To wonder why people increasingly refer to places not in London as 'in London'

[redpipe]

I genuinely don't understand why people say they live in London when in fact they live in a town within the M25.
Croydon is not in London is it? Nor is Kingston. I never remember people referring to these towns as London years ago. Is this a new thing?

When I visit Burnley and I told people I was from Hounslow, they had no idea where that was. Easier just to say London. Even though The LB of Hounslow is over 3 times bigger than Burnley and has a population 4 times Higher.

Most people I know in Hounslow have never even been to the West End let alone know there way round it.

Sorry- Barnet is in Herts but it's a London borough as well. Confusing!

Generally speaking, if the postcode isn't N##, NW##, S##, SW## (etc. etc.), I don't think of it as London! A friend of mine lives in Dagenham and insists it's London, I say it's Essex as postcode starts with RM.

Doesn't really bother me much this way or that really though.

mirry I say some parts of borough of Barnet are London, such as Finchley or Hendon, but Barnet itself (High Barnet etc.) to me are Hertfordshire. I went to school in Potters Bar, travelling by train from north London (not Barnet! ), and was confused when I heard other kids say that they lived in London.

Coulsdon & Carshalton will always be in Surrey, to me anyways.

Epsom & Banstead, as mentioned in this thread - well, there's absolutely no doubt they're in Surrey!

Amberleaf, croydon isn't that large. I thought that by stating I've lived here for over 20 years it would be obvious I know it quite well rather than just the particular area I currently work in. I've lived and worked in different parts of the borough and have family and friends across the borough. My first post on this thread was about croydon, my link about coulsdon was in response to a post about couldson being in surrey. I would rather not be any more specific about where I live or work

Croydon is fairly large actually.

The post about coulsdon being in Surrey was mine.

I didn't really need to know where exactly you are/work

Have just remembered the OPs main point and now get it totally.

I think sometimes you have people that live in some dull-arse nondescript place and they are aspirational so they say they live in London when in actual fact they don't. I also think people who have never lived in London who pretend to know their way around London are similarly pathetic. It's cringe-worthy really.

I don't get the post code argument (all though like i said, I am not bothered where I am from!) that's just what the royal mail set to deliver mail surely?! If you are in the "London borough of Havering/Barking and Dagenham/Sutton" whatever have the met police, tube stations, london transport, are in london zones it's just London i guess?! My nan lives in Rainham and is literally not far at all from Ockendon but that is an Essex county council but Rainham is a london borough.

Tooting used to be in Surrey too. Even I'd say that was London now.

Can't say I'm fussed either way but the op said in first post that croydon isn't in london. Didn't realise by saying that actually it is would cause such upset!

So you agree that Southwark was in Surrey once, but now is in London - by whatever definitions - and I'm not sure what they are. But you don't agree that the same is now true of Kingston and Croydon, they became London Boroughs and ceased to be part of modern day Surrey. Like Southwark they are part of the historical Surrey...

monkeynuts123 Surely no-one would say London out of choice when they could say Croydon!

London is not a City, although there is a "City of London" which is tiny but presumably lots if important people are there :o

Off topic but this thread has made me a little home sick! Even though I do love where I live now I do miss being in the middle of everything close by!

Stealth London is a city, and the City of London is a city in its own right, within that city! V. confusing. The county that London sits in would be Greater London, I believe.

hercules I don't think anyone is upset?

Has anyone disputed that croydon is a London borough?

Many parts of it still have, with no plans to change, a Surrey postal address. Which is what causes the debate.

Surely not. London is a met district or a region.

So you agree that Southwark was in Surrey once, but now is in London - by whatever definitions - and I'm not sure what they are. But you don't agree that the same is now true of Kingston and Croydon, they became London Boroughs and ceased to be part of modern day Surrey. Like Southwark they are part of the historical Surrey

No, because no where in southwark still has Surrey in the address. Unlike parts of croydon borough...

I guess as the change to london happened more recently for croydon than southwark that's why it takes a little longer for people to accept the change.

Stealth Nope, defo a city! Just checked out good old Wikipedia to confirm (of course, the most reliable source out there!)

I think I may have too much time on my hands, or just putting off doing any actual work...

AmberLeaf where in Croydon still has "surrey" as part of the postal address. There are places in Surrey with CR postcodes, but they're not in Croydon...

Yes of course you're right. Because London is the capital city, and presumably they're not talking about the tiny bit in the middle.
Really pleased I don't need to take a citizen test

Ive said already Fred, Coulsdon.

Also Kenley, Sanderstead and prob others.

You sound doubtful?

Waddon is another.

Waddon Way, Croydon, Surrey, CRx 4xx

Yes, I'm disgusted by anyone who refers to anything outside the square mile as 'London'. And why did the bastards pave over Fleet River? Nothing should ever change.