How Many London In The World

So, there I was, strolling through the bustling streets of London, minding my own business, when I stumbled upon a quirky little street sign that read "London Wall". Now, I'm not one to question the obvious, but this got me thinking - isn't this place already called London? Why the need for a sign saying "London London"?

And that, my curious friend, is how I found myself down the rabbit hole of "How many Londons are there in the world?"

London, London, London...

Let's start with the most obvious one - London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The big cheese, the mother of parliaments, the city that gave us fish and chips, and the Beatles. This London is the one that comes to mind when you think of red double-decker buses, Big Ben, and the Queen. But it turns out, it's not the only London out there.

Now, before you start thinking I've had one too many pints of Guinness, let me assure you, I'm not talking about some parallel universe stuff. No, these are real, tangible places with their own unique charm and history. So, let's take a little tour, shall we?

London, Ontario, Canada

Our first stop is the London of the Great White North. This London is known for its vibrant arts scene, beautiful parks, and the fact that it's home to the University of Western Ontario. It's also the birthplace of the famous Canadian actor, Ellen Page (now known as Elliot Page). Now, I'm not saying that makes it the coolest London, but it's certainly up there.

But here's where things get interesting. You might think that this Canadian London is the only other one in the world. But oh no, that would be too easy. There are actually 168 places around the world named after the British capital. Yes, you read that right. One hundred and sixty-eight!

Londons Around the World

So, where are these other Londons hiding? Well, they're scattered across every continent except Antarctica (I'm guessing the penguins aren't big fans of city life). There's London in Arkansas, USA, which is home to the World's Shortest Stairway. There's London in Jamaica, where they have a London Bridge (yes, just like the song). And there's even a London in Australia, which is actually a suburb of Melbourne.

But here's where it gets a bit weird. Some of these places aren't even called London. Take Londonderry in Northern Ireland, for example. It's officially known as Derry, but it's still named after the same city we're talking about. And then there's Londonberry in New Hampshire, USA, which is actually a town called Lebanon. I know, right? Who would've thought?

Features - londonmegacity

Why So Many Londons?

You might be wondering why there are so many places named after one city. Well, it turns out, it's all thanks to the British Empire. You see, back in the days of colonization, the Brits had a habit of naming places after their capital. It was like their way of saying, "We were here, and we named stuff."

But it wasn't just the Brits. The name London itself comes from the Old English words "lunden" and "wīc", which mean "place of lime trees" and "settlement" respectively. So, it's possible that some of these places were named after the original London, the one that was a settlement by a river full of lime trees.

So, How Many Londons Are There?

Alright, so we've established that there are a lot of places named after London. But how many exactly? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some sources say there are 168, others say 169. There's even a website dedicated to tracking them all down, and it currently stands at 169.

But here's the thing, my inquisitive friend. Even if we don't count the ones that aren't officially called London, or the ones that have changed their names, there are still a lot of them. And each one has its own story, its own history, its own little piece of the world.

So, the next time you're wondering how many Londons there are in the world, remember this: there are enough to fill a map, and each one is worth a visit. Even if it's just to see the world's shortest stairway.