Page 59 - The World About Us

London
1.1.1
1.1.1
2.2.4
2.2.3

London divided: a tale of two world cities?

London may not be one of the world’s largest ci es but it fig.162 The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire
certainly earns the right to be called a world city. exposed housing and other
The financial centres of the City of London and Canary inequali es in London.
Wharf daily witness truly staggering sums of money changing
hands in financial transac ons. London handles over one
third of global currency transac ons; an average daily
turnover of US$1.85 trillion. More dollars are sold each day in
London than in New York. More Euros change hands in
London than in all other European ci es combined.
London is home to two of the world’s largest banks - HSBC
and Barclays. How the posi on of London’s financial markets
may change with ‘Brexit’ is a ma er of significant specula on.
In 2015, London was the city most visited by foreign
tourists, although it lost this number one slot to Bangkok the
following year. Tourism employs over 350,000 workers in the
capital and is thought to generate around £15 billion of financial services, while many struggle on the minimum wage.
economic ac vity.
With house prices eye-wateringly high even for an average
However, not everything in London is a great success. In family house, there is now a serious housing crisis in London.
recent years the number of the ‘working poor’ has risen by In June 2017, a fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington, spread
70%. Of the 2.25 million people (27% of the popula on) living rapidly through the building. At least 80 people lost their lives.
in poverty in the city, around 1.2 million are in paid work. Many of the survivors pointed angrily to cost-cu ng by the
Some 450,000 children are in families living below the poverty council, in the ‘richest borough of one of the richest ci es on
line where at least one parent works. London’s average wage Earth’, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and
is inflated by the large salaries paid in the banking and the devasta ng loss of so many lives.

fig.163 Canary Wharf (right) and the City of London dominate the east London skyline.

8. Using the information in figures 153- as Alpha ++ cities. Explain why one, or
155 (p.56), describe how the global both, of these cities has been given the
1. What is meant by the
geographical term city? (1) pattern of urbanisation has changed Alpha ++ designation. (4)
since 1950. (6) 14. “World cities may not always be
2. What is a megacity? (1)
9. Which continent contains the most the easiest places for the poor to live
3. What is a world city? (1) megacities? (1) and to work.” Explain this statement in
4. What is meant by a settlement 10. Which is the fastest growing city in relation to a world city. (4)
hierarchy? (2) Africa? (1) 15. “World cities must always compete
5. With reference to examples, describe for investment and people.” Suggest
11. Outline the main economic features
the physical features common to the of a ‘world city’. (4) reasons for this global competition. (4)
initial location of many cities. (3)
12. Suggest reasons why Europe has 16. “World cities are often divided
6. Why is London significant in the few megacities but large numbers of cities.” Discuss this statement with
global history of urban growth? (2) reference to one or more world city. (6)
‘world cities’. (4)
7. Describe the distribution of the 13. London and New York are described 17. Which is the world’s largest city. (1)
world’s 15 largest cites in 1950. (3)

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Many factors contribute to a country’s economic development.The majority of the world’s population now live in urban areas.