| Being one of the largest and most populated cities | | | | allowed to take place at the same speed as |
| of Europe, London, the United Kingdom's capital is | | | | before, the city's habitats' number continued to |
| a cosmopolitan area in which a highly diverse | | | | increase. Today, London's wider metropolitan area |
| range of peoples, cultures and religions coexist | | | | has a population between 12 and 14 million |
| today. According to a Guardian newspaper | | | | depending on the definition of that area. According |
| editorial, "London in 2005 can lay claim to being | | | | to the 2001 census, 27 percent of London's |
| the most diverse city ever." With more than 300 | | | | population was born outside the UK and about 29 |
| different languages spoken in London's streets by | | | | percent were classified as non-white -non-counting |
| its permanent residents, such a claim seems at | | | | the unknown tens of thousands who did not |
| least reasonable. | | | | complete a census form. But even this total does |
| During my last London visit, I was astonished by | | | | not include the second the third generation |
| the multicultural experience a tourist like me could | | | | immigrants, who have inherited the traditions of |
| have, just by visiting different neighborhoods and | | | | their parents and grandparents. |
| talking to a variety of people. In fact, the city is | | | | Ethnically diverse and historically rich, London |
| considered today to be an international transport | | | | continues to attract people from around the globe |
| hub and an extremely popular tourist destination, | | | | who find in its neighborhoods their new home. |
| making London one of the most visited world's | | | | London in 2006 is uncharted territory. According |
| capitals; a fact that tremendously promotes its | | | | to sociologists and historians, never have so many |
| multicultural character. | | | | different kinds of people tried living together in |
| London's metropolitan are has considerably grown | | | | the same place before. Virtually every race, |
| over the centuries, especially during the 19th and | | | | nation, culture and religion in the world can claim at |
| early 20th centuries increasing industrialization that | | | | least a dozen of Londoners. But, what some |
| led to rapid population growth. England's capital | | | | people see as the greatest experiment of |
| was the most populated city of the world until | | | | multiculturalism of the last centuries is already |
| 1925, when New York overtook its immense | | | | challenged by the global political and social |
| number of citizens. London continued to grow until | | | | developments which have recently begun to point |
| World War II and the Green Belt legislation which | | | | out that harmony and peace are more than ever |
| led to its population largely remain static. But | | | | subject to the powers of race and ethnicity. |
| although urban building constructions were not | | | | |