London is a very big place. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a bigger city. However, I’ve only just realised how big it actually is.

I have been searching for a cheap return flight to Portugal, and so asked the helpful website for options when flying from all London airports. Apparently, the best value flights can be found from London Luton airport. I am not familiar with this particular London Borough, or it’s place on the tube map, though not being a native of the city it is not impossible that it’s been hiding an airport I have yet to notice.

It was only when checking it’s exact location that I realised London Luton, and actual Luton, are one and the same place! Who knew!

The draw of the bright lights and big city was clearly too much for little old rural Luton, and it has decided to copy it’s more illustrious ‘neighbour’ (a term I use loosely) by renaming itself. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So big up yourself London town!

Of course, we now have the problem of where to draw the line on what is and isn’t ‘London’?

Luton is actually nearer to Milton Keynes than to London, so I have no idea what all those Wimbledon FC fans were complaining about. It’s essentially just one big conurbation. Does anyone know where London actually ends, and the rest of the country begins?

What I don’t understand is who this renaming of Luton is designed to benefit? I can’t imagine anyone would book to fly from there without checking the Interweb like what I did, so surely they are trying to target the foreigners? How disappointed are they going to be when keeping an eye open for Big Ben and St Pauls, when their first few hours in the country are spent looking at downtown Luton (I’ve not been, is it as grotesquely dull as I imagine?).

Anyway, I have booked my cheap return flight and I’m flying from London Bristol International.

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