London is truly a world city with an economy larger than several European countries and a rich and varied culture that attracts millions of tourists every year.
London is home to the national Parliament and also to a regional tier of government in the form of the Mayor and the Greater London Authority.
For the capital’s 8 million residents, however, London is more often experienced as a patchwork of localities, each with their own character and their own distinct environment and history.
And most of the services Londoners and London businesses need and use on a daily basis are provided by local government, the 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
London Councils is the representative body for London local government, committed to fighting for a fair share of resources for our members and to ensure they have the powers to do the best possible job for residents and businesses.
This guide includes a mixture of facts, figures and some more unusual history and trivia, that offer a brief insight into the unique histories and character of each of London’s boroughs and the City of London.
We hope it gives you an idea of the diverse nature of the capital’s neighbourhoods and the various communities that collectively help create and maintain London’s status as one of the world’s most interesting cities in which to live, work, or visit.
Cllr Peter John
Chair, London Councils
