London: the world city.
On the streets of the British capital
you will hear over three hundred different languages being spoken,
including Arabic and Urdu.
People say London is ‘multicultural’.
But what does ‘multicultural’ actually mean?
London is a popular destination for immigrants from all over the world,
who come to the city looking for the chance to make new lives for themselves.
In the nineteenth century, there were so many Italians in Clerkenwell in Central London
that the area was nicknamed ‘Little Italy’.
After the Second World War, thousands of people arrived from the West Indies,
with many settling in Brixton in South London.
There are also people in the city from India and Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
London today is more diverse than ever,
with thousands of immigrants arriving from Europe, Africa and Asia.
Brick Lane in the East End of London
is famous for the Bangladeshis who live there.
And then there is Chinatown in Soho.
Many people in London belong to Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups or BAME.
By 2040 it is believed that people in the BAME groups will outnumber whites.
London is a city for young people,
with more here than in other parts of the UK.
Many young people come to the city because of its great universities.
Institutions such as the London School of Economics
have international reputations for excellence.
‘Multiculturalism’ means being tolerant towards
and accepting of the cultural differences between people.
It celebrates different languages and ways of life rather than being fearful of them.
London is a very exciting city, with its own special cultural mix.
Welcome to London. Welcome to everywhere.
