Gateway to the Global Village

Britain’s capital is a treasure trove of foreign culture. People from all over the world live in London and the result is a thrilling multiculturalism: cafes, restaurants, shops and markets offer you the world on your doorstep. Come and meet people who are…

1. Indian

After the Irish, the Indian community is the second largest in London. The first Indians arrived in 1597 and more came after the founding of the East India trading company in the seventeenth century. Numbers increased when India became independent in 1947 but the community really took off in the 1950s and 1960s with employment opportunities around Heathrow airport. Although ‘Little Indias’ exist all over London, the most striking is the district of Southall in West London, not far from the airport. Here Indian foodstalls and video shops are everywhere, spicy aromas fill the air, and women stroll around wearing the typical colourful sari, just as in India. In McDonald’s the piped music is refreshingly Indian.

1. Portuguese

The supermarkets and shops in Lambeth and Stockwell Roads are the most obvious indication that you are in ‘Little Portugal’, but there is much more to this community than that. Over 20,000 Portuguese live south of the River Thames. The majority have come from the island of Madeira rather than from the mainland of Portugal. This close-knit community is mad about football and folk-dancing and holds its own carnival every February. It’s a community that is determined to hold on to its traditions and it’s a great place to experience Madeiran culture.

1. Caribbean

When the ship Emperor Windrush docked in 1948 with its 500 immigrants, it marked the start of the main period of Caribbean immigration, stimulated by British economic expansion. Since then, over 300,000 have established vibrant communities all around London. The greatest Caribbean celebration is the Notting Hill carnival, now Europe’s largest street party, which takes place every August. However, Brixton, in South London, is the hub of the community. As you step out of the Underground station into Brixton Market, your senses are stimulated by the noise, the bright colours and the rhythmic sound of Caribbean music. This is one of the best places to shop for food in London. However, the area has become a very popular place to live and prices are rising.

1. Japanese

Finchley and Hendon in North London are the principle centres for Japanese people. The national affection for golf has had a noticeable effect on these areas – if you drive up Finchley Road, you have an almost unlimited choice of golf shops and courses. Other than this, there is little evidence of a community. Although there are restaurants and foodstores here, most socialising takes place at home. It isn’t as permanent as other communities, either – many Japanese arrive on five-year contracts in the banking and technology sectors and then return home afterwards. The best restaurants tend to be in central London, where most of the community works.

1. Polish

The Polish community isn’t as distinct as some other ethnic communities in London. Andrzej Morawicz, President of a well-known Polish club, puts this down to integration. ‘When you are a large enough community, it’s easy to hold on to your culture and customs. In comparison, the Polish community has become part of British society to a large extent, so keeping up traditions isn’t easy.’ All the same, you can hear Polish conversations along King Street in Hammersmith, West London, where newsagents’ windows are full of advertisements in Polish for the benefit of the local community. There are also plenty of clubs, restaurants and food shops that help to keep traditions alive. There is even a daily Polish-language newspaper, Dziennik Polski.

1. Lebanese

The first Lebanese who came to London were almost all business people, but over the last twenty years people from all walks of life have settled here. Joycelyn, a history graduate from Lebanon, now runs a delicatessen and is very enthusiastic about London life. ‘The community is getting stronger and bigger,’ she explains. ‘When I first came here, I never heard anyone speak Arabic. Now I can hear my language everywhere.’ Although there isn’t a geographically defined ‘Little Lebanon’ there are many shops and restaurants in West London and along the Edgware Road.

(From Fast Track to FCE coursebook by Alan Stanton and Mary Stephens, Longman)