London; The cheapest way to travel the world.

London. To those who have never experienced life there it’s just another city, for those who have, just saying the world will bring back a lifetime of memories. Labelled the 3^rd largest city in Europe it’s a place I have called home for the last 23 years. Living in London can be exhilarating, its dynamic socio-cultural environment, the opportunities and people that you will find here are unique. Your personality can be inherited but also shaped through your environment I have London to thank for mine.

London has always been a melting pot of different cultures from all around the world, founded by “immigrant romans” who invaded and set up settlements on the banks of the river. Throughout history many people have settled here in search for safety, food and work; including my parents, being the first generation in my family to grow up in London I have had opportunities they wouldn’t have been able to give me elsewhere. I spent my childhood in Vauxhall; an amazing blend of Portuguese, South Americans, Indian, African and White British communities. Each neighbouring area had a different feel you could go to Stockwell and eat Nata’s with the same quality as you would in Lisbon, you would go to elephant and castle and enter bars that only spoke Spanish or visit Brixton and hear people playing steel pans as if you were in the Caribbean. Someone once told me going to London is the cheapest way to travel the world you meet an array of people from around the globe learning different traditions and cultures whilst remaining in one city.

I often visit family on both of my parents’ side and life is very different there, coming from small towns they only experience things and meet people native to that country; which don’t get me wrong is beautiful. But it made me realise how lucky I am growing up in London when my cousins would tell me they have never tried an Indian curry or a Chinese dumpling. I think back to my childhood walking around areas like Camden or tooting where you could pick up food from places you probably have never heard of.

Having such experience’s, I believe teach you things you can’t learn at school, it teaches you to be more accepting and open, to be able to communicate and connect with people who may have different beliefs and values to your own. You can see it all over the city the acceptance of cultures has influenced the music, fashion and architecture that is present all over. The City has benefited artistically but also in terms of business, having people from all backgrounds brings new ideas and ways of doing things to the table.

London over the last years however has changed, we are seeing the gentrification of communities and a huge investment in million-pound flat development. Whole communities are losing this very sense of multiculturalism that is essential to their identity, and the worst thing is most of these developments are empty. Residents are being booted out and in turn foreign investors are snatching up the majority of the flats. Our markets, community centres and homes are being replaced with what the government thinks looks nice. It's hard to deny that this is for the benefit of a privileged few - not the people who have lived there for years and made the area what it is today, sadly forcing people further and further out of London.