The definition of London varies, but officially, it encompasses the city itself and 32 boroughs. According to London Online, the population of London was approximately 7.5 million in 2005. London's streets can often be confusing and difficult to navigate, especially for tourists unfamiliar with the area. Houses are often divided into flats, which can further complicate things. With the right tools and a little bit of practice, anyone should be able to find a house in London.
1- Purchase "London A to Z," a compact street atlas of London. Widely available in London itself, the book can also be purchased online.
2- Get the full street address for the house you are trying to find. The street name, postcode and borough will be most useful.
3- Flip to the back of "A to Z" and look up the street name in the index. There may be multiple streets by the same name. Verify that you have the correct one by checking the postcode, written directly to the right of the street name in the index.
4- Noting the grid code of the street you are trying to find, turn to the page indicated by the index. Locate the street by following the grid blocks on the map pages, which are indicated by letters and numbers on the top and side of the page.
5- Follow the map to get to your destination. If you need information on how to get there, use the map of the London Underground on the back of "A to Z." Additionally, the book features a map of the London Overground train lines.
