London’s Multicultural Highlights

Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street party with over two million visitors every year. After the end of World War Two, people from the Caribbean islands were encouraged to come to the UK, many of whom settled in Notting Hill. The carnivals origins lie in the rise of racial tension and the race riots of 1958. In an effort to build connections between the communities and cultures sharing Notting Hill the carnival was born. It now takes place every August bank holiday weekend and is a wild and colorful celebration of Caribbean culture. I look forward to it every year because you know it’s going to be a great party.

You will often find me walking up and down Pho Mile in search of the perfect Vietnamese restaurant, but the truth is, I have loved every single one I have ever visited in the area! London has a large community of Vietnamese who fled Vietnam and the communist regime in 1975. Many settled in East London, once again showing itself as a very multicultural area of the city. And much like Brick Lane for curry houses, Kingsland Road has developed a reputation for authentic Vietnamese food. Viet Hoa started as a canteen providing affordable meals to Vietnamese immigrants and many of the other nearby restaurants are still family run. You feel the homely, family atmosphere when eating here, which is one of the reasons Pho Mile is my favorite place for a meal out.

Spending the day at this beautiful temple will leave you feeling relaxed and transported! It’s Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple and was hand-carved in India before being assembled in London. You can join guided tours or explore the immensely impressive complex on your own. The craftsmanship is really something to marvel at and even though this is one of London’s lesser known sights, it is well worth a visit.

Like Notting Hill, Brixton saw high numbers of Caribbean people relocating to the area after the end of the Second World War. And as an ex-resident of Brixton myself, I have to say the best Caribbean food I have ever had is in Brixton Village. But it’s not just the food which creates the multicultural atmosphere so rich in this area. It’s the shops, street market and covered walkways. You can also visit the Black Cultural Archives to learn about the influence of Britain’s black community. They hold free heritage walking tours around the market, hold exhibitions and talks which you can take part in too. The nightlife in Brixton is also great with an amazing musical history, being the birthplace of David Bowie and the inspiration for the song, Electric Avenue.

If you think kebabs are just for nights out then Green Lanes is about to change your view on Eastern Mediterranean cuisine! The area is home to a large community of Turkish Cypriots who were later joined by Greek Cypriots attracted to the eastern Mediterranean shops and restaurants. The restaurants are authentic and inexpensive and as you wander down the road, choosing one to eat in becomes more and more impossible. They all smell so good! Green Lanes is also home to a large Kurdish, Bulgarian, Albanian and Kosovan population which is reflected in the eastern European markets and shops.

Last but not least we have the Migration Museum, which celebrates this history of multicultural Britain. It’s the perfect place to learn about the movement of people to and from the country with a special focus on London. They aim to shed light on the central role that migration has played in making individuals and the nation what it is today.

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