LONDON CALLING

LONDON: A Global City"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." Samuel Johnson

LESSON PLAN

London: Facts and Figures

Global Cities: Methods and Criteria

London's assets

Problems and Challenges

LONDON: Facts and Figures

Make Up: The Inner City and 32 Boroughs governed by the GLA with an elected Mayor since 2000

Size: roughly 1500km2

Population:somewhere between 8 and 9 million inhabitants

Density:5200 inhabitants / km2

Ethnic Groups:Over 300 languages spoken and 14 different religions

The City:300 000 people work inThe Square Mile

Transport:22000 taxis 6800 buses 268 Tube stations 5 airports (134M passengers)

Global Cities: Methods and Criteria (1)

To be considered a global city, the city must be seen as an important node (element) in the global economic system which means the system is dependent upon certain economic locales situated around the globe which interact in trade and commerce (NYLON the strong links between the world's two leading global cities, New York and London)

The Global City Index criteria (2)

The GCI criteria for a Global City are

Business Activity: Headquarters of major MNCs; capital markets; flow of goods through ports and airports; international conferences

Information Exchange: access to major news channels; access to internet; international news bureaus; level of censorship

Political Engagement: number of embassies; seat of national government; political conferences; international organizations

Human Capital: attraction for talent-based workers; number of foreign born population; quality universities; international students and schools; number of residents with university degrees

Cultural Experience: sporting events; museums; theatres; restaurants; tourists

THE GCI criteria and London's Assets

Business Activity:

Information Exchange and Human Capital

London has long been one of the world's leading financial markets (Stock Exchange) 40% of the world's foreign equities (shares/stocks) are traded here. It is a major market in currency exchanges (30% of the world share, more than Tokyo and NY combined). It is the biggest international trade centre 80% of business in the city is international. Of the European companies in the Global Fortune 500 index, 33% are based in London. Over 300 000 people work in The City

London has long been a centre for science, technology and design. It boasts over 4500 world-class researchers. It has the highest concentration of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in Europe and the world over 42 including LSE, Imperial College, University College London - and a student population in excess of 400 000.London's population is a highly cosmopolitan city it has over 300 languages and 14 religions. Almost 33% of the citys population is of BAME origin (black, asian other minority ethnic). The city is actually growing at the present time. Its population is on the increase due to the foreign-born immigrants who settled in London and who have since had large families. Over the next ten years BAME groups will make up 80% of London's working-age population. In London, wages are 22% higher than in the UK, the city has far more managerial and professional jobs than the UK as a whole, house prices are far higher and its workers are more well-educated.

THE GCI criteria and London's Assets

Political Engagement:

Cultural Experience:

Obviously, London is not just the political capital of England but also of the UK as a whole (despite devolution). The Palace of Westminster or Houses of Parliament, is the centre of political life. London also hosts all the various ministries of government. New Scotland Yard is the national centre of the police force and over 70 major countries have their embassies in the capital. However, one of London's weaknesses is its lack of an international conference centre to host international meetings and seminars a study is in progress to find a suitable venue.

In the GCI results, London scores even higher than Paris when it comes to culture. Like all capitals, London houses some of the most prestigious museums, theatres, tourist attractions and sporting events the list can be very long. Let us simply note the following:The National GalleryThe Tate ModernThe Natural History MuseumThe National Portrait GalleryThe Houses of Parliament (Big Ben)Buckingham Palace and the Horse GuardsThe London EyeWembley StadiumThe Olympic Games 2012

CONCLUSION:London quite obviously rates as one of the most global cities in the world, second only to New York. It continues to play a leading role in global affairs and financial markets and acts as a magnet to many foreign firms and businesses who set up in the capital. Its population is of mixed ethnic origins and foreigners continue to be attracted to life in the British capital.

However, there are PROBLEMS and CHALLENGES

TRANSPORTTransport is an urban obsession. A city's transport system is an expression of its power and organisation. The GLA organises an area of 1500km2 but the total commuter area is six times as large. Transport has to accommodate between 8 to 9 million people a huge demand.

London has a traditional public transport system, using both rail, underground and bus routes. In the past, the London Underground was the best example in the world and the red, double-decker bus was a national emblem. However, low investment over a period of years left London transport in a poor state of repair. Since the 1990s, and especially since the creation of the GLA in 2000, there have been attempts to renew the transport system.

the Underground is being renewed (but over a long period of time)the DLR links the city with Canary Wharfthe Underground now goes as far as Heathrow Airportbus routes have been reinforcedCycle Highways have been introducedCongestion Charging (8 a day) reduced car traffic by 15-20%

However, even if N/S transport has been improved, there is still a need of a Crossrail system from East to West.