London

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom and one of the leading global cities. The River Thames runs through the centre of London, which has been a major settlement for more than 2,000 years, since Londinium was founded by the Romans.

London can also be defined as Greater London which is a conurbation which forms the administrative boundaries of London. It covers 607 sq. miles and has a population of 8,787,892 (as of 2016). Greater London consists of 33 local government districts – 32 boroughs and the administrative and financial centre of the City of London.

The Greater London Built-Up Area (also known as the Greater London Urban Area) refers to the continuous urban area of London and surrounding urban towns. This has a population of 9,787,426 (as of 2011).

The London Commuter Belt refers to the metropolitan area comprising London and its surrounding commuter zone (most of the South-East and part of the East of England). As of 2016, the population was approaching 14,500,000. However, the boundaries of this area are flexible as transport infrastructure improves, housing provision increases, and more people are able to travel in and out of London to work.

London is the seat of the national government of the United Kingdom. The Minister of London (a cabinet position created in 1994) is currently Jo Johnson MP.

London’s administration is made up of a number of bodies:

• Greater London Authority (GLA): Responsible for strategic local government. Consists of the elected Mayor of London (who has executive powers) and the London Assembly (which scrutinises the Mayor).
• City of London Corporation: Responsible for the local government of the City of London.
• Smaller authorities: Local administration is carried out by the 32 boroughs.

The London Plan is a statutory strategy required by the Greater London Authority Act 1999. It is prepared by the Mayor of London and published by the Greater London Authority. The latest edition was published in March 2015. The London Plan is a spatial development strategy setting out an economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London to 2036.

Designing Buildings Wiki has a range of articles relating to London, including:

• 25 best buildings in London.
• A city for all Londoners.
• Accessible London.
• Draft London Housing Strategy.
• Draft London Plan.
• GLA Housing Design SPG.
• Empty housing in London - documentary.
• Greener City Fund for London.
• Infrastructure under Mayor Sadiq Khan.
• London infrastructure plan.
• London Land Commission.
• London View Management Framework.
• Making the Green Belt work for London.
• Metropolitan open land (MOL).
• Response to Mayors consultation document.
• Strategic industrial locations (SILs).
• Supplementary planning guidance.
• T-Charge.
• The future of the green belt.
• The London Plan.
• Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Designing Buildings Wiki has a range of articles relating to buildings and structures in London, including:

• 2 Willow Road.
• 10 Downing Street.
• 20 Fenchurch Street.
• 30 St. Mary Axe.
• After the Fire: London churches in the age of Wren, Hooke, Hawksmoor and Gibbs.
• Architecture of Tooting.
• British Museum.
• BT Tower.
• Battersea Power Station.
• Buckingham Palace.
• Buildings of Westminster.
• City Hall, London.
• Container City.
• Dennis Severs house.
• Heathrow Terminal 5.
• Leadenhall building.
• Lloyd's of London.
• London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
• M by Montcalm.
• Millennium Dome.
• National Theatre.
• NatWest Tower.
• Nuclear Dawn mural, Brixton.
• One Canada Square.
• One Hyde Park
• Palace of Westminster.
• Royal Albert Hall.
• SIS Building.
• St Pauls Cathedral.
• Stamford Bridge stadium.
• Thames Barrier.
• The Livery Halls of the City of London.
• The Shard.
• Trellick Tower
• Walters Way and Segal Close.
• Welbeck Street car park.
• Wembley Arena.
• Wembley Park.
• Wembley Stadium.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Crown Estate.
• Devolution.
• Europe.
• European Union.
• Great Britain.
• Local authority.
• Localism Act.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• Public authority.
• Tallest buildings in the UK.
• United Kingdom.