Many Londoners from minority ethnic communities define themselves by a particular religion or culture, as much as by the geographical area from which they or their family come. Londoners from different backgrounds may be subject to a number of religious and cultural influences.
The majority of British Jews and British Hindus lives in London. So do around two-fifths of British Muslims, most of whom are from an Asian background. British Arabs are also predominantly Muslim. Other religions with a large proportion of followers based in the capital are Buddhism and Sikhism.
Gypsies and Travellers have their own distinct culture, which is dying out owing to pressure to change their nomadic lifestyles.
British Muslim, Sikh and Hindu households are larger than those of people belonging to other religions, and more likely to contain more than one family.
Buddhism is the religion with the most ethnically diverse followers, whereas nearly all British Sikhs and Hindus are from an Indian ethnic background. London houses the largest Hindu temple and the largest Sikh gurdwara in Europe, as well as hundreds of mosques.
People belonging to the South Asian and Black African communities are the most religious in Britain.
One ancient religion still practised in London is Zoroastrianism. However, its followers are so few it is not included in the census.
Over half the number of Chinese respondents to the 2001 census said they did not follow any religion. The census also found that minority ethnic people born in the UK are less likely to be religious than those who were born abroad.
The communities which settled in London in the postwar period have expanded and the original settlers now have children and grandchildren. These younger generations may have spent their whole lives in London and have therefore adapted to a British way of life.
This can lead to tensions between older family members who seek to conserve their language and religious customs, and younger people who have different experiences and aspirations.
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