[dragonwriter]

> Is this some ridiculous attempt to Americanize London by trying to rename parts of it after bits of New York and San Francisco?

AFAICT, SF doesn't have any role at all in the source of names, but otherwise, yes [0]. Of course, lots of the place name in the continental US (and a number of other places) are a result of the same kind of thing in reverse centering around renaming every piece of the continent after parts of Britain, and particularly England, so turn about is fair play.

[0] http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-11305340

[kittenfluff]

Well, I'm glad that Londoners have collectively decided to tell the rebranders where to stick it. I've lived in London for ten years and have never heard someone refer to "Midtown" or "Noho". Urgh.