West Ham is a district and a former parish and borough in East London, located 6.1 mi (9.8 km) east of Charing Cross, forming the centre western part of the modern London Borough of Newham, there is a West Ham electoral ward covering part of the central area. West Ham is part of the traditional county of Essex, but for administrative purposes has been part of Greater London since 1965, following the passing of the London Government Act 1963.