London is a city that is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and diverse population. It is a bustling metropolis that attracts millions of visitors each year.
One question that often comes up when discussing London is how many districts are in the city? Let’s explore this topic further.
What are districts?
Districts in London are administrative divisions used by various agencies and organizations. They are also commonly referred to as boroughs. There are 32 districts in London, each with its own unique characteristics and attractions.
The Boroughs of London
The 32 districts of London are divided into 12 inner boroughs and 20 outer boroughs. The inner boroughs include Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster. These boroughs are located in the central part of the city.
The outer boroughs include Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Kingston upon Thames Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Sutton Waltham Forest.
Inner Boroughs
- Camden – Known for its vibrant nightlife and popular markets like Camden Lock Market.
- Greenwich – Home to the famous Greenwich Observatory and the Prime Meridian Line.
- Hackney – A trendy area with a thriving arts scene.
- Hammersmith and Fulham – Home to some of London’s most beautiful parks like Holland Park.
- Islington – Known for its stylish cafes, bars, and restaurants.
- Kensington and Chelsea – An upscale area with high-end shopping and museums like the Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Lambeth – Home to popular attractions like the London Eye and the Southbank Centre.
- Lewisham – A diverse area with great parks and local markets.
- Southwark – Known for its historic landmarks like the Tower Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
- Tower Hamlets – A vibrant area with a large Bangladeshi community and trendy restaurants.
- Wandsworth – An affluent area known for its riverside walks and parks.
- Westminster – Home to some of London’s most iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.
Outer Boroughs
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnet
- Bexley
- Brent
- Bromley
- Croydon
- Ealing
- Enfield
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Havering
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Kingston upon Thames
- Merton
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Richmond upon Thames
- Sutton
- Waltham Forest
Barking and Dagenham is a suburban borough located in East London. It is home to various parks, museums, sports facilities, and cultural attractions such as Valence House Museum.
Barnet is a suburban borough located in North London. It is known for its beautiful countryside views, parks, nature reserves, shopping centres such as Brent Cross Shopping Centre.
Bexley is a suburban borough located in Southeast London. It has various outdoor attractions such as Lesnes Abbey Woods Park which has ancient ruins of an abbey.
Brent is a suburban borough located in Northwest London. It is known for its cultural diversity and has a rich history that can be explored through its museums like the Brent Museum and Archives.
Bromley is a suburban borough located in Southeast London. It has various parks and nature reserves such as Kelsey Park which has a lake and beautiful gardens.
Croydon is a suburban borough located in South London. It has various landmarks, galleries, museums, parks, and shopping centres such as Centrale Shopping Centre.
Ealing is a suburban borough located in West London. It is known for its parks like Walpole Park which hosts an annual jazz festival.
Enfield is a suburban borough located in North London. It has various parks, museums, and galleries like the Forty Hall Estate which houses an art gallery.
Haringey is a suburban borough located in North London. It has various attractions such as the Alexandra Palace which hosts events like concerts and exhibitions.
Harrow is a suburban borough located in Northwest London. It has various landmarks like the Harrow School which was founded in 1572.
Havering is a suburban borough located in East London. It has various parks such as Raphael Park which hosts events like fairs and markets.
Hillingdon is a suburban borough located in West London. It has various outdoor attractions such as the Hillingdon Trail which is a long-distance footpath.
Hounslow is a suburban borough located in West London. It has various parks and landmarks such as the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.
Kingston upon Thames is a suburban borough located in Southwest London. It has various landmarks like the Kingston Museum which houses an art collection.
Merton is a suburban borough located in South London. It has various parks and landmarks like the Wimbledon Windmill Museum which showcases local history.
Newham is a suburban borough located in East London. It has various attractions such as the Olympic Park which was built for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Redbridge is a suburban borough located in East London. It has various parks, museums, and galleries like the Redbridge Museum and Heritage Centre.
Richmond upon Thames is a suburban borough located in Southwest London. It has various outdoor attractions such as Richmond Park which is home to deer and other wildlife.
Sutton is a suburban borough located in South London. It has various parks and landmarks like the Honeywood Museum which showcases local history.
Waltham Forest is a suburban borough located in Northeast London. It has various outdoor attractions such as Epping Forest which is an ancient woodland that covers more than 6,000 acres of land.
The Conclusion:
London is a city that is divided into 32 districts or boroughs. Each district has its own unique characteristics and attractions.
The inner boroughs are located in the central part of the city and include Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster. The outer boroughs are located on the outskirts of the city and include Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley,Croydon,Ealing,Enfield,Haringey,Harrow,Havering,Hillingdon,Hounslow,Kingston upon Thames,Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Sutton Waltham Forest. Whether you are a tourist or a resident in London, there is much to explore in all 32 districts of this vibrant city.