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London is the largest urban area and capital city of the United Kingdom. Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ...

Greater London covers an area of 609 square miles (1,579 square km). London is a port on the Thames, a navigable river. The river has had a major influence on the development of the city. London began on the Thames' north bank and for many centuries London Bridge was the only bridge in or close to the city. Because of this the main focus of the city was on the north side of the Thames. When more bridges were built in the 18th century, the city expanded in all directions as the mostly flat or gently rolling countryside presented no obstacle to growth. Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 The Port of Wellington at night. ... Several places exist with the name Thames, and the word is also used as part of several brand and company names Most famous is the River Thames in England, on which the city of London stands Other Thames Rivers There is a Thames River in Canada There is a Thames... For other uses, see London Bridge (disambiguation). ...

Rivers and canals

The Thames was once a much broader shallower river than it is today. It has been extensively embanked, and many of its London tributaries now flow underground. The Fleet River is a good example of this. The Thames is a tidal river, and London is vulnerable to flooding by storm surges. The threat has increased over time due to a slow but continuous rise in high water level, caused by both the slow 'tilting' of Britain (up in the north and down in the south) caused by post-glacial rebound and the gradual rise in sea levels due to climate change. The Thames Barrier was constructed across the Thames at Woolwich in the 1970s to deal with this threat, but in early 2005 it was suggested that a ten mile long barrier further downstream might be required to deal with the flood risk in the future [1]. The subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London. ... The River Fleet is the largest of Londons subterranean rivers. ... ... Changes in the elevation of Lake Superior due to glaciation and post-glacial rebound Post-glacial rebound (sometimes called continental rebound, isostatic rebound or isostatic adjustment) is the rise of land masses that were depressed by the huge weight of ice sheets during the last ice age, through a process... The Thames Barrier is a flood control structure on the River Thames at Woolwich Reach in London. ... Woolwich is a suburb in south-east London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich, on the south side of the River Thames, though the tiny exclave of North Woolwich (which is now part of the London Borough of Newham) is on the north side of the river. ...

Rivers

• The River Thames
• The River Brent
• The River Cray
• The River Lee (or River Lea)
• The River Ravensbourne (tidal reach known as 'Deptford Creek')
• The Wandle
• The New River

The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England, in its lower reaches flowing through London into the sea. ... The Brent is a river in south-east England. ... The confluence of the River Darent (left) and the River Cray (right) on Crayford Marshes. ... Bow Creek (tidal) meets the Limehouse Cut (canal) with a view of Londons Docklands The River Lee or River Lea (both spellings are in general use) is a river in England. ... The River Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Thames in South London, England. ... Categories: UK geography stubs | London Rivers | Rivers in Surrey | Croydon ... There are also other rivers called the New River New Gauge where water leaves the River Lea at the start of the New River The New River is a man-made waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water. ...

Subterranean rivers

• The Langbourne (dubious)
• The Walbrook
• The River Fleet
• The Tyburn
• The Tyburn Brook
• The River Westbourne
• Counter's Creek
• Stamford Brook
• The River Neckinger
• The River Effra

The subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London. ... The Walbrook river played a key role in the Roman settlement of Londinium, the city now known as London. ... Entrance to the Fleet River, Samuel Scott, c. ... The Tyburn is a stream in London, which runs underground from South Hampstead through St. ... Tyburn Brook is a tributary stream to the River Westbourne. ... The River Westbourne is a river in London, England. ... Counters Creek is an obscure stream that arises in Kensal Green, flows through Olympia, Earls Court and then empties into the River Thames. ... Stamford Brook is the confluence of three smaller streams, arising in West London, flowing into Hammersmith Creek and thence into the River Thames. ... The River Neckinger is a river that rose in Southwark and flowed through London to St Saviours Dock where it entered the River Thames. ... The outlet for the Effra river empties into the Thames by Vauxhall Bridge, from which this shot was taken. ...

Canals

• Grand Union Canal
• Regent's Canal
• The River Lee Navigation
• The Croydon Canal

The canal at Braunston The Grand Union Canal is a canal in England and part of the British canal system. ... The Regents Canal is a canal across an area just to the north of central London. ... Old Ford Lock, Lee Navigation The River Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating - as the name suggests - the River Lee (also known as the River Lea). ... The Croydon Canal ran 9. ...

Islands in the Thames

Note: Only the largest islands are listed here. A longer list can be found in the River Thames article

• Canvey Island
• Isle of Grain
• Isle of Dogs
  • Millwall
  • Cubitt Town
  • Blackwall
• Eel Pie Island

The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England, in its lower reaches flowing through London into the sea. ... Canvey Island (area 18. ... Grain church The Isle of Grain, (OE Greon meaning gravel) is in north Kent, England at the eastern end of the Hoo peninsula. ... The Isle of Dogs in 1899, at the height of its commercial success The Isle of Dogs is in the centre of this 2005 aerial view of east London as seen from the skies over south London. ... Millwall Docks Millwall is an area in London, on the western side of the Isle of Dogs, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ... Cubitt Town is an area on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets in London, England. ... Blackwall Frigate Blackwall is an area of the East End of London, situated in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ... Eel Pie Island, in the River Thames at Twickenham in London, England, can only be reached by a footbridge or boat. ...

Hills

The hills in the City of London, from west to east, Ludgate Hill, Corn Hill and Tower Hill, are presumed to have influenced the precise siting of the early city, but they are very minor, and most of central London is almost flat. There are a few notable hills in Greater London, but none of them more than a few hundred feet high, and they have not impeded the development of the city in all directions. It is therefore very roughly circular. The City of London is a geographically-small City within Greater London, England. ... Ludgate Hill is a hill in the City of London, near the old Ludgate, a gate to the City that was taken down, with its attached jail, in 1780. ... Tower Hill is an elevated spot outside the Tower of London and just outside the limits of the City of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ...

• Greenwich Hill
• Hampstead Hill
• Horsendon Hill
• Ludgate Hill
• Muswell Hill
• Parliament Hill
• Primrose Hill
• Shooter's Hill
• Tower Hill
• Tyburn Hill

The lower park from the hill, showing the Queens House, Greenwich Hospital and Canary Wharf beyond. ... Hampstead Heath is a park in the north of London, covering 791 acres (3. ... Horsendon Hill is a hill in London, England (National Grid reference: TQ162844). ... Ludgate Hill is a hill in the City of London, near the old Ludgate, a gate to the City that was taken down, with its attached jail, in 1780. ... Muswell Hill is an area in the London Borough of Haringey. ... Parliament Hill is an open area of in north-west London adjacent to Hampstead Heath administered by the Corporation of London. ... Primrose Hill. ... Shooters Hill is a place in the London Borough of Greenwich in south-east London. ... Tower Hill is an elevated spot outside the Tower of London and just outside the limits of the City of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ... Tyburn was a former village in the county of Middlesex which now forms part of Londons City of Westminster. ...

See also

• Climate of London