater London Authority London Assembly Mayor of London
Events	Peasants' Revolt Black Death Great Plague Great Fire of London The Great Stink The Great Exhibition The Blitz Swinging London The London Plan 7/7 bombings Olympic Games (1908 1948 2012)
Structures	St. Paul's Cathedral Tower of London Baynard's Castle Westminster Hall London Bridge Westminster Abbey The Monument
City of London	Corporation of London Lord Mayor of London Guildhall Livery Companies Lord Mayor's Show Bank of England
Services	Bow Street Runners Metropolitan Police Service London sewerage system

•  • [ e] The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
England •  Wales   Scotland  Northern Ireland Regions of England: East of England • East Midlands • London • North East • North West • South East • South West • West Midlands • Yorkshire and the Humber

•  • [ e] Ceremonial counties of England

Counties of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 Bedfordshire • Berkshire • City of Bristol • Buckinghamshire • Cambridgeshire • Cheshire • Cornwall • Cumbria • Derbyshire • Devon • Dorset • Durham • East Riding of Yorkshire • East Sussex • Essex • Gloucestershire • Greater London • Greater Manchester • Hampshire • Herefordshire • Hertfordshire • Isle of Wight • Kent • Lancashire • Leicestershire • Lincolnshire • City of London • Merseyside • Norfolk • Northamptonshire • Northumberland • North Yorkshire • Nottinghamshire • Oxfordshire • Rutland • Shropshire • Somerset • South Yorkshire • Staffordshire • Suffolk • Surrey • Tyne and Wear • Warwickshire • West Midlands • West Sussex • West Yorkshire • Wiltshire • Worcestershire