Southwark, London Borough of

Southwark, London Borough of, administrative region, London, England. Southwark lies to the south of the Thames. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bermondsey, Camberwell, and Southwark, and is bordered by the boroughs of Lambeth in the west, Bromley in the south, and Lewisham in the east. It encompasses many distinct areas, including the dockside developments of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe; the mixed urban area around London Bridge; the Victorian “railway suburbs” of Herne Hill and East Dulwich; and the open spaces and woods of Dulwich Village in the south. The Old Kent Road crosses the northern part of Southwark, through traditionally poorer, more ethnically diverse areas such as Elephant and Castle, Newington, and Walworth. Closer to the river are the more historical parts of the borough: Southwark Cathedral, near London Bridge (see London’s Bridges), is Southwark's oldest building.

The borough has been the focus of a number of developments in recent years. These include The Globe, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the south bank of the Thames; the Tate Modern art gallery, housed in the former Bankside Power Station; and the Millennium Bridge linking St Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank of the Thames with Tate Modern on the south. The pedestrian-only bridge is central London's first new river crossing since Tower Bridge was opened in 1894.

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 25-strong cross-party Assembly, together known as the Greater London Authority. A new mayor will be elected every 4 years, and although he or she has limited budget-raising powers, the position includes responsibility for the police, fire service, health, and public transport. However, the Home Secretary (a senior government minister) is still ultimately responsible for many areas, including London's Metropolitan Police Service (see Scotland Yard). Population 244,867 (2001).