Where do Londoners come from? London’s communities 1675–present
London is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and has always been so. From its origins around AD50, the city has attracted people from all over the world. Some early settlers came as invaders, seeking land and wealth. Some came against their will, as enslaved people or servants. Others chose to come as economic migrants or refugees fleeing hardship, poverty and political or religious persecution. They believed London would offer them life changing opportunities.
Today, research has shown there are over 300 languages spoken in London’s schools. Immigrants continue to have a strong influence on the city’s development, from its economic growth to its cultural life. This pocket history uses the Museum of London’s collections to explore a small sample of the communities who came to settle in London from 1675.
- Introduction (this page)
- Huguenots in the 1680s
- London’s Italian community
- The Jewish community in London’s East End
- London’s Irish community
- London’s Caribbean community after 1948
- Further information
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