How Many Londons Are There In The World

So, the other day I’m scrolling through Instagram, and a friend from Ohio posts a photo of a street sign that reads “London.” Wait, what? I thought she was visiting the UK. Turns out, she was just in Ohio—London, Ohio, population 10,000. It got me thinking: how many Londons are there actually running around the globe? You’d be surprised. And maybe a little bit annoyed, honestly.

Let’s be real: when someone says “I’m going to London,” you assume they mean the big one—the one with the Queen (RIP), the double-decker buses, and the overpriced pints. But the world is littered with wannabe Londons. Over thirty cities, towns, and villages share the name. That’s ridiculous, right? It’s like everyone found a cool brand and just copied it without asking.

The OG London (No Contest)

The original London—the one in England—is obviously the heavyweight champion. It’s been around since the Romans called it Londinium (fancy, right?). This one has all the history: Big Ben, the Thames, and a confusing subway system you’ll never fully master. But here’s the kicker: even the UK has a fake London. There's a tiny village called London in Cornwall, population like 50. Good luck shipping a package there.

So why did everyone copy the name? Colonialism, mostly. British settlers were not creative. They landed somewhere and thought, “Hey, this reminds me of home—let’s just slap ‘London’ on it.” Classic. And sometimes it’s not even settlers—it’s just random towns that wanted to sound fancy. Nothing says “sophisticated” like naming your dusty town after a global capital.

London, Ontario: The Polite Rival

If you’re Canadian, you know this one. London, Ontario is basically the “nice” London. No Big Ben, but they have a Thames River too—just smaller and less polluted. I once met a guy from there who claimed it’s “basically the same as England.” Buddy, no. It’s not. But I’ll give them points for having a killer food scene and not being as rainy as the real London. That’s a win.

Ontario’s London is actually the biggest fake London in the world. Over 400,000 people live there. That’s more Londons than some countries have people. And guess what? They even have a “Covent Garden Market.” Sure, Jan. But hey, if you can’t afford a flight to the UK, it’s a solid backup.

London, Kentucky: The Wild Card

Now let’s talk about London, Kentucky. Population around 8,000. This is not your grandma’s London. It’s in the Appalachian mountains, famous for the World Chicken Festival (yes, that’s real—they fry chicken in a giant skillet). You won’t find a royal guard here. You’ll find a guy named Dale selling moonshine. And honestly? That’s more authentic than most of the tourist traps in the real London.

How many Londons are there in the world? - Geo News - YouTube

Kentucky’s London has zero pretension. They lean into it. Their website probably doesn’t even mention the name duplication. “Welcome to London! No, not that one. The one with the fried chicken.” Respect.

Africa’s Little Londons

Africa has a few, too. London, South Africa is a tiny settlement near the Kruger National Park. It’s basically a gas station and a general store. Tourists stumble in thinking they’ve made a huge mistake. “I booked a safari, not a suburb!” But the locals just shrug. They know the deal.

Then there’s London, Nigeria, which is even smaller. Like, maybe a handful of huts. I’m not joking—it’s a village. The irony is thick: a place named after the seat of an empire that once colonized them. History is weird, folks.

Australia’s Lonely London

Australia has a London too—surprise! London, Queensland is a ghost town. Yes, a literal ghost town. It was a mining settlement that dried up. Now it’s just a signpost on a dirt road. Zero people live there. So if you ever want to be the King of London, just buy a plot there. You’ll be the only resident.

Stats, Maps n Pix: How big is Tokyo?

I checked Google Maps. It shows a pub that closed in the 1970s. Depressing? Yes. Also hilarious. Imagine telling your mates you’re from London, and they picture the UK, and you’re like, “No, the one with the tumbleweeds and a dead kangaroo.”

The Final Count

So, how many Londons are there in the world? Officially? Around 30 to 35, depending on how you count ghost towns and neighborhoods. Wikipedia lists 33. But I bet there are more—some tiny hamlet in Brazil probably called London that nobody told the internet about. The official London (UK) has over 8 million people. All the other Londons combined? Maybe 500,000. That’s it.

What’s the takeaway from this mess? Names are weird. We cling to familiarity. Humans hate being lost, so we name new places after old ones. It’s like emotional GPS. But let’s be honest: if you ever say “I’m moving to London,” and the other person asks “Which one?”—you’re in for a long conversation.

Next time you see a London in Ohio or Kentucky, tip your hat. They’re living in the shadow of a giant, and they don’t care. And if you ever end up in London, Queensland? Bring your own beer. There’s no pub left.