Being one of the largest and most populous cities in Europe, London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is a cosmopolitan area in which today a great diversity of peoples, cultures and religions coexist. According to an editorial in The Guardian newspaper, “London in 2005 can claim to be the most diverse city in history.” With over 300 different languages ​​spoken on the streets of London by its permanent residents, such a claim seems reasonable at the very least.

During my last visit to London, I was amazed at the multi-cultural experience that a tourist like me could have, just by visiting different neighborhoods and talking to a variety of people. In fact, the city is today considered an international transport hub and a very popular tourist destination, making London one of the most visited capitals in the world; a fact that greatly enhances its multicultural character.

The London metropolitan area has grown considerably over the centuries, especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries, increasing industrialization which led to rapid population growth. The capital of England was the most populous city in the world until 1925, when New York surpassed its immense number of citizens. London continued to grow until the Second World War and the Green Belt legislation which led to its population remaining largely static. But although the construction of urban buildings was not allowed to proceed at the same rate as before, the number of city habitats continued to increase. Today, the greater London metropolitan area has a population of between 12 and 14 million, depending on the definition of that area. According to the 2001 census, 27 per cent of London’s population was born outside the UK and around 29 per cent were classified as non-white, not counting the unknown tens of thousands who did not complete a census form. But even this total does not include second and third generation immigrants, who have inherited the traditions of their parents and grandparents.

Ethnically diverse and historically rich, London continues to attract people from all over the world who find their new home in its neighborhoods. London in 2006 is uncharted territory. According to sociologists and historians, never before have so many different types of people tried to live together in the same place. Virtually every race, nation, culture and religion in the world can claim at least a dozen Londoners. But what some people see as the greatest experiment in multiculturalism in recent centuries is already being challenged by global political and social developments that have recently begun to signal that harmony and peace are more than ever subject to the powers of race. and ethnicity.