More than 30% of all London schoolchildren speak a langauge other than English at home. Multilingual Capital gives detailed information about the more than 300 languages that they speak. A series of 32 maps by Yasir Mohieldeen (SOAS) shows how the proportion of children who use the most important of these languages varies across the Greater London area.

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Bengali Speakers in London
Arabic Speakers in Westminster

As well as the language survey, eight specialists contribute articles which discuss the historical background to the findings and their relevance to current economic, social an educational policies while noting some of the positive attributes of bilingualism. The book is further enhanced by the inclusion of more than 50 colour photographs, by Annie Bungeroth and Anthony Lam, illustrating diverse aspects of life in Britain's multicultural capital. This book is a handsomely illustrated guide to the languages of London which is accessible to the general public. A series of 32 full-colour maps shows how the proportion of children who use the most important of these languages varies across the Greater London area. CONTENTS

• Preface - the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Clive Martin OBE TD DL Introducing the Languages of London project - Philip Baker (School of Oriental and African Studies and University of westminster) & John Eversley (Queen Mary and Westfield College)
• The languages of London's schoolchildren - Philip Baker & Yasir Mohieldeen (School of Oriental and African Studies)
• Section 11: a brief history - John Eversley
• Using the schools' language data to estimate the total number of speakers of London's top 40 languages - Marian Storkey (London Research Centre)
• The educational performance of London pupils in context - Ian McCallum
• Languages speak volumes for global business - Andy Land (London First Centre)
• Languages and the Square Mile - Tim Connell (City University)
• Ethnic and linguistic diversity: the impact on local authority expenditure - Jo Mennell (Association of London Government)
• An indicator for health needs of minority ethnic communities in the capital - Pui-Ling
• Li (London Region of the National Health Service Executive)
• Coming to school in London from abroad (first-hand impressions of immigrant pupils)
• Towards obtaining better data on the languages of London's schoolchildren - Philip
• Baker & Antony Sanderson (formerly of Westminster Language Service)

Global London is for:
People based in London who wish to extend their knowledge and experience of what the diverse range of the city¹s inhabitants have to offer.
Visitors to London who want to explore the very wide range of ethnic and cultural services available in this international city.
Business people and others currently based elsewhere in the world who are contemplating relocating to London who want to know that the city caters for their own cultural needs.

In order to meet these needs, Global London has set about compiling, for the first time ever, a comprehensive listing of all the facilities and services available in the capital for each of more than 750 cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and national groups living in Greater London. Entries for each group are arranged under up to 22 headings - ACCOMMODATION, ARTS, ASSOCIATIONS, BARS & NIGHTCLUBS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, FREIGHT, GOVERNMENT, HEALTH & BEAUTY, LANGUAGES, LEGAL, MEDIA & INFORMATION, MOTORING, RECREATION, RELIGION, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, SPECIAL, TRANSLATION, TRAVEL, WELFARE. Entries under these headings are further categorized by topic or locality in some cases. Information about what is included under each of these headings is given below.

The headings used are those applied to the groups concerned rather than to the places they may come from, e.g. Dutch rather than Holland or the Netherlands, Kittitian rather than St Kitts, and Turkish rather than Turkey ­ as well as under hundreds of cultural, ethnic, and language names. In a few cases, two or more names may have overlapping or even identical meanings. However, we have not combined these under single headings unless we are sure that there are no significant cultural or political reasons for choosing one over the other. Thus there are separate headings for Afro-Caribbean and West Indian, as well as for Iranian and Persian. But in all such cases, alternative or overlapping names are cross-references.

Although there are a few publications and websites which list a selection of London restaurants by a dozen or so ethnic and national cuisines, and others which list shops where certain ethnic or national goods may be purchased, Global London is the first to attempt to list ALL ethnic, cultural, national, and language facilities and services available in the city. The total number of entries contained in this book exceeds 10,000.

Global London is more than a book; it is also a website www.global-london.com. Visit this site for its search engine, to use one of its message boards, to get a street map of a particular area, or to obtain the latest information.

While great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided here, Global London cannot accept responsibility for any errors. Global London does, however, undertake to correct speedily any errors brought to its attention by contacting us by email.

Almost every entry in this book includes a telephone number. Fixed lines in central and most of outer London have eight-digit numbers such as 7278 1246, listed here as two sequences of four digits. To call any of these numbers from elsewhere in the United Kingdom, you need to prefix them with the area code 020. All other telephone numbers are listed with the full dialling code from within the UK. To call any number listed in this book from outside the UK, replace the first 0 of full internal UK number with 44 (the country code) 44. All the photographs which appear in this book or on this website were taken by members of the Global London team. In no case were they taken at the request of the organizations concerned nor does the inclusion of a photograph in any way imply recommendation by Global London.