Plane trees are traditionally associated with London, as they can withstand city smog, and can even help to absorb it. The bark of the London Plane flakes off, leaving yellowish patches, and this helps the tree to breathe, by clearing away some of the sooty bark.
The seed bobbles stay on the tree during the winter, falling in spring to release fluffy yellow seeds.
In spring it has two types of catkin on the same tree: red crimson female catkins, and yellow-green male catkins.
The shiny pink leaf buds are unusual in being enclosed only in a single scale.

London Plane tree		Trunk, showing bark flaking off

Leaf and seed bobbles		Leaf bud, with single scale		Leaves beginning to change colour

Female catkins		Early male catkins		Male catkins with stamens

Current year's seedballs		Previous year's seedballs		Previous year's seeds