List of Greater London boundary changes

There have been a considerable number of small changes to the Greater London boundary since its creation in 1965.

Adjustments permitted by the London Government Act 1963
Greater London was created by combining whole existing units of local government and it was anticipated that this might provide an arbitrary boundary in some places. The London Government Act 1963 Section 6 (4) provided a mechanism for communities on the edge of Greater London to petition for transfer to a neighbouring county. The legislation required the petition to be submitted between 1965 and 1970, to be signed by more than 300 local electors and for the area to be transferred to have no more than 10% of the borough's local electors. These were completed in 1969 as the transfers of Knockholt to Kent, and of Farleigh and Hooley to Surrey. Section 6 (3) of the act allowed for transfers between Greater London and neighbouring counties where there was consensus for the change between all the relevant local authorities. This power was used to exchange two islands on the River Thames that were connected to the river bank by bridges on the opposite side of the river to their respective counties. Thames Ditton Island was transferred to Surrey from Greater London and Platts Eyot was transferred the other way.

First periodic review
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review periodically the boundaries of Greater London and the London boroughs. The first review of boundaries in London commenced on 1 April 1987 and reported in 1992. Following the review a series of minor adjustments were made that included realigning the boundary to the M25 motorway in some places.

List of changes
† = also altered the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District

Proposed changes
In 2004, following a poll, a move was mooted by the London Assembly to entirely align the Greater London boundary to the M25 motorway. The Mayor of London suggested in 2005 that Dartford, Thurrock and Watford could be given the opportunity to vote on inclusion in Greater London in local referendums. In 2010 it was suggested that an extension of the boundary to include Elmbridge was being considered.