Bill Bryson's "Shakespeare: The World as Stage" presents a perspective on the geographical size of greater London during Shakespeare's time. He notes that, by today's standards, the area encompassing Southwark and Westminster was relatively small, measuring approximately two miles in length from north to south and three miles from east to west. This condenses into a space manageable enough to traverse on foot in about an hour.

This observation highlights the contrast between the vast, sprawling metropolis of modern London and its more compact historical counterpart. Bryson uses this comparison to enrich our understanding of the environment in which Shakespeare lived and worked, providing context to the playwright's world and the interactions that shaped his art.