Greater London is a bustling metropolis in southeastern England, encompassing the City of London and 32 London boroughs. It serves as the capital of the United Kingdom and is renowned for its rich history, diverse culture, and iconic landmarks. London is the United Kingdom's capital and the largest city in the country, with a population of 8.8 million people.[1] The city is located in the southeast of England on the River Thames. The City of London spans 1.1 square miles (2.9 square km) in the central region of Greater London. Greater London encompasses a broader metropolitan area with a substantially larger population, reaching up to 45 miles (70 km) from its centre.[2] Greater London constitutes nearly all of the historic county of Middlesex (which comprises the bulk of Greater London north of the River Thames), parts of the historic counties of Kent, Essex, and Hertfordshire, and a large part of the historic county of Surrey.[3]
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Greater London: landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsGreater London: landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions
Greater London has a diverse landscape, that blends urban development with natural beauty. The River Thames, a prominent feature, winds its way through the city, shapes its history and geography. While much of the landscape is characterized by urban sprawl and iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London, there are also pockets of green spaces, including parks like Hyde Park and Richmond Park.[4]
Greater London is a major global economic hub.[5] Its economy is primarily driven by the service sector, particularly financial services and professional services. These industries have strong connections to the UK and international economies. London is also a major global financial center, competing with cities like New York. Services accounted for 93% of the city’s output compared to 81% across the UK in 2022, the latest Office for National Statistics regional data available. In particular, the financial services, IT and communications and professional and technical sectors are much larger in London relative to its overall economic output than the UK average.[6] While manufacturing is a smaller part of the economy, it still contributes significantly, with more people employed in manufacturing in London than in other UK city regions like Greater Manchester or West Yorkshire.[7]
There is agriculture in Greater London, but it's limited and mostly located on the city's fringes on the Green Belt land. There are over 200 farms in Greater London, covering about 11,000 hectares. The average farm size in London is 53 hectares, which is smaller than the English average of 86 hectares.[8]
Because the City of London is a part of Greater London, many of the attractions of the City of London would also be listed as a part of Greater London. The Shard, an iconic building, is one of most popular attractions in Greater London. Buckingham Palace is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel with a gateway to panoramic views of London. There are three hundred acres of botanical exhibits Kew Gardens, which lies on the south bank of the Thames River between Richmond and Kew and many more.
Greater London historyGreater London history
The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and landed in Kent. Pursuing the ancient Britons along the banks of the Thames, they came to the first fordable point of the river. On a site nearby, they built a garrison, and Londinium was born. Later, they erected the first bridge over the Thames. Built entirely in wood, it stood a little downstream of where the current London Bridge is located.[9]
In the 15th Century, the Tudor dynasty rose to power, shaping England and London.[10] London continued to grow as a major trading center, but was also plagued by the Black Death.[11] The city's population declined significantly, but it gradually recovered.[11] Under the Tudor dynasty in the 16th Century, London experienced a period of significant growth and prosperity. The city became a hub of religious, political, and cultural change, with the Protestant Reformation and the rise of the English Renaissance.
The 17th century was a tumultuous time for London. The city suffered from the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666, which devastated large parts of the city. However, it also saw significant rebuilding and modernization.
During the 18th Century: London emerged as a global metropolis, with rapid population growth and industrialization. The city became a center of trade, finance, and culture, attracting people from all over the world.
The 19th century was a period of immense change for London. The Industrial Revolution transformed the city, leading to rapid urbanization and social upheaval. The city expanded rapidly, and new infrastructure, such as railways and canals, was built to accommodate the growing population. Until 1889 the only part of London that had an administrative existence apart from the historic counties was the historic City of London, which was confined to the area of the medieval city. During the period 1889–1965, the County of London, carved from parts of the historic counties of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent, administered an area that comprised present-day Inner London plus the outer boroughs of Newham and Haringey.[3]
20th Century London experienced two World Wars, which had a significant impact on the city. The Blitz during World War II caused widespread destruction, but London was rebuilt and emerged stronger. The city also experienced significant deindustrialization and social change in the latter part of the 20th century.[7]
Greater London parishes and unparished areasGreater London parishes and unparished areas
The entire Greater London city is an unparished area. All the parishes were abolished in 1965.[12] Greater London is divided into 32 London Boroughs, each governed by a London Borough council. The City of London has a unique government dating back to the 12th century[13] and is separate from the county of Greater London, although is still part of the region served by the Greater London Authority.[14]
Greater London geographyGreater London geography
The main geographic feature of Greater London, the Thames flows from west to east through the city.[15] The city sits within the London Basin, a geological formation that contributes to its generally flat terrain. The river is tidal, which makes London vulnerable to flooding, and has a barrier called the Thames River Barrier to protect against it. The geography of Greater London is generally flat, with some minor hills surrounding the city center. The main bedrocks are Chalk and London Clay, with much of the surface geology made up of sands and gravels from the Eocene, till and gravel from glacial activity, and recent non-glacial deposits caused by wind or water action.The London Basin area is formed from a layer of chalk accumulated on the bed of a warm sea in the Cretaceous period over 65 million years ago.[16]
The Thames river flows through the heart of London, dividing it into north and south sides. It has played a crucial role in the city's history and development, serving as a major transportation route and commercial hub. These include Shooters Hill (132 m), Jugg Hill (194 m), and Sanderstead Hill (189 m). The highest point in Central London is Hampstead Heath (139 m), while the highest point in Greater London is Westerham Heights (250 m), part of Betsom's Hill (251m).[17]
London experiences a temperate maritime climate, characterized by mild winters and cool summers. The city benefits from the moderating influence of the North Sea, resulting in relatively stable temperatures throughout the year.[18]
Researching family history in Greater LondonResearching family history in Greater London
Greater London county includes the City of London county and therefore the genealogical and family history resources overlap. One major resource is the Guildhall Library with numerous biographical and genealogical sources, particularly for former inhabitants of the City of London, including an extensive range of family history and local history journals.[19] Old Bailey Online is a fully searchable database has information from crimes tried at the Old Bailey (later the Central Criminal Court) between 1674 and 1913. British History Online is a collection of nearly 1300 volumes of primary and secondary content relating to British and Irish history, and histories of empire and the British world. BHO also provides access to 40,000 images and 10,000 tiles of historic maps of the British Isles. The London Picture Archive has over 250,000 images of London from the collections at The London Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery. London’s Screen Archives (LSA) is a unique network of over 70 organisations with a shared vision – to preserve and share London’s history on film. London Lives 1690 to 1800 - Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis is a fully searchable edition of 240,000 manuscripts from eight archives and fifteen datasets, giving access to 3.35 million names. London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972 includes Medical Officer Health Reports that provided statistical data about births, deaths and diseases, but they also allowed the authors to express the diversity of their local communities and their own personal interests.
Ethnicities in Greater LondonEthnicities in Greater London
The demographic distribution of the Greater London population is as follows:[20]
Based on the 2021 Census of England and Wales, London was more ethnically diverse than other regions in England. Those identifying as White British accounted for 43.4% of London's population compared with 78.4% for England and Wales overall. Excluding White British, the most common ethnic groups in London were Other White (14.6%), Black African (7.9%), and Indian (7.0%).
Surnames in Greater LondonSurnames in Greater London
Explore more about English CountiesExplore more about English Counties
MyHeritage.com has 351 collections that contain millions of English records that cover a huge variety of genealogical historical events that can help you find your ancestors. The MyHeritage Knowledge Base contains helpful information about genealogical research. The Legacy Family Tree Webinars website contains more than 2000 valuable genealogical webinars including over 50 webinars about English research.
See alsoSee also
- Administrative structure of England
- English genealogy
- English immigration
- English emigration
- English archives
- England historical records
- Vital records in England
- Birth records in England
- Death records in England
- Marriage records in England
- Census records in England
- Civil registrations in England
- Church records in England
- Newspaper records in England
- English military records
- Abney Park Cemetery
- Highgate Cemetery
- Nunhead Cemetery
- Brompton Cemetery
- Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
References
- ↑ London metropolitan area population 2019
- ↑ What is the location and importance of London?
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Greater London | History, Geography & Culture | Britannica
- ↑ Landscape and natural heritage | London City Hall
- ↑ The World's Leading Financial Cities
- ↑ Industries in the UK
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cities of Making
- ↑ Helping London's Green Belt farms to prosper | London City Hall
- ↑ River Thames History and Culture | Thames River Sightseeing Tours
- ↑ The Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I | Royal Museums Greenwich
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 BBC - History - British History in depth: Black Death
- ↑ Why do parish councils only exist in some parts of England?
- ↑ The City's government
- ↑ United Kingdom
- ↑ Facts about the River Thames & useful information - Visit Thames
- ↑ London Natural History Society - Geology of London
- ↑ London Mountains
- ↑ London - Climate, Rainfall, Fog | Britannica
- ↑ Biographical and genealogical research
- ↑ Population estimates by ethnic group and religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in Greater London, With Meanings