London, England was founded by the Romans and is an interesting and historical place. What is now known as the Greater London area covers an area of about 610 square miles (1,579 sq. km.). It includes nearly all of the old administrative county of Middlesex together with the parts of the counties of Essex, Surrey and Kent. London as it now exists was formed in 1965 when the 32 London Boroughs and the Greater London Council were created. In 1986 the Greater London Council was abolished by Margaret Thatcher's government but the London Boroughs remained. Since that time there has been no overall body responsible for London. However all this has changed yet again with the setting up of a Mayor for London and a new Greater London Authority as from 1st July 2000.
The population of the Greater London area in 1991 was 6,679,700 (2,504,500 in Inner London and 4,175,200 in Outer London)
In 1889 the Administrative County of London was created including the City of London together 28 Metropolitan Boroughs (Battersea, Bermonsey, Bethnal Green, Camberwell, Chelsea, Deptford, Finsbury, Fulham, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith, Hampstead, Holborn, Islington, Kensington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Paddington, Poplar, St Marylebone, St Pancras, Shoreditch, Southwark, Stepney, Stoke Newington, Wandsworth, Westminster & Woolwich) from parts of the Counties of Middlesex, Kent and Surrey. This area has become traditionally known as Inner London and today, in addition to the City of London, comprises the 13 Greater London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, City of Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Woolwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth.
Before 1889 London was under the control of the separate historic counties except for the City of London (the square mile) which historically has its own independent administration with its own Lord Mayor and City Corporation.
If you are ever in London and are interested in its history and development then we would recommend a visit to the Museum of London. We think that the nearest underground station is Barbican but St Pauls and Moorgate are also pretty close.
The most cost effective way of travelling around London is to buy a Travelcard. These generally entitle you to unlimited travel on the buses, underground and railways (not taxis!) within a specified area after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. They are available in a number of different forms and can be purchased from all underground and railway stations and also in some shops such as newsagents. These shops display a special sign. For those of you living outside the UK we understand that there is a tourist version which can be prepurchased through your travel agent - although of course we have never used this.
Middlesex. Brief information about the historic county of Middlesex.
Ealing. Brief information about Hanwell and Ealing. The Patterson family have lived in the Ealing area of London since at least 1878.
Useful London Archives. Here we have listed family history sites of the Greater London area which we think are of use to the family historian.
For further information on London, including a list of parishes, visit the GENUKI London Page.