After diving deep into the subject a few days, hundreds of tabs opened, and Google asked me if I was not a robot. I finally have an answer!
London is not a city.
London it’s not technically a city as it does not have a city charter. However, it has two little cities inside it: the City of London and the City of Westminster. So, if you don’t live in Westminster or the Square Mile, you don’t technically live in a city.
An analogy came to my mind, and I couldn’t stop it!
London is like a two-yolked egg, where the City of London and the City of Westminster are the yolks, and Greater London is the egg whites. And to stir things further, London alone is a giant omelette!
So, there you have it, Londoners. Most of us don’t technically live in a city, but that doesn’t make us any less great! Keep calm and carry on living in the most unique “city” on earth!
Does London Exist?
In terms of its physical existence, London exists. It is a tangible place with local roads, buildings, and people.
However, some people argue that London does not exist as a legal entity, which is true, and I explained above why.
In addition, no definition’s universally accepted of what London is. For some people, it is the small City of London. For others, it is the much larger Greater London area. And for others, it is the entire metropolitan area of London, which extends far beyond the city limits.
Is the City of London Part of the UK?
This is a bit of a loaded question because the City of London is its own legal entity known as a “corporation,” and it has certain rights and privileges that differ from other parts of the UK.
For example, the City of London has its own government, the oldest in the country with origins pre-dating Parliament, their own Lord Mayor and an independent police force.
So, yes, the City of London is part of the UK, but it is also a separate entity with its unique status.
Other Interesting Facts About London you Didn’t Know About
Now that we got the big questions out of the way let’s move on to some other interesting facts about London that you probably didn’t know about. And sure, they will make you want to visit this fantastic City even more!
London has been the UK’s biggest City since the 1600s.
Since the 17th century, London has been the biggest City in the UK and has stayed that way until today. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1950s that another city, Birmingham, came close to London’s population size.
London is one of the most diverse places in the world.
There are over 300 languages spoken in London, making it one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. This is not surprising given the City’s cosmopolitan population.
London is Actually a Forest
London has more green space than any other European city. London comprises 47% green space, which is more than any other European city. This includes large parks such as Hyde Park and Richmond Park and smaller green areas such as community gardens and pocket parks.
The Lord Mayor is Inaugurated in Almost Total Silence.
The Silent Ceremony is a very solemn and formal event that takes place during the inauguration of the Lord Mayor of London. It is so named because no music or other words are allowed during the ceremony, which is meant to be a time of contemplation and respect.
Bank Run – City of London Banking Rule
In the past, banks in the City of London had to be within a 10-minute walk of the Bank of England. In the event of a bank run, the bank needed to be close enough to the Bank of England to get the money they needed to cover the withdrawals.
Nowadays, banks are no longer required to be close to the Bank of England, but many still choose to be located in the City of London.
The City of London is the tiniest City in the UK.
The City of London is the smallest in the UK, with just over 9,000 people. It is also one of the most densely populated areas in the country, at 5,701 people per square kilometre, which is more than ten times higher than England’s next most densely populated region.
6.5 Million People Take a Bus Every Day in London
London’s buses carry more passengers than any other mode of transport in the City, with over 6.5 million people taking a bus daily. This is not surprising given the City’s large size and the fact that its bus network is one of the largest in the world.
Londoners love pubs so much that they named five stations after them.
The five London Underground stations named after pubs are Royal Oak, The Angel, Elephant & Castle, Swiss Cottage, and Manor House. Pubs are an essential part of London’s culture, and over 3,500 of them are in the City.
Big Ben isn’t Officially Called Big Ben
The clock tower at Westminster Palace is known as Big Ben, but this is actually the nickname of the Elizabeth Tower. The Elizabeth Tower was named after Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
The Underground is the oldest in the world.
The London Underground is the oldest underground railway in the world, having opened The Metropolitan line in 1863. The Tube, known colloquially, now has 11 lines and 270 stations and carries over 1 billion passengers annually.
The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.
The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and was the tallest in the world when it was built in 2000. It is 135 metres tall and has 32 capsules, each of which can carry up to 25 people.
London is home to the world’s oldest stock exchange.
The London Stock Exchange is the world’s oldest stock exchange, founded in 1773. It is located in the City of London. It is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world, with a market capitalisation of over £6 trillion.
And the list can go on because there are so many exciting stories about London.
In Conclusion
Let’s recap what we’ve learned today. Did you catch the paradox in this article? It’s similar to the charges for driving in London and Greater London today called the London Congestion Charge and the ULEZ.
That’s right.
The megacity we all know as London is called ‘Greater London. While the original London, which is referred to as the ‘City of London’, is only a tiny part of the metropolis.
But this paradox doesn’t make London any less of a city. After all, it is one of the world’s most populous urban areas, with a population of over 9 million people. And it is also home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world, such as Big Ben, the London Eye and the Tower of London.
So, whether you call it London, Greater London or the City of London, there’s no denying it is a city like no other.
