London is one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Did you know?
- There are over seven million people living in London. That makes it the biggest city in Western Europe.
- Over 300 languages are spoken throughout London by schoolchildren – for more than one-third of these children, English is not the language they speak at home.
- The most common languages spoken are: English, Bengali and Silheti, Panjabi, Gujerati and Hindi or Urdu.
- There are 200 different ethnic communities in London.
History of a diverse London
London has been the capital city of England since the 12th century. The Romans created the first town of London in AD 50 and people from the Roman Empire moved to the city, including people from Italy, Greece, France and Germany.
Then came the Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians and the Norman French.
In Tudor times (1485 -1603), the slave trade brought Africans to England against their will. It was also around this time that there were lots of Dutch merchants and Jews settling in London.
By the mid-18th century, the black population had grown and a south Asian population was growing too. The slave trade was abolished and by 1870, the East End of London became home to Jewish people fleeing Eastern Europe, Chinese people and many others.
After the Second World War there was a shortage of workers in London, so many people came from Europe, India and the West Indies to fill these jobs.
Since then, London has often provided a home for those trying to get away from political conflicts or other trouble. All of these people have brought different skills to London and made it such a diverse and multi-cultural city.
Hosting the Games
With so many languages spoken in London and across the UK, many of the nations and their supporters who come to visit will find others already here who are just as big fans as them, supporting their country.
A London 2012 Forum, much like a school council, has been put together already, to make sure that the different communities of London can have their say in the plans for the Games.
Nelson Mandela, the former South African President, said of London:
“I can’t think of a better place than London to hold an event that unites the world.”
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