London Borough of Lambeth

London Borough of Lambeth, administrative region, London, England. Lambeth lies to the south of the Thames, just across from Westminster, and is bordered by the boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon, and Southwark. The northern portion of the borough contains notable buildings such as Lambeth Palace (the London seat of the Archbishops of Canterbury since 1200), the Imperial War Museum, and St Thomas’ Hospital. Londoners and tourists alike frequent the South Bank Centre, which includes the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Royal National Theatre, and the Hayward Gallery. A recent London landmark, a giant Ferris wheel called the “London Eye”, opened near Westminster Bridge at the turn of the millennium. This huge feat of engineering dominates the Lambeth river landscape.

Moving inland, the area surrounding Vauxhall and the main-line station at Waterloo has a mixed inner-city profile with much commercial regeneration. Heading south, the borough becomes more residential: Clapham is particularly popular with young professionals and has a high percentage of owner-occupiers; Brixton, although still suffering some social deprivation, has become increasingly fashionable, with a burgeoning multi-ethnic cultural scene. Streatham and West Norwood, in the south of the borough, are solidly residential areas. The borough's open spaces include Clapham Common and Streatham Common, Brockwell Park, and Kennington Park.

In 1965 Greater London was created under the jurisdiction of the Greater London Council. This council was abolished in 1986, and each inner and outer borough and the City of London itself had its own governing council as the sole administrative authority from then until 2000. The borough councils consist of councillors elected every four years, who in turn annually elect their presiding official. Councils are responsible for the provision of most local services including education, housing, social services, local planning, roads, refuse collection, recreation, and culture.

On May 4, 2000, the people of London voted in a new London mayor, Ken Livingstone, and a 25-strong cross-party assembly, known as the Greater London Authority. A new mayor is elected every four years; Livingstone served two terms, but was defeated by Conservative MP Boris Johnson in the 2008 mayoral election. Although the mayor has limited budget-raising powers, the position includes responsibility for the police, fire service, health, and public transport. Population 266,170 (2001).