London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, located in the southeast of England. It sits on the River Thames, which flows through the city and separates it into North and South London
. The city is part of the administrative area known as Greater London, which includes 32 boroughs plus the historic City of London at its core
. Greater London is bounded in part by the M25 motorway and surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt, limiting further urban expansion
. Geographically, London lies about 50 miles (80 km) upstream from the Thames estuary on the North Sea coast. The nominal center of London is traditionally considered near Charing Cross, with coordinates approximately 51°30′26″N 0°7′39″W
. It is situated within the metropolitan county of Greater London, which was formed in 1965 by combining parts of historic counties such as Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire
. In summary, London is a major metropolitan area in southeastern England, on the River Thames, serving as the political, economic, and cultural capital of the UK
