List of Greater London boundary changes


This is a list of boundary changes occurring in the London region of England, since the re-organisation of local government following the passing of the London Government Act 1963.

Administrative boundaries

Adjustments permitted by the London Government Act 1963

Greater London was created by combining whole existing units of local government and it was anticipated that this might provide an arbitrary boundary in some places. The London Government Act 1963 Section 6 provided a mechanism for communities on the edge of Greater London to petition for transfer to a neighbouring county. The legislation required the petition to be submitted between 1965 and 1970, to be signed by more than 300 local electors and for the area to be transferred to have no more than 10% of the borough's local electors. These were completed in 1969 as the transfers of Knockholt to Kent, and of Farleigh and Hooley to Surrey. Section 6 of the act allowed for transfers between Greater London and neighbouring counties where there was consensus for the change between all the relevant local authorities. This power was used to exchange two islands on the River Thames that were connected to the river bank by bridges on the opposite side of the river to their respective counties. Thames Ditton Island was transferred to Surrey from Greater London and Platts Eyot was transferred the other way.
DateStatutory InstrumentEffect
1 April 1965London Government Act 1963Greater London created from the County of London, most of Middlesex and parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire
1 April 1969The Greater London, Kent and Surrey Order, 1968Changes to the
  • Bromley /Sevenoaks Rural District boundary
  • Croydon /Godstone Rural District boundary
  • Croydon /Banstead Urban District boundary
Transfer of Knockholt to Kent; Farleigh and Hooley to Surrey
1 April 1970The Greater London and Surrey Order, 1970Changes to the Richmond upon Thames /Esher Urban District boundary
Thames Ditton Island from Greater London to Surrey and Platts Eyot from Surrey to Greater London

Principal Area Boundary Reviews

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review the administrative boundaries of every local authority in England. Between 1974 and 1992 they completed a series of Principal Area Boundary Reviews; reviewing the administrative boundaries of local authorities at their request.
DateStatutory InstrumentEffectLGBCE Report
1 April 1982The Greater London and Buckinghamshire Order 1981Changes to the Hillingdon /South Bucks boundary January 1981

Mandatory Reviews of non-Metropolitan Counties, Metropolitan Districts and London Boroughs

In 1985 they began the first full administrative review of all non-metropolitan counties. Their reviews of metropolitan counties and Greater London began in 1987 and both reviews were completed in 1992.
DateStatutory InstrumentEffectLGBCE Report
1 April 1993The Greater London and Kent Order 1992Changes to the Bexley /Dartford boundary January 1991
1 April 1993The Greater London and Hertfordshire Order 1992Changes to the
  • Barnet /Hertsmere boundary
  • Harrow /Hertsmere boundary
 January 1991
1 April 1993The Greater London and Hertfordshire Order 1992Changes to the
  • Harrow /Hertsmere boundary
  • Ealing/Harrow boundary
  • Harrow/Hillingdon boundary
    		•  October 1991
    1 April 1994The Barnet, Camden and Westminster Order 1993Changes to the
  • Camden/Barnet boundary
  • Camden/Westminster boundary
    		•  June 1992
    1 April 1994The Bexley and Greenwich Order 1993Changes to the Bexley/Greenwich boundary January 1992
    1 April 1994The Bromley and Greenwich Order 1993Changes to the Bromley/Greenwich boundary May 1992
    1 April 1994The Bromley and Lewisham Order 1993Changes to the Bromley/Lewisham boundary May 1992
    1 April 1994The Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Order 1993Changes to the
  • Bromley/Croydon boundary
  • Bromley/Lambeth boundary
  • Bromley/Lewisham boundary
  • Bromley/Southwark boundary
    		•  April 1992
    1 April 1994The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993Changes to the
  • City of London/Camden boundary
  • City of London/Hackney boundary
  • City of London/Islington boundary
  • City of London/Tower Hamlets boundary
  • City of London/Westminster boundary
    		•  April 1992
    1 April 1994The Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark Order 1993Changes to the
  • Lambeth/Croydon boundary
  • Lambeth/Southwark boundary
    		•  February 1992 February 1992
    1 April 1994The Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow Order 1993Changes to the
    • Ealing/Hammersmith and Fulham boundary
    • Ealing/Hounslow boundary
    • Hounslow/Hammersmith and Fulham boundary
    		 August 1992
    1 April 1994The Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow Order 1993Changes to the
  • Hillingdon/Ealing boundary
  • Hillingdon/Hounslow boundary
    		•  September 1992
    1 April 1994The East London Boroughs Order 1993Changes to the
  • Barking and Dagenham/Havering boundary
  • Barking and Dagenham/Newham boundary
  • Barking and Dagenham/Redbridge boundary
    		•  June 1992
    1 April 1994The East London Boroughs Order 1993Changes to the
  • Newham/Hackney boundary
  • Newham/Redbridge boundary
  • Newham/Tower Hamlets boundary
  • Newham/Waltham Forest boundary
    		•  June 1992
    1 April 1994The Essex and Greater London Order 1993Changes to the
  • Waltham Forest/Enfield boundary
  • Waltham Forest/Hackney boundary
  • Waltham Forest/Haringey boundary
  • Waltham Forest /Epping Forest boundary
  • Enfield /Epping Forest boundary
    • Re-alignment to the modern course of the River Lea    		 February 1992
    1 April 1994The Essex and Greater London Order 1993Changes to the
    • Havering/Barking and Dagenham boundary
    • Havering /Brentwood boundary
    • Havering /Epping Forest boundary
    • Havering /Thurrock boundary
    Some alignment to the M25 motorway and transfer of part of Great Warley from Greater London †    		 June 1992
    1 April 1994The Essex, Greater London and Hertfordshire Order 1993Changes to the
    • Enfield/Barnet boundary
    • Enfield /Broxbourne boundary
    • Enfield /Hertsmere boundary
    • Enfield /Welwyn Hatfield boundary
    • Enfield /Epping Forest boundary
    Some alignment to the M25 motorway    		 August 1992
    1 April 1994The Greater London and Surrey Order 1993Changes to the
    • Croydon/Bromley boundary
    • Croydon /Reigate and Banstead boundary
    • Croydon /Tandridge boundary †
    		 November 1991
    1 April 1994The Greater London and Surrey Order 1993Changes to the
  • Richmond upon Thames/Wandsworth boundary
  • Richmond upon Thames /Spelthorne boundary †
    		• Report No. 647: Richmond upon Thames May 1992
    1 April 1994The Greater London and Surrey Order 1993Changes to the
  • Sutton/Croydon boundary
  • Sutton /Epsom and Ewell boundary
  • Sutton /Reigate and Banstead boundary
  • Croydon /Reigate and Banstead boundary
    • 1 April 1994The Greater London and Surrey Order 1993Changes to the
  • Hounslow/Richmond upon Thames boundary
  • Hounslow /Spelthorne boundary
  • Richmond upon Thames /Spelthorne boundary
    		•  August 1992
    1 April 1994The Greater London, Kent and Surrey Order 1993Changes to the
  • Bexley /Sevenoaks boundary
  • Bromley /Sevenoaks boundary
  • Bromley /Tandridge boundary
    • Southern tip of Bromley at Tatsfield to Surrey †    		 February 1992
    1 April 1994The Greenwich and Lewisham Order 1993Changes to the Greenwich/Lewisham boundary June 1992
    1 April 1994The Hackney and Tower Hamlets Order 1993Changes to the Hackney/Tower Hamlets boundary April 1992
    1 April 1994The Hackney, Haringey and Islington Order 1993Changes to the
    • Hackney/Haringey boundary
    • Hackney/Islington boundary
    		 July 1992
    1 April 1994The Haringey and Islington Order 1993Changes to the Haringey/Islington boundary April 1992
    1 April 1994The Heathrow Airport Order 1993Changes to the
  • Hillingdon/Hounslow boundary
  • Hillingdon /Spelthorne boundary
  • Hillingdon /South Bucks boundary
    • Some alignment to the M25 motorway and Heathrow Airport brought entirely within Greater London †    		 July 1992
    1 April 1994The Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Order 1993Changes to the Kensington and Chelsea/Westminster boundaryReport No. 666: Westminster August 1992
    1 April 1994The Lambeth, Merton and Wandsworth Order 1993Changes to the
    • Wandsworth/Lambeth boundary
    • Wandsworth/Merton boundary
    • Merton/Lambeth boundary
    		 August 1992
    1 April 1994The Lewisham and Southwark Order 1993Changes to the Lewisham/Southwark boundary April 1992
    1 April 1994The North and Central London Order 1993Changes to the
  • Brent/Ealing boundary
  • Brent/Harrow boundary
  • Brent/Kensington and Chelsea boundary
  • Brent/Westminster boundary
    		•  May 1992Report No. 687: Brent October 1992
    1 April 1994The North London Boroughs Order 1993Changes to the
    • Haringey/Barnet boundary
    • Haringey/Camden boundary
    • Haringey/Enfield boundary
    1 April 1995The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Order 1994Changes to the
  • Slough /South Bucks boundary
  • Slough /Spelthorne boundary
    • Giving Greater London and Berkshire a new common boundary    		 August 1988
    1 April 1995The Croydon, Merton and Sutton Order 1993Changes to the
    • Merton/Croydon boundary
    • Merton/Sutton boundary
    1 April 1995The Essex and Greater London Order 1993Changes to the Redbridge /Epping Forest boundaryTransfer of area around Grange Hill tube station to Greater London May 1992
    1 April 1995The Greater London and Surrey Order 1994Changes to the
    • Kingston upon Thames/Richmond upon Thames boundary
    • Kingston upon Thames/Sutton boundary
    • Kingston upon Thames /Elmbridge boundary
    • Kingston upon Thames /Epsom and Ewell boundary
    • Kingston upon Thames /Mole Valley boundary
    • Sutton /Epsom and Ewell boundary †
    		 August 1992
    1 April 1995The Redbridge and Waltham Forest Order 1993Changes to the Redbridge/Waltham Forest boundary May 1992
    1 April 1996The Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham Order 1995Changes to the Kensington and Chelsea/Hammersmith and Fulham boundary September 1992

    † = also altered the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District
    Other mandatory meviews of non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs
    The table below summarises the overall changes in area and population.
    DateArea lostArea gainedNet gain/lossPop. lostPop. gainedNet gain/loss
    1 April 1993−1,678463−1,215
    1 April 1994−410739+329
    1 April 1995+1381,058+920
    Total:''−22262260+34

    Electoral boundaries

    First periodic review

    The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review the electoral boundaries of every local authority in England. In 1973 there were early reviews of the electoral boundaries of Bexley and Kensington and Chelsea which needed minor boundaries redrawn in time for the 1974 local elections. In 1974 they began the first full electoral review of all metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts, completing it in July 1980. Their reviews of the county councils were completed in 1984.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
    2 May 1974The London Borough of Lewisham Order 1973n/a
    2 May 1974The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Order 1973 October 1973
    2 May 1974The London Borough of Bexley Order 1974 December 1973
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Barking Order 1977 February 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Barnet Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Bexley Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Brent Order 1977 July 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Bromley Order 1977 October 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Camden Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Croydon Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Ealing Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Greenwich Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Hackney Order 1977 July 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Hammersmith Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Haringey Order 1977 September 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Havering Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Hillingdon Order 1977 June 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Hounslow Order 1977 April 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Islington Order 1977 June 1977
    4 May 1978The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Lambeth Order 1977 October 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Lewisham Order 1977 April 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Merton Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Newham Order 1977 April 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Redbridge Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Order 1977 May 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Southwark Order 1977 April 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Sutton Order 1977 March 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Waltham Forest Order 1977 August 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Wandsworth Order 1977 September 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Harrow Order 1978 October 1977
    4 May 1978The London Borough of Tower Hamlets Order 1978 August 1977
    4 May 1978The City of Westminster Order 1978 July 1977
    6 May 1982The London Borough of Enfield Order 1980 September 1977
    February 1978
    The Inner London Education Area Order 1988 March 1987

    Second periodic review

    The Local Government Act 1992 established the Local Government Commission for England as the successor to the LGBCE. In 1996 they began the second full electoral review of English local authorities. After the 1998 Greater London Authority referendum held on 7 May 1998 resulted in a yes vote, the LGCE drew the electoral boundaries for the new Greater London Authority and London Assembly. On 1 April 2002 the Boundary Committee for England took over the functions of the LGBCE and carried on the review, completing it in 2004.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGCE Report
    4 May 2000Greater London Authority Act 1999 August 1998 November 1998
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Barnet Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Bexley Order 2000 2 March 1999 27 July 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Brent Order 2000 3 August 1999 5 January 2000
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Bromley Order 2000 29 June 1999 30 November 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Camden Order 2000 29 June 1999 30 November 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Croydon Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Ealing Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Enfield Order 2000
    3 August 1999 5 January 2000
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Greenwich Order 2000 3 August 1999 5 January 2000
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Hackney Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Order 2000 3 August 1999 5 January 2000
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Haringey Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Harrow Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Havering Order 2000 2 March 1999 27 July 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Hillingdon Order 2000 29 June 1999 30 November 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Hounslow Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Islington Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Order 2000 29 June 1999 30 November 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Lambeth Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Lewisham Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Merton Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Newham Order 2000 29 June 1999 30 November 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Redbridge Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Order 2000 2 March 1999 27 July 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Southwark Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Sutton Order 2000 29 June 1999 5 January 2000
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Tower Hamlets Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Waltham Forest Order 2000 26 January 1999 22 June 1999
    2 May 2002The London Borough of Wandsworth Order 2000 2 March 1999 27 July 1999
    2 May 2002The City of Westminster Order 2000 23 March 1999 7 September 1999

    Further electoral reviews by the LGBCE

    The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 on 1 April 2010 as the successor to the BCfE. It continues to review the electoral arrangements of English local authorities on an ‘as and when’ basis.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
    22 May 2014The Hackney Order 2013
    22 May 2014The Tower Hamlets Order 2013
    22 May 2014The Kensington and Chelsea Order 2014
    3 May 2018The Croydon Order 2017 14 March 2017 4 July 2017

    Proposed changes

    In 2004, following a poll, a move was mooted by the London Assembly to entirely align the Greater London boundary to the M25 motorway. The Mayor of London suggested in 2005 that Dartford, Thurrock and Watford could be given the opportunity to vote on inclusion in Greater London in local referendums although these never took place. In 2010 it was suggested that an extension of the boundary to include Elmbridge was being considered.