London is a big place

There are many different 'Londons', so a geographic overview of the capital is a good idea to help you understand what or where people are referring to when they say 'London'.

Greater London

Greater London is the term used to refer to London in its entirety.  London is defined by two boundaries - one is the M25 Orbital Motorway and the other is the Green Belt.

The Green Belt is a band of open land where no construction is permitted.  The intention is to restrain London from infinite expansion.

The M25 Motorway is one of the UK's major motorways.  It is an orbital motorway which encircles Greater London.  It is approximately 117 miles in circumference and is thought to be Europe's busiest motorway - an estimated 250,000 vehicles use it each day!

The City of London

The City of London is what is often known in many other cities as the Central Business District.  It is only a one square mile in area and it is home to the Bank of England, The Stock Exchange, the share dealing and finance companies and the international banks.  If you hear people say they work in 'the City' they are referring to the City of London.

The West End or the Centre

Adjacent, and to the west of the City of London, is the City of Westminster, which is also a small area.  This is where the UK Government buildings and many of the well known tourist attractions are including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the heart of the West End (Leicester Square & Piccadilly Circus), where all the theatres and shows are held as well as much of the night life.

The Home Counties

Beyond the M25, and encircling Greater London, lie the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Kent.  These are known as the 'Home Counties'.  Many of the towns and villages in the Home Counties are well within a one-hour commute to central London.

To speak with one of our experienced UK consultants, please contact us on uk@globalcareerlink.com.