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Home , Barking Abbey, Bexleyheath, Coldfall Wood, Crofton Roman Villa, Dagenham, Herne Hill Velodrome

BARKING & / BARNET / BARNET & DAGENHAM BARKING / BROMLEYBEXLEY / BRENT OF LONDONCAMDEN / CITY / / ENFIELD HACKNEY / & / HAVERING HARINGEY / HARROW / & / KENSINGTON UPON CHELSEA / KINGSTON / / NEWHAM / REDBRIDGE RICHMOND UPON THAMES / SUTTON HAMLETS / WALTHAM TOWER FOREST / ABOUT ’S TEN INTERESTING THINGS FOREWORD 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 Authority.

For the capital’s 7.5 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 , the 32 and the .

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.

Mayor Jules Pipe Chair, B arking and D 1 / Barking 5 / used as power station his headquarters while provides over a the was third of London’s being built. It is the annual energy second oldest abbey in consumption the country. and has one of the best 6 / The estate environmental was built in 1921 to reward the families of records for similar soldiers who had served buildings in in the First World War. It Europe. was the largest council housing estate in the world at the time.

7 / Barking and Dagenham agenham has 31 listed buildings, including the 17th century .

8 / The contains the UK’s biggest brownfield regeneration site at , 2 / There are 25 parks where 10,000 homes and open spaces spread will be built in the next across the whole of the 15-20 years. borough with a wide range of activities at each. 9 / Famous inhabitants have included Billy Bragg, 3 / The London , Vera Lynn, Sustainable Industries Max Bygraves and Sandie Park at Dagenham Shaw. Dock will be the UK’s largest concentration of environmental industries 10 / Barking and and technologies with Dagenham is one of the significant opportunities six host boroughs for the for investment. London 2012 Games. The council’s ambition is that the Games will help 4 / Barking and Dagenham realise its vision for a is at the heart of the borough which is clean, with safe, fair and respectful, excellent road and public prosperous, healthy and transport links to central where young people are London and the rest of inspired and successful. , between and the M25. BARNET

1 / Barnet was the site of 5 / The oldest tree in one of the most important London, a yew dating back battles in the War of the 2,000 years to Anglo- Roses - the Battle of Saxon times, can be found Barnet on 13 April, 1471. in St Andrew’s churchyard in .

2 / A fair has been

held in Barnet every year since 1588 and became so well known

that ‘Barnet fair’ became rhyming slang for hair. 6 / Over two-thirds of 3 / Barnet has the highest Barnet residents own their proportion of Jewish own home. residents of any local authority area in the UK. 7 / Barnet is twinned with eight other around 4 / Barnet has a high the world, including Jinja proportion of both older (Uganda); Ramat Gan and younger residents. (Israel) and Tempelhof The borough has both the (Germany). second largest proportion of people aged over 85 in London and the 8 / An 1895 film of a hay second largest population cart crossing Barnet’s of children and young Hadley Green is one of the people. earliest films ever made.

9 / It is rumoured that Winston Churchill secretly met Rudolf Hess in Barnet.

10 / More than 4,000 Barnet schoolchildren will be experiencing the Olympics and Paralympics first hand after their schools were allocated tickets via the ‘Get Set Network’, part of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) official London 2012 education programme.

Crossness 6 / The by , built Station Pumping as Bazalgette Sir Joseph London’s Victorian part of system, contains sewerage finest period’s the of some cast ironwork. ornamental Red historic 7 / The was in House the built for originally artist William Victorian as is known Morris and Arts and the of home the Movement. Crafts mile has a five 8 / Bexley River the onto frontage Thames. is mentioned 9 / Bexley in the it is 1086, where of with as a village described a mill. and 12 ploughs Club is 10 / Yacht sailing leading the of one Thames. the on venues clubhouse, new A brand sailing and boats new a all part of coach are to five year programme of number the increase involved people getting a create and in sailing the from legacy lasting 2012 Games.

5 / More than half 5 / More all (51 per cent) of is waste Bexley’s highest , the recycled in London. rate 4 / Bexley is one of the the of is one 4 / Bexley in boroughs greenest with over 200 London spaces. open and parks 3 / Bexley has a working has a working 3 / Bexley around of population about which 110,000, of locally. 70,000 work 2 / Famous Bexley Bexley 2 / Famous have included residents Bush, Roald Dahl Kate . Lewis Lennox and 1 / Bexley’s iconic new new iconic 1 / Bexley’s will provide Centre Europa training Games-time the Olympic the for venue volleyball Paralympic and squads. BEXLEY BRENT

1 / Temple, 4 / Brent is widely the first and largest recognised as one of the traditional Hindu Mandir most ethnically diverse outside India, is made of local authorities in the 2,000 tonnes of Italian country. marble and 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone 5 / In 1986 Merle Amory which were carved by became leader of Brent Indian craftsmen and council, the first black shipped to London. woman to reach this position within a British local authority. 2 / Every year Brent hosts ‘Dance Month’, a month long celebration of dance and diversity. This year’s dance month was delivered as part of Big Dance 2012, the UK’s biggest festival of dance and the Cultural Olympiad.

3 / Covering twice the area of the 6 / The 4,004 seat State original venue, Cinema in was the and with 90,000 largest in Europe when seats, the new Gracie Fields opened it in Stadium 1937. is the largest 7 / Brent is named after covered football the River Brent which stadium in the runs through the borough. world. 8 / Famous residents of Brent have included: Daniel Craig, Lily Allen, Sienna Miller, Jade Jagger and Peter O’Toole.

9 / John Logie Baird receved the first TV pictures from the continent at Kingsbury Manor studio in 1929.

10 / will host both the men’s and women’s Olympic football semis and finals, while the will host the badminton and rhythmic gymnastic events.

, author of of , author 7 / HG Wells The and Machine Time The , was the Worlds of War in 1866. born in Bromley residents famous 8 / Other have included Bromley of Blyton Napoleon III, Enid . Charles Darwin and Hill aerodrome, 9 / Biggin early 1930s, built in the aerodrome main was the pilots RAF fighter for Battle of the during Britain. 10 / Britain’s fastest 100m record woman, holder Montell Douglas, was a pupil at the in school Ravensbourne Bromley. The Crystal 6 / The Crystal the huge Palace, hall exhibition the constructed for Exhibition Great in 1851, was to relocated was in 1854 but fire by destroyed in 1936.

network labyrinthine A 2 / 26 rail has 26 rail 1 / Bromley than any stations, more borough, London other underground but no stations. 5 / Bromley boasts the boasts the 5 / Bromley green of area largest with space in London, borough the half of belt green by covered countryside. 4 / Crofton , Roman 4 / Crofton on behalf of managed by borough the Rescue Archaeological only such is the Unit, in public villa open to the London. Greater 3 / Bromley has 147,000 3 / Bromley goods light private, in registered vehicles highest the borough, the London. in number at caves of underground formed were chalk for digging when for used in brick-making London. of building the BROMLEY CAMDEN CITY OF LONDON

1 / Camden has 39 7 / Famous residents have conservation areas included Charles Dickens, which cover half the Benjamin Disraeli, Karl borough, including several Marx, Friedrich Engels and parks such as Regent’s John Keats. Park, and Heath. 8 / Camden is home to three of London’s largest 2 / There is a difference rail stations: King’s Cross, in male life expectancy St Pancras and Euston. of more than 11 years between Hampstead and St Pancras and Somers 9 / The borough is home Town wards. to London Zoo, the world’s oldest scientific zoo which opened in 1828. 3 / The 1665 outbreak of Bubonic plague first struck in , around the poor, overcrowded area of St Giles-in-the- Field.

4 / London’s firstbypass was opened in Camden in 1756 and is now the Euston Road running from to Islington.

10 / Camden has 5 / Camden’s markets are developed 12 legacy among the capital’s most projects, including sports, popular visitor attractions volunteering, community and are visited by around and business benefits, 100,000 people every to ensure the London weekend. 2012 Games are used as a catalyst to improve the lives of people living and 6 / Students working in the borough. make up 11 per cent of borough residents, the highest proportion in London. 6 / London’s first public first public 6 / London’s was fountain drinking 1859, on 21 April unveiled of wall boundary at the church, St. Sepulchre’s Hill. Snow the City controls 7 / The London of full spans Blackfriars Bridge and Bridge but only half of river underneath the is which a feature them, within British uncommon local administration. City Bridge 8 / The largest is London’s Trust grant-making independent which trust, of London City of the sole is the Corporation trustee. London of City 9 / The and owns Corporation elsewhere land manages notably in London, and . Sport 10 / The City of activity physical has been set programme numbers record up to get 340,000 workers the of involved to get City in the to cycling in sports from in part , take kickboxing an urban gym or learn to fence. how 5 / The City of London London of City 5 / The as a classed is not – it is governed ‘borough’ London City of by the , elected by Corporation businesses, and residents unusual has several and as its own such features, force. police 4 / The City’s population population City’s 4 / The at 208,000 was estimated which in 1700 (139,000 of city walls). was within the St Paul’s 3 / St Paul’s is the Cathedral most popular visitor spot in the city. 2 / Though more than more 2 / Though work 300,000 people City each within the City the weekday, resident London’s of is just 11,600, population in the live whom of many . Barbican complex 1 / The City of London is London City of 1 / The AD in founded ancient, Romans. by the 43-50 CITY OF LONDON EALING Street Street Surrey 5 / The in Croydon, Market , is one in 1276 founded in markets oldest the of country. the has over 6 / Croydon parkland, of 3,000 acres open and countryside space within its borders. Iron Surrey 7 / The to Croydon Railway from in opened Wandsworth world’s was the 1803 and . railway first horse-drawn most has the 8 / Croydon borough any schools of 89 including in London, 20 secondary and primary schools. was once 9 / Croydon of ‘The Valley as known where was ’ and the Crocus Archbishops ’s and kings entertained queens. , Harriers 10 / Croydon capital’s best the of one is clubs, athletics known 90 years-old this year. 4 / Croydon is one of of is one 4 / Croydon largest country’s the home centres; commercial than 20 blue- to more chip companies and 13,000 businesses. around 3 / Croydon has among has among 3 / Croydon largest London’s population with just over 140,000 households. 2 / The Croydon Croydon 2 / The was built in Aerodrome first 1915 as London’s airport, but was replaced in 1959. by X Factor 1 / X Factor winner Leona and singer- Lewis Kate songwriters Nash and Amy Winehouse all attended the BRIT school in Croydon, only free Britain’s arts performing and technology school. CROYDON , Panter Anne and and 10 / Via its Team Ealing Ealing Team its 10 / Via Grants Ambassador council Ealing scheme, local five is backing bids athletes in their medals: Olympic for Hannah Beharry, boxer players Hannah hockey Macleod and Turner Laura sprinter Josh fighter taekwondo . Webley 7 / After English, 7 / After English, is Somali (9 per cent) widely most second the in Ealing language spoken This overtook schools. Punjabi (8 per cent) in 2011. Ealing 8 / A quarter of children school primary to free entitled are meals. school has one 9 / Ealing Polish largest the of communities in London. Ealing studios studios 6 / Ealing its celebrated 2002, in centenary it the making studios oldest film still in the world in production. 5 / Ealing started to 5 / Ealing mid-19th the in develop 20th by the and century, was nicknamed century ’ ‘Queen of the its attractive, because of streets. tree-lined 4 / There are 19 are 4 / There space open major - borough in the areas belt green designated open or metropolitan 8.4 - totalling land areas km or 15 per cent square the of total area the of borough. 3 / Ealing is derived from from is derived 3 / Ealing “Gillingas” and Saxon the as a settlement is recorded was It century. 12th in the of middle in the originally west to the forest a great London. of 2 / Fewer than half pupils the (43 per cent) have schools in Ealing first as their English language. In primary proportion the schools is just 38 per cent. 1 / Ealing has the largest largest the has 1 / Ealing in London Sikh community to Sri Guru is home and , Gurdwara Singh Sabha Sikh temple largest the India. outside EALING ENFIELD GREENWICH

1 / Although not 6 / The borough offers the bordering the Thames, second largest expanse Enfield includes the of parks and open spaces longest length of river in London, covering more corridor in London, known than 900 hectares. as the Loop, which covers more than 27 miles. 7 / Enfield is home to three campuses of University, 2 / The Royal Small Arms one of the most popular factory at Enfield Lock, UK universities for built in 1815, became international students. the main manufacturing site for the British army’s infantry weapons, 8 / Former famous Enfield including the Lee Enfield residents include horror rifle. actor Boris Karloff, TV legend, Sir Bruce Forsyth, who was born in 3 / The borough’s Edmonton, Myleene Klass Chickenshed and Amy Winehouse. theatre has a membership of 9 / The Rose & Crown Pub around 800 people in Enfield dates back to the 15th Century and and is home to was once owned by the the largest youth notorious highwayman theatre in Europe. ’s grandfather Mr Mott. It is said that Dick would hide in the pub to avoid capture and that his ghost still haunts the pub today.

10 / The athletics track at Enfield’s QEII stadium was upgraded as part of the borough-wide campaign to get ‘Everybody Active’. Originally opened in the 4 / Barclay’s Bank in Queen’s coronation year, Enfield was home to the 1953, the track was world’s first cash point where a young Seb Coe machine, officially opened trained in the 1980s. by local resident and On the Buses star Reg Varney in 1967.

5 / The world’s first electric fire, halogen cooker and man-made fibres were all invented in Enfield. GREENWICH

1 / Greenwich was formally granted Royal Borough status on 3 February 2012, in recognition of hundreds of years association between the borough and the Monarchy. 6 / The firstgolf club in England was set up in Blackheath in 1608. 2 / The capital’s first steam railway was extended to Greenwich 7 / At eight miles, in 1838 and linked the Greenwich has the longest borough with London embankment along the Bridge.

3 / Maritime 8 / Greenwich was the site of a royal palace from the Greenwich was 15th century, and was awarded World the birthplace of many Heritage Site in the House of Tudor, status in 1997. including Henry VIII and .

4 / The Blackwall Tunnel was the largest underwater tunnel in the world when it opened in 1897.

5 / Greenwich is world famous as the traditional location of the Prime Meridian, on which all Coordinated Universal Time is based. 9 / Greenwich is home to the world’s largest tea clipper, the . The ship caught fire in 2007 but the project to conserve her is expected to be completed in time for the London Olympics.

10 / Greenwich is one the six host boroughs of the London 2012 Games and will host a total of 34 events across nine sports at three venues: , The Royal Artillery Barracks and the North Greenwich Arena. HACKNEY HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM

6 / More people in Hackney cycle to work than in any other London borough.

7 / Hackney has more green space than any other borough, with 62 parks and open spaces. 1 / has 8 / Albert Square, the the largest setting for the BBC soap concentration of EastEnders, was modelled football pitches on Fassett Square in in Europe; over a . hundred games are played there every 9 / London’s only winter weekend. Olympic-sized heated outdoor pool is situated in one of Hackney’s green 2 / The Rio Cinema in flag parks, . Dalston is one of the few independent and community-run cinemas 10 / Hackney is one of in the country. the six host boroughs for the London 2012 Games and around a third of the 3 / is home total Games area falls to the largest Jewish within the borough. Charedi community in the world, outside New York and Israel.

4 / Built in 1901, the famous Hackney Empire has been a music hall and a TV studio - following a recent restoration it is still a major arts attraction today.

5 / The Gunpowder Plot was uncovered in on 26 October 1605, when an anonymous letter arrived at the home of local resident Lord Monteagle, warning him not to attend Parliament. 7 / Hammersmith and and 7 / Hammersmith most fourth Fulham is the densely populated local and in England authority Wales. is home borough 8 / The country’s the of to three teams: top football Fulham Chelsea, Queens and Park Rangers. 9 / The borough’s largest employer BBC, is the with BBC Television located at Centre White City. White City 10 / The stadium was famous finish the hosting for modern first the of marathon distance (26 miles 385 yards), of the lap with a final stadium to finish in the of front Royal box. 6 / Gandhi lived on Road while Court Baron’s law in London studying Other 1880s. in the residents former famous include borough the of Taylor poet Samuel the composer and Coleridge Elgar. Sir Edward 5 / The borough has the has the borough 5 / The proportion highest second of single adults in – 55 Wales and England per cent. 4 / The borough’s borough’s 4 / The centre shopping Westfield man- took 13 million used and to build hours to fill concrete enough 117 Olympic swimming pools. 3 / The first half of first half 3 / The and Oxford annual the boat race Cambridge the course is along border southern borough’s Thames. River on the 2 / One in five residents residents in five 2 / One over have incomes £60,000, but five areas the among within H&F are deprived most 10 per cent nationally. The 1908 1 / The were Olympics at White held the City after Mount of eruption caused Vesuvius to be the event from relocated Italy at short notice. HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM HARINGEY HARROW

1 / was Britain’s first public park, created by an Act of Parliament in 1857.

2 / In 1909 Walter Tull was the first black player for FC and the first black army officer commissioned in the UK. 7 / Haringey provides 100 3 / Haringey has children’s a relatively young playgrounds, population with around containing around 20 per cent of its population aged 0-15 and 200 swings. less than 10 per cent of pensionable age. 8 / Haringey is home to five ancient woods, 4 / Seven Sisters is named including , after seven elm trees Bluebell Wood and North planted in the Page Green Wood. area. 9 / Now a free museum, 5 / In ancient times, what in we now know as Haringey Tottenham is one of the was made up of two capital’s oldest brick large manors, buildings, originally built and Tottenham. In the by one of Henry VIII’s Middle Ages, Tottenham’s leading courtiers. population consisted of 59 serfs, four slaves, two freemen and a priest. 10 / The Haringey 2012 Fund, part of the borough’s Olympic Legacy 6 / The world’s first public Plan, was set up to fund broadcasts of high- educational, sporting and definition television were cultural activities that made by the BBC from celebrate the Olympics Alexandra Palace in 1936. coming to London.

6 / Harrow is the most the is 6 / Harrow local diverse religiously UK; in the authority 62 per cent a there’s that two random chance would be from residents groups. religious different 7 / Punk designer Westwood Vivienne at Harrow fashion studied where near Art School, a sub post ran parents her Road. on Station office alias 8 / Reg Dwight, , was born his spent and in Harrow in . childhood the can find 9 / You last the of one of remains Churches Saxon surviving at St Mary’s in England in Harrow. Church was church 10 / St Mary’s to selected by residents in borough the represent London Landmark the cast badges of series 2012 the to celebrate Paralympic and . 5 / One fifth of the of the fifth 5 / One composed of is borough open spaces, and parkland belt a green creating to eight equivalent . Parks Hyde 4 / The fictional BBC fictional 4 / The ‘One series comedy ’, Grave in the Foot Wilson Richard starring was Crosbie, Annette and borough. set in the Harrow 3 / Harrow public school for is famous educating seven Prime Ministers, including Winston and has Churchill, in also featured the Harry Potter films. 2 / Twenty-two per cent cent per 2 / Twenty-two population Harrow’s of as themselves identify the in ethnicity, ‘Indian’ highest in London. , the , the Beeton 1 / Mrs goddess, domestic original Villas in at Chandos lived 1856-62. from End Hatch HARROW HILLINGDON nightclubs in anywhere outside London of and bars End. West the concentrations concentrations of the highest highest the of 10 / Over the past 10 / Over the 9 / has one has one 9 / Romford year Havering schools schools year Havering part in a have taken Olympic themed of host the to celebrate events including: Games London / Olympics ‘Big Wow the ’ event, Comes to Town 2012 Logo Havering 2012 the competition, Ambassadors School a carnival programme, Coopers and procession the Coburn’s ‘welcoming world’ project. 6 / The name Havering Havering name 6 / The 1086 the in is recorded as the Book Domesday of name folk ancient means which Haueringas, the of settlement ‘the called a man of family Hæfer’. was borough 7 / The as known formerly of Royal the , to which Havering a IV granted Edward charter in 1465. people born 8 / Famous the include in Havering Gooch, Graeme cricketer Jimmy footballer the TV presenter and Greaves . Madeley Richard 5 / Windmill, Windmill, 5 / Upminster built in 1803 by local Noakes, James farmer of one is considered of examples finest the a ‘smock’ windmill in England. remaining 4 / Estate, Hill Estate, 4 / Harold 1940s, the built during largest Europe’s was once council estate. 3 / More 3 / More than half the of is borough park or green of some belt land, of evidence shows which early Roman settlements. 2 / Havering’s population population 2 / Havering’s lowest proportion has the BAME people from of in London communities 92 per cent of – in fact, identify its residents themselves as ‘’. Romford 1 / Romford celebrated Market its 750th in anniversary 1997. HAVERING is Farm 6 / Manor flagship Hillingdon’s site. culture and heritage House Fountain 7 / The was once Hotel in Hayes famous the where a school Orwell - writer George Animal Farm of author taught. - lived and 8 / In October 2008, the opened Hillingdon first playground country’s for specifically designed . disabled children Blue 9 / Hillingdon’s celebrates Plaque scheme people who important borough, have lived in the Prize Nobel including Sir Alexander winner World Fleming, Second pilot Douglas fighter War anti-slavery Bader, and William campaigner . Wilberforce state-of-the- 10 / The Sports art Hillingdon Complex Leisure and metre first 50 the features Olympic-sized swimming pool to be built in London than 45 years. more for Hospital, 5 / Harefield Sir Alexander where of much did Fleming the of his work, is one centres world’s largest lung and heart for In 1983, a transplants. led by doctors, team of Sir Professor eminent the performed Yacoub, Magdi heart-lung first Britain’s . transplant 4 / At the height of of height the 4 / At Britain in of Battle the 1940, Winston Churchill at bunker visited the he where RAF , so was ‘Never proclaimed, so many by much owed . to so few’ 3 / In December 2011, 3 / In December 2011, Lido, which London’s of boasts one celebrated few beaches, its bicentenary. is lido the Surrounding National Woods Ruislip the which Reserve, Nature the timber for provided Windsor of building Castle. Hillingdon has 2 / Hillingdon land under more Green prestigious Flag status than other London any borough. 1 / Hillingdon is the is the 1 / Hillingdon London largest second and by area, borough the of to one is home airports, world’s busiest . Heathrow HILLINGDON BARKINGBOROUGHS LONDON’S & DAGENHAM / BARNET BEXLEY / BRENT / BROMLEY CAMDEN CITY OF LONDON CROYDON / EALING / ENFIELD GREENWICH / HACKNEY HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM HARINGEY / HARROW / HAVERING HILLINGDON / HOUNSLOW ISLINGTON / KENSIGTON & CHELSEA / LAMBETH / LEWISHAM / MERTON NEWHAM / REDBRIDGE RICHMOND UPON THAMES SOUTHWARK / SUTTON TOWER HAMLETS / WALTHAM FOREST / WANDSWORTH WESTMINSTER BARKING & DAGENHAM / BARNET BEXLEY / BRENT / BROMLEY CAMDEN CITY OF LONDON CROYDON / EALING / ENFIELD GREENWICH / HACKNEY HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM HARINGEY / HARROW / HAVERING HILLINGDON / HOUNSLOW ISLINGTON / KENSIGTON & CHELSEA / KINGSTON UPON THAMES LAMBETH / LEWISHAM / MERTON NEWHAM / REDBRIDGE RICHMOND UPON THAMES SOUTHWARK / SUTTON TOWER HAMLETS / WALTHAM FOREST / WANDSWORTH WESTMINSTER HOUNSLOW ISLINGTON

1 / Artists Hogarth and 6 / The Native American Turner are among the Pocahontas travelled famous residents who once to London in 1616 and lived within the borough. stayed in .

2 / was 7 / The first English once one of the most strawberry is said to dangerous stretches of have been cultivated in land in London, famous in 1806. for highwaymen and robbers including Dick Turpin. 8 / Seventeen per cent of Hounslow’s population identify themselves as 3 / Today, ‘Indian’ in ethnicity, the Hounslow Heath second highest in London. is one of London’s largest nature 9 / The borough is reserves, home to home to several well- known manufacturing 132 bird species companies including and several rare Gillette, Wilkinson Sword, insects and plants. GlaxoSmithKline and Firestone tyres.

4 / There are over 120 languages spoken in 10 / More than 60 schools Hounslow. in Hounslow have signed- up to London 2012’s Get Set Network, a special 5 / Other famous people network of schools and to have been born or colleges recognised for educated in Hounslow their commitment to the include the comedian Olympic and Paralypmic Jimmy Carr, the musician values. Elvis Costello and the actor Charles Hawtrey of Carry On fame. Islington’s 10 / Islington’s Sobell Centre is the official for venue training teams volleyball taking part in the 2012 Olympic Games. 5 / Islington is the first first is the 5 / Islington a to create borough ’ to Commission ‘Fairness child of rates tackle high poverty. Stone 6 / Whittington Hill is on Dick Whittington where Bow the supposedly heard him to be Bells calling London. of Mayor Czech Olympic 7 / The based are delegation Design Business at the on Islington’s Centre Upper Street. was the 8 / Islington UK’s first the of location gay rights demonstration Liberation Gay by the in 1970. Front Joe Orton, 9 / Playwright Douglas novelist sci-fi Adams, singer Alexandra ex-Prime and Burke all Blair Minister Tony lived in Islington. 13th century. 4 / Elizabeth Garrett 4 / Elizabeth Garrett at Angel school Anderson has its own ‘special First with the relationship’ Michelle Obama Lady. in 2009 school visited the girls to the invited and 2010 in White House the 2012. and 3 / 209 Islington residents residents Islington 209 / 3 Games Olympic will attend thanks to the free, for Community borough’s Scheme. Heroes

2 / Camden Passage at Passage 2 / Camden London’s of is one Angel best loved antiques . markets plays a big part plays a big 1 / Water history; wells, in Islington a man- and a canal springs, river have brought made since area to the commerce the ISLINGTON KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA KINGSTON UPON THAMES

1 / The borough has the highest life expectancy for both men and women in London - 83.1 years and 87.2 years respectively.

2 / Just under half of all residents in Kensington and Chelsea were born abroad. 6 / The Notting 3 / Four out of ten Hill carnival is one borough residents are of London’s most educated to degree level important cultural or higher, roughly double events and the the national average. largest street party in Europe. 4 / The average property price in Kensington and Chelsea is just over £1.3 7 / Kensington and million, the highest in Chelsea is the country’s the country. most densely populated local authority with more than 13,000 people per 5 / The borough is home square kilometre. to around 4,000 listed buildings, including the Natural History Museum, 8 / Isaac Newton, the the V&A and also Trellick artist J.M.W Turner, Sir Tower, the 1970s high- Thomas More and Queen rise designed by Erno Elizabeth I all lived in the Goldfinger. borough.

9 / In 1916, cocaine was sold to the public in Harrods and described as ‘A Welcome Present for Friends at the Front’.

10 / The famous Earls Court music and exhibition venue will be transformed into a volleyball arena for the 2012 Games.

KINGSTON UPON THAMES

1 / Kingston’s Coronation 7 / Kingston Bridge was Stone dates back to the the only crossing of the 10th century and was used River Thames between at the coronation of King and Staines Athelstan, crowned in 925 Bridge until Bridge and generally regarded as was opened in 1729. the first King of England.

8 / The famous Sopwith 2 / The Korean population Camel fighter plane was in is developed in Kingston in estimated to be the 1917 and destroyed more largest in Europe. enemy aircraft than any other during the First World War. 3 / Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE, the children’s author and children’s laureate, grew up in and still lives in Kingston.

4 / The first filtered to London came from Seething Wells sand beds in by the river Thames. This water supply played a major part in reducing cholera in 9 / The borough hosts one London. of the country’s leading theme parks - World of Adventure. 5 / The oldest surviving bridge in London is the Clattern Bridge at 10 / The men’s and Kingston, dating back to women’s road cycle the 12th century. races will speed through Kingston on the return leg of their journey back into 6 / Kingston central London for the has 64,000 London 2012 Games. households, fewer than any other London borough.

L ambeth LEWISHAM

6 / GCSE results in Lambeth have improved for 13 consecutive years, an increase of 7.4

per cent since 2010.

1 / Lambeth is home to 7 / Former Lambeth world class attractions residents include Charlie such as the Southbank Chaplin, diarist Samuel Centre, the Oval Cricket Pepys, actor Ground, London Eye, the and supermodel Naomi London Aquarium, the Old Campbell. Vic and some other gems such as Windmill Gardens, the Cinema Museum and 8 / Built as part of the the . Festival of Britain in 1951, the Royal Festival Hall became a Grade I 2 / The Ritzy Cinema, listed building in 1988; , built in 1911 the first post-war building was one of England’s first to do so. purpose built cinemas. 9 / 3 / Brixton Village is cemetery is one of the home to an eclectic range finest examples of of restaurants offering Victorian cemeteries; food from around the notable burials include world. Voted Best Food sugar magnate and gallery in London by Time Out founder Henry , London 2011. Paul Julius Baron von Reuter, founder of the news agency and famous 4 / The first Mayor of cookery writer Isabella London and former Beeton. leader of the GLC, Ken Livingstone, spent most of his childhood in 10 / Built in 1891 the . hosted the cycling events at the 1948 London 5 / Lambeth is home Games. Tucked away amid to the UK’s largest East streets, Portuguese population Herne Hill is still a cycle at ‘little Portugal’ near track and considered the . home of UK track cycling.

, in Laban 10 / Trinity UK’s only is the , Music of Conservatoire be will and Dance and for point starting the the leg of Lewisham the relay. torch Olympic 6 / The ever-popular, ever-popular, 6 / The over-stuffed bizarrely has Walrus Horniman at the been displayed Forest Museum, Horniman was 1901. It Hill since 1870 around mounted little people knew when walrus anatomy. about the Edmond 7 / Astronomer at St is buried Halley Lee. Church, Margaret’s first 8 / Lewisham was the to have a directly- council . mayor elected young Rivoli in 9 / The is London’s Park Crofton 1950s only intact appears and ballroom TV. on film and frequently display each display each

5 / Lewisham has the 5 / Lewisham has the parks of number highest in spaces green and London. 4 / Archbishop Desmond 4 / Archbishop in Grove lived , who Tutu early 1970s, in the Park of a Freeman was made in 1990. the Borough 3 / Elizabethan dramatist 3 / Elizabethan dramatist Christopher poet, and in an is buried Marlowe in the grave unmarked St Nicholas, of churchyard Deptford. in Cross 2 / New is home Lewisham to Goldsmiths, whose alumni include Antony Mary Gormley, Quant, Damien Bridget Hirst, and Malcolm Riley McLaren. 1 / Lewisham organises organises 1 / Lewisham free largest London’s fireworks November on Blackheath. November LEWISHAM MERTON NEWHAM

1 / At the time of the first 5 / Merton is the only census in 1801, Merton’s London borough to be population was 6,382; served by tube, rail and based on the most recent tram services. projection, the borough’s population is expected to top 212,000 in 2012. 6 / The Village ward in Merton has the highest median household income 2 / Merton is famous compared to other London for being the one-time boroughs at £47,257 per residence of Lord Horatio year. Nelson.

7 / Comedian Paul Martin 3 / Baitul Futuh Mosque is better known by his in is the largest stage name inspired by purpose-built mosque in the area of London he Europe, accommodating grew up in, Merton. 1,600 worshippers in each of its two prayer halls. 8 / Merton has more than 700 hectares of open space.

9 / In 1798, Prime Minister William Pitt fought a duel against the MP for Southwark on .

10 / The famous 4 / Arthur Liberty, founder All England Lawn of the world famous Tennis club in Liberty department store, Wimbledon will began his business hand- host the London printing imported silks at his factory on the banks Games tennis of the in tournament of the Merton. 2012 Games. NEWHAM

1 / Newham is the most ethnically diverse place in the country. Residents speak more than 200 languages and dialects.

2 / Westfield Stratford City, the new shopping complex in Stratford, is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe, 7 / Green Street - dubbed also hosting the biggest ‘the Bond Street of the casino in London. East End’ - has over 400 independent shops selling food, jewellery, designer 3 / 7,000 saris and a myriad of cafes and restaurants from Newham residents around the world. volunteer as part of the biggest council- 8 / London’s historic were once led volunteer the beating heart of programme in the Britain’s overseas trade. country. They used to be the largest Docks in the world attracting shipping from 4 / Newham has the every corner of the globe. highest proportion of young people in London and one in four residents 9 / Workplace, the is aged 15 or younger. council’s job brokerage scheme, was established in 2007 to ensure 5 / Newham has the only Newham residents airport in inner London. benefited from the It’s two miles from the opportunities presented Olympic site, three miles by the 2012 Games and from and six the regeneration of the miles from the City borough. By the start of of London. 2012 it has already helped more than 10,000 local people into work. 6 / Newham offers a pioneering programme called “Every Child a 10 / Newham is one of Musician“. It offers free six host boroughs of the music tuition and a free 2012 Games and will be musical instrument to home to 60 per cent of every year 5 and 6 the Games’ sites - around pupil in the 450,000 people will visit borough. the borough each day during the Games.

R ed BRIDGE RICHMOND UPON THAMES

1 / The only mammoth specimen with a complete skull was found in , and mammoth remains can be seen in Redbridge Museum. An important Palaeolithic site was also found in Woodford during building of the M11. 5 / The former Epping and Woodford constituency was 2 / Ilford Hospital represented in Parliament Chapel for ‘infirm men’ by Sir Winston Churchill is the oldest building from 1924 to 1964, and in Redbridge. It was his statue stands in founded in 1145 and Woodford Green. later took in people with leprosy returning from the Crusades. 6 / The name ‘Redbridge’ is from a red brick bridge across the River Roding. 3 / The ‘Great Vine’ at The borough was named was after this former landmark grown from a cutting taken when it was created in from Valentines Mansion 1965 from the municipal in 1768. A cutting was boroughs of Ilford and returned to Valentines and Woodford. Mansion in 1987, which is now a thriving visitor attraction after a major 7 / Barnardo’s has restoration. its headquarters in Barkingside, and Redbridge is also home 4 / Redbridge is one of the to the Rape Crisis Centre greenest London boroughs, for East London. with large areas of forest and parkland. They include Claybury Woods and Park, 8 / Redbridge has among which incorporates some the best schools in England design ideas by renowned and its pupils are among the landscape architect Sir highest achievers at GCSE. Humphrey Repton.

9 / Redbridge council has pioneered web-based public engagement and created the award- winning YouChoose budget consultation tool.

10 / Redbridge is home to a £4.5 million state-of-the- art cycling centre, which opened in 2008 as the first Olympic legacy venue for ordinary Londoners. only is the 7 / Richmond to span borough London River the both sides of Thames. has large 8 / Richmond open space of areas landscapes, historic and Park Richmond including is and Parks, Bushy and home to 72 designated . areas conservation has area 9 / The been home traditionally of number to large and musicians actors, including entertainers, , Attenborough Richard Eddie Mick Jagger and . Izzard and men’s 10 / The cycling Olympic women’s on will start races road Richmond of streets the out to heading before back into and Surrey the during 2012 games. London The borough is borough 6 / The Royal to the home Gardens Botanic one of in , four London’s Heritage World sites. 4 / Built in 1899, Richmond Theatre the of one remains successful most country’s more attracts and theatres a million of than a quarter a year. theatre-goers one 5 / , largest country’s the of was built venues, sporting used to previously on land giving vegetables, grow stadium’s rise to the ‘cabbage the of nickname patch’. 3 / Richmond is the least is the 3 / Richmond borough London deprived of lowest rate has the and child poverty. 2 / Richmond, Virginia, Virginia, 2 / Richmond, after was in turn named upon Thames Richmond by that town’s founder II because William Byrd James the of view the similar River was strikingly River the of view to the Richmond from Thames Hill. 1 / Richmond derives its derives 1 / Richmond palace the from name built name same the of and by Henry VIII of recognition in named in home his ancestral Yorkshire. Richmond, RICHMOND UPON THAMES SOUTHWARK SUTTON

1 / More than one in five 8 / Charles Dickens, the of Southwark resident are scientist Michael Faraday, below the age of 16. Charlie Chaplin and William Shakespeare all lived in the borough. 2 / More than 100 languages are spoken in Southwark’s schools and 43 per cent of pupils speak English as an additional language.

3 / The recently completed 310 metre high Shard at London Bridge is Europe’s tallest building.

9 / Southwark has a long 4 / London’s first tradition as a centre of crossing over the River entertainment and in 1599 Thames stretched from Shakespeare’s Globe Southwark, the poorer side Theatre was built in the of the river, to the more area. Although prosperous City on the the original theatre burnt north bank. down in 1613, a modern replica has been built near the original site. 5 / Today Southwark is London’s fastest growing tourist quarter.

6 / Library was awarded the Stirling Prize for architecture in 2000. 10 / As part of its Olympic legacy commitment, 7 / There has been a Southwark council church on the site of recently granted a share Southwark Cathedral since of £2 million funding to AD 606 and archaeological 10 projects dedicated evidence of Roman pagan to improving sports worship on the site long participation in the before that. borough. 6 / Famous Sutton Sutton 6 / Famous included have residents Minister Prime former Olympic Major, Sir John James Cracknell rower Harry and comedian Secombe. has pioneered 7 / Sutton car to reduce projects cycling promote use and its Smarter and instead has Sutton project Travel national of won a number awards. than 120 local 8 / More buildings and landmarks by have been nominated special for local residents the as part of protection to protect scheme council Sutton’s local history. 9 / Sutton has three museums - accredited in , Honeywood in House Little Holland and Carshalton Beeches Whitehall in Cheam. of thousand of 10 / Tens to Sutton people flocked a special view to library a century of exhibition posters – after Olympic of exhibition Sutton, the be displayed in on to went Melbourne. and Mumbai 5 / Sutton railway station station 5 / Sutton railway this 1847 and in opened to central connection area’s saw the London than more population within a decade. double 4 / Sutton is recorded in 4 / Sutton is recorded 1086 Domesday Book the in Old which as Sudtone, south ‘The means English farm’. 3 / Sutton is one of the the of 3 / Sutton is one boroughs few London a London to have not station Underground within its boundaries. 2 / Sutton is twinned 2 / Sutton is twinned in Europe, towns with five in Gladsaxe including in Minden Denmark, Tavernelle and Germany in Italy. Sutton has a has 1 / Sutton to be claim good ‘greenest London’s with borough’ 1,500 around green of acres and open space parks. SUTTON TOWER HAMLETS waltham fores T

1 / Tower Hamlets 5 / The docks around Canary Wharf were once takes its name part of the world’s largest from the historical port, and the area takes association its name from the many between the Tower goods imported from the of London and Canary Islands. the surrounding hamlets (villages). 6 / Pierre Du Coubertin, founder of the Modern Olympic Games, 2 / Tower Hamlets formulated much of his is London’s fastest thinking while on a tour of growing borough, with England during which he a population increase of stayed in Tower Hamlets 33 per cent expected by and spoke at the area’s 2020. famous Toynbee Hall.

3 / Over half of Tower 7 / Prompted by the poor Hamlets’ population are conditions in the East from non-white British End, William Booth formed ethnic groups. A third of his Salvation Army at these are Bangladeshi. a meeting held on the Road. Today, a statue commemorates both his mission and his work in helping the poor.

8 / Despite the removal of several docks, there are still more warehouses in Tower Hamlets than any other London borough.

4 / East, the 9 / The Victorians renamed fictitious Petticoat Lane ‘Middlesex station in EastEnders, Street’ in the 1830s to is supposedly positioned avoid any reference to between Bow Road underwear, although the and market there is still known stations, thus by the original name. replacing the real Bromley- by-Bow 10 / Tower Hamlets is one station. of the six host boroughs for the London 2012 Games. The borough’s ‘Gifted and Talented’ programme has been set up to identify and support young sporting talent accross the borough. when Queen Elizabeth I Queen when lodge used a hunting – and stands still which visitors - in accepts now . is one Forest 10 / Waltham of boroughs six host the of A Games. London 2012 the events free set of dazzling Big 6, the residents, for the celebrate will help year. momentous 6 / Market Market 6 / Walthamstow longest daily is Europe’s market. street boasts Forest 7 / Waltham resources natural rich of vast areas including Lea in the marshland the west of to the Valley Epping and borough, east. north to the Forest , Britain’s Bremer 8 / The first car with an internal was engine, combustion in Waltham produced An 1890s. the in Forest can be seen today example Vestry borough’s in the House Museum. Forest 9 / Waltham links royal established 5 / In the early 20th early the 5 / In Walthamstow century, fledgling the to was home industry , with film British film studios. four ’ that offers visitors ’ that offers 4 / Waltham Forest has Forest 4 / Waltham a ‘Beckham developed Trail the chance to trace the the to trace chance the early years via footballer’s as his such local landmarks his first home, childhood local venue the club and as glass worked he where £10 a night. collector for 3 / Other famous residents residents famous 3 / Other have Forest Waltham of David footballer, included: Sir Beckham; film director, actor, Hitchcock; Alfred iPod and Jacobi; Sir Derek Ive. Sir Jonathan designer, 2 / The Morris William 2 / The the for Gallery will reopen after substantial Olympics The works. renovation in Morris’ found space, home, family former art life and the celebrates borough’s the of one of former celebrated most a leader and residents, Arts and Crafts in the movement. 1 / Waltham Forest Town Town Forest 1 / Waltham most the of is one Hall in London. impressive it 1930s, Built in the II listed and is Grade borough’s on the features pin badge Olympic waltham foresT WANDSWORTH WESTMINSTER

1 / Many of the 7 / Wandsworth has five Huguenots who fled Grade I and 39 Grade II* France in the 1600s listed buildings, ranging settled in Wandsworth. from the Church of St A Huguenot monument Mary’s in to was erected by public the Young’s Brewery in subscription in 1911 Wandsworth Town. and still stands today on Wandsworth High Street.

2 / The world famous Battersea Dogs and Cats Home finds new homes for more than 5,000 animals each year. 8 / Battersea Power Station, built in 1939, 3 / Wandsworth takes was the first in a series of its name from the River generators set up as part Wandle, which enters the of the National Grid power Thames at Wandsworth. distribution system. This system standardised the supply of electricity in 4 / In 2005, had England. a crater on Mars officially named after it by the International Astronomical 9 / The famous Union. Junction, Britain’s busiest railway station, is really in Battersea, but when 5 / There are five bridges it opened in 1863 the extending over the River railway company felt the Thames in Wandsworth. name Clapham would attract more middle class passengers. 6 / In 1913 Battersea elected London’s first black mayor, John 10 / has Archer. In 1922 Battersea long provided Londoners North elected London’s with fresh air and first communist entertainment and in July MP, the Indian- 2012 it will be the setting born Shapurji for a free weekend of Saklatvala. music to celebrate the arrival of the Games. WESTMINSTER

1 / Small businesses play 5 / Westminster is an important part in the home to 182 different economy of Westminster; nationalities, the highest 69 per cent of firms of any London borough. employ fewer than five people and more than 90 per cent have fewer than 25 employees.

2 / Westminster has 40 public conveniences with an estimated 15 million users per year.

6 / Westminster’s population contains the highest proportion of Buddhist residents in the country.

7 / Around 5,300 food businesses are regulated by the council’s Food 3 / Westminster contains Team, more than any other 450 hotels with 65,000 London local authority. beds, which equates to 30 per cent of all London bed spaces. 8 / It is estimated that more than 95 per cent of visitors to London visit 4 / The , representing approximately 28.5 Westminster million people per year. contains over 11,000 listed buildings 9 / The oldest surviving English Heritage blue of special plaque, put up in 1875 in architectural and honour of Napoleon III, historic interest is situated in King Street, and 78 per cent St James’s. of the borough is included within 10 / Venues in a designated Westminster will host conservation area. a number of Olympic and Paralmypic events including beach Volleyball at Horse Guards Parade, triathlon and open water swimming in Hyde Park and archery at Lords. LONDON COUNCILS

1 / London Councils is a cross-party organisation, funded and run by our member authorities to work on behalf of them all, regardless of political persuasion. Our members - all 32 London boroughs, the City of London, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority – 4 / London Councils’ fund our work through purpose is to help subscription. London’s local government successfully shape London as a world class city and 2 / London Councils’ best serve its individual main policy decisions communities and are taken by our Leaders’ localities. Committee, which meets monthly and brings together the leaders of all 5 / London Councils has member authorities. initiated and run several high-profile campaigns to improve the lives of 3 / London’s Londoners. This includes campaigns to ban 1,861 elected disposable, throwaway local members shopping bags and to are at the heart encourage more people to of the capital’s stand as local councillors so that London local democracy and government is more provide a vital representative of the link between their capital’s communities. local communities and the wider network of local, regional and national bodies responsible for the governance of London. 6 / We operate a Parking 9 / London Councils and Traffic Appeals carries out a wide range Service (PATAS) to of policy work covering all support the important issues for adjudicators responsible our member authorities, for considering appeals and Londoners. This against parking, road includes children and charging and other young people, crime and penalty charges issued by public protection, culture, the London authorities. tourism, London 2012, economic development, the environment, health 7 / We manage the and adult services, , funded by housing, infrastructure and London’s boroughs, to local government finance. provide free 24 hour travel on , tubes, trams and trains to more 10 / We have around 120 than one million older and staff, most of whom work disabled Londoners. at our headquarters at 591/2 Southwark Street, SE1. This unusual address was used to incorporate the building within the existing street numbering, established 30 years previously. Prior to its current incarnation as the home of London local government, the building had previously been used as an asbestos factory and a city bank.

8 / London Councils seeks to influence the government and others on issues of importance to London through commissioning research and developing policy to support our lobbying campaigns. This involves making the case for changes to proposed legislation and promoting private legislation to win more powers for our member councils. London Councils 591⁄2 Southwark Street London SE1 0AL www.londoncouncils.gov.uk 020 7934 9999 design: mightyagency.com images: Thinkstock/London councils printing: Sterling Media Associates publication date: June 2012 ISBN: 978-1-85494-166-4

London Councils supports environmentally- friendly products. This publication is printed on NAPM accredited paper that uses 75% recycled fibre, manufactured in the UK at mills with ISO 14001 accreditation.

BARKING & DAGENHAM / BARNET / BARNET & DAGENHAM BARKING / BROMLEYBEXLEY / BRENT CAMDEN / CITY OF LONDONCAMDEN / CITY / EALING / ENFIELD CROYDON HACKNEY GREENWICH / & FULHAM HAMMERSMITH / HAVERING HARINGEY / HARROW / HOUNSLOW HILLINGDON & / KENSINGTON ISLINGTON UPON THAMES CHELSEA / KINGSTON LAMBETH / LEWISHAM / MERTON NEWHAM / REDBRIDGE RICHMOND UPON THAMES / SUTTON SOUTHWARK HAMLETS / WALTHAM TOWER FOREST / WANDSWORTH WESTMINSTER

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