More countries can be dialed direct from London than any other city in the world. 300 languages are spoken in London. London has 45 distinct ethnic communities. London has 5,325 pubs and bars, and 12,000 restaurants. In neighborhoods like Brick Lane, immigrants are challenging traditional notions of what it means to be British.
Bangladeshi men pray at local mosques.
Women in saris buy halal meat. New wave Indian restaurants, fashion boutiques and dance venues cater to the urban chic. Meanwhile, London's financial district has made Britain a key player in the global economy. London has more foreign banks and exchanges more foreign currency than any other city in the world. More than a quarter of the world's largest companies have their European headquarters in London.