London is one of the most popular and well-known cities in the world. However, there is often confusion about whether London is a city or a county. In this article, we will explore this question and provide a clear answer.
London as a City
Firstly, let’s examine why London is considered a city. London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom.
It has its own government, which is known as the Greater London Authority. This government oversees all aspects of the city, including transport, housing, and emergency services.
London as a County
Now, let’s consider why some people might think that London is also a county. Historically, London was part of Middlesex County until 1889 when it became its own county known as the County of London. However, in 1965, the County of London was abolished and replaced by Greater London.
So What Is London?
So what exactly is London? The answer is that it is both a city and a ceremonial county. The ceremonial county aspect refers to the geographical boundaries that are used for ceremonial purposes such as royal events or local government functions.
The 32 Boroughs of Greater London
Within Greater London, there are 32 boroughs that make up the city. These boroughs have their own local councils but are still governed by the Greater London Authority.
- 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 upon Thames
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Merton
- Newham
- Redbridge
The City of London Corporation
In addition to the boroughs, there is also the City of London Corporation. This is a separate entity from the Greater London Authority and has its own government. It is responsible for the ancient City of London, which is a small area within Greater London that has its own unique history and traditions.
In Conclusion..
So, to sum up, London is both a city and a ceremonial county. It has its own government in the form of the Greater London Authority and is made up of 32 boroughs as well as the City of London Corporation. While there may be some confusion about whether it is a city or county, it is important to understand that it is both.