London



London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It is also the most populous city in the European Union.

London has an estimated population as of 1 January 2005 of 7.5 million and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. London's population includes an extremely diverse range of peoples, cultures, and religions, making it one of the most cosmopolitan, vibrant and energetic cities in the world, with over 300 languages spoken there.

Today, "London" usually refers to the region of London which covers thirty-two London Boroughs and the City of London.

Transport
The public transport network, administered by Transport for London (TfL), is one of the most extensive in the world, but faces congestion and reliability issues. It is one of the most complex transit systems anywhere on the planet, with just under 1 billion journeys each year on the Underground alone.

In preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, a total of £7 billion (€10 billion) will be spent on refurbishment and expansion of city links, mainly on the Underground. Although winning the Games has acted as a catalyst for action, most of the work would still be completed if the bid had been unsuccessful.

The main Olympic arenas will be sited close to Stratford International station, which is currently being constructed as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The new high-speed line, due to open in 2007, will be used by the regular 'Olympic Javelin' service with a journey time of 7 minutes between Stratford and St Pancras.

Projects

 * London 21 Sustainability Network
 * London Green Map Project
 * London Sustainability Weeks
 * Kingston Green Fair
 * Sutton Future Network
 * Harrow Agenda 21 Environmental Forum

May 2006

 * 29 - Bank Holiday Monday, Kingston Green Fair, Canbury Gardens, Kingston Upon Thames

June 2006
4 - Sunday 10 - Saturday 18 - Sunday
 * Camden Green Fair & BikeFest
 * 4 - 18 London Sustainability Weeks
 * 10 - 11 Open Garden Squares Weekend
 * Wandle Valley Festival
 * West London Green Festival, Parsons Green

News

 * Wednesday. March 29 2006, London’s wildlife at risk in drought

Resources

 * Sustainable development - Information from the Mayor of London
 * Ealing Front Gardens Project

Related topics

 * Towards a sustainable Olympics 2012
 * London and the South East

Reduced dependence on cars

 * good going - travel awareness in London

Urban & village design

 * London Women and Planning Forum