West London facts for kids

The consecration of Westminster Abbey stimulated population growth west of the City of London

The Grand Union Canal in Hayes, Hillingdon. The Canal is West London's major internal waterway.

West London refers to the western part of London, England. The area, which lies north of the River Thames, lacks a precise definition, but is generally taken to include parts of Central London west of the City of London; most notably Westminster and the West End, and to extend to the Greater London boundary.

The term is used to differentiate the area from the other parts of London: North London, East London and South London. The constituent districts of West London are part of the historic county of Middlesex.

Economy

London Plan

The London Plan defines two areas of London as International Centres, the West End and Knightsbridge, both in west London. Five of the thirteen Metropolitan Centres in the plan are also in West London: Ealing, Hounslow, Harrow, Uxbridge and Shepherd's Bush.

Eleven of the London Plan's thirty-eight Opportunity Areas are part of West London; Kensal Canalside, Paddington, Earl's Court and West Kensington, Harrow and Wealdstone, Park Royal, Old Oak Common, Southall, Tottenham Court Road, Victoria, Wembley and White City.

Major employers

London Heathrow Airport is a major employer in West London, and the University of West London has more than 47,000 students.

Images for kids

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  A detailed copy of John Rocque's Map of London, 1741-5.

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  Map of postcodes in Greater London: The 'Western' district is a sub-set of West London