London Borough of Merton, Administrative borough in South West London, England
Merton is an administrative borough in southwest Greater London covering Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden, Colliers Wood and Raynes Park. The landscape shifts between residential streets of red-brick homes, parkland with mature trees, and shopping centres along wide main roads.
The borough was created in 1965 from three separate municipalities that had grown over centuries around village cores and transport routes. Railway expansion in the 19th century turned rural areas into suburbs and drew commuters from central London.
The name comes from the village of Merton, where the parish church has anchored community life for centuries. Today each district feels different, from the lawns and cafés around Wimbledon Common to the housing estates and shopping parades further east.
Most places are reached by underground lines and bus routes that run through the area and connect to the centre. Weekdays see busy shopping streets and parks, while some districts become quieter at weekends.
In Colliers Wood the River Wandle runs through a narrow valley that once powered dozens of mills and now forms a green corridor between housing estates. The old mill buildings still stand, many converted into flats.
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