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(This article is about the West End of London. For other uses of the name West End, see
West End (disambiguation).)
The term West End is most commonly used to refer to the West End of London, England. The West End contains most of London's major
theatres, and is therefore synonymous with London theatre, hence a major tourist
attraction.
Located to the west of the historic Roman and Mediaeval City of London, the West End was long
favoured by the rich elite as a place of residence because it was more often upwind of the smoke drifting from the crowded city.
It was also located close to the royal seat of power at Westminster.
Developed in the Seventeenth , Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries it was originally built as a series of palaces, expensive town
houses , fashionable shops and places of entertainment. The areas closest to the City around Holborn Seven Dials
and Covent garden historically contained poorer communities that were cleared and redeveloped in the nineteenth century.
Districts in London's West End:
Famous streets in the West End:
Famous squares and circuses in the West End:
Compare with:
See also: North London, South London
See also: List of London theatres
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