Ethnic groups in London
London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, has become one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural cities in the world.
[2][3] For the overwhelming majority of London's history, the population of the city was ethnically homogenous with the population being of White British ethnic origin, with small clusters of minority groups such as Jewish people, most notably in areas of the East End.
From 1948 onwards and especially since the Blair government in the late 1990s and 2000s, the population has diversified in international terms at an increased rate.
[23] A major wave of immigration began in the 1970s, as people from the Sylhet Division arrived in London, fleeing poverty and the Bangladesh Liberation War.
This trade has declined causing unemployment, but the community has moved into other businesses, including restaurants and banking.
The community also annually hosts Europe's largest outdoor Asian event known as the Boishakhi Mela in Bethnal Green as part of the Bengali New Year celebrations.
Chinese people constitute the fourth largest Asian group in London (behind the Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis respectively); numbering 114,800 in 2007, they are spread more or less across the entire city and have become successful in British life, especially when it comes to cuisine.
Fiona Moore, author of "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?
[24] Besides Nigerians, Ghanaians are one of the largest Black African groups in London, with the majority living in the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Newham, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham, Merton, Waltham Forest, Croydon, Enfield and Brent.
During the post World War II era, the presence of the Caribbean Community was requested to help reconstruct the British economy.
Districts with a high concentration include Finchley, Mill Hill, Edgware, Stanmore, Golders Green, Hendon, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Highgate, and further east the Hasidic-strong exclave in Stamford Hill & South Tottenham.
[43] The New Malden area has Korean-language churches and nursery schools as well as restaurants and shops with Korean clientele.
[43] Some factors cited in The Telegraph as reasons why the Korean community formed in New Malden included a 1950s joint venture partnership between a chaebol and Racal Avionics (formerly Dacca), Lord Chancellor's Walk in Coombe Lane West previously serving as the residence of the Ambassador of South Korea to the United Kingdom, and Samsung Electronics having its UK offices in New Malden until they moved to their current location in Chertsey, Surrey in 2005.
[47] Most of London's Lithuanians live in the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, with smaller numbers elsewhere.
The main Lithuanian-speaking Roman Catholic church, St Casimir's, however, lies in Cambridge Heath.
The first recorded Nigerian in London was Olaudah Equiano who came to Britain after escaping from slavery over 200 years ago, becoming a member of the abolitionist Sons of Africa group.
[48] The vast majority of famous and notable British people of Nigerian origin were either born in or now live in London.
Peckham (also known as Little Lagos and Yorubatown) is home to one of the largest overseas Nigerian communities in the world; many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned.
In the 2000s a wave of Polish immigrants came to Britain, including London, after Poland joined the European Union.
[53] The boroughs of Ealing, Enfield, Kensington and Chelsea, Haringey, Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth have significant numbers of Poles living there.
Polish-style shops, with their distinctive red and white signs accompanied by words in the Polish language, can be found in many parts of London.
In the 2000s a wave of Romanian immigrants came to the UK, including London, after Romania joined the European Union.
A particularly concentrated community exists in the Edgware-London suburb of Burnt Oak which has gained the nickname "Little Romania" or "Little Bucharest".
A large Turkish-cypriot community is also present in boroughs of South London such as Lambeth and Croydon.
