Introduction

Over the last 30–40 years the ethnic composition of London has undergone a dramatic transformation from that of a predominantly white, mono-ethnic city to an increasingly multi-ethnic city with large minority ethnic populations. In 2001, 29% of the population of Greater London were drawn from minority ethnic groups and in inner London the proportion reached a third. In terms of ethnic population, London is becoming more like some major North American cities such as New York and Los Angeles (Storkey and Lewis, 1996; Peach, 1999; Johnston et al, 2002a). Although London's minority ethnic groups are still minorities, they have grown very rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2001 in two boroughs (Newham, 61% and Brent, 55%) minority ethnic groups comprised the majority of the population and a near majority in Tower Hamlets (49%). The bulk of the changes have been within the last 20 years. By the 2011 Census the figure is likely to be higher, with over 40% of inner London's population classified as non-white. In this respect, London is a laboratory for the future of ethnic change in some other British cities.

Nowhere has this process been more marked than in East London which, because of its proximity to the docks, was traditionally the first destination for many of London's waves of immigrants. The first group to arrive were the Huguenots in the late 17th century following the persecution of the Protestants in France.