The City of London

England's oldest local authority (by several hundred years), the City delivers the same services as the boroughs, but to a much smaller area.

However, it has a very important role in promoting and developing London as one of the world's foremost centres of business and commerce, and its responsibilities extend beyond its boundaries (for example, it maintains Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and runs the quarantine station at Heathrow Airport).

Since 1839 it has also run its own police force, the City of London Police.

The City of London has retained its very strong traditions. It is run on a non-party political basis through its Lord Mayor and members of the Court of Common Council (upon which the Parliament at Westminster is based).

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