Southall, London
Since the time of the Raj in the nineteenth century, England and India have had a special relationship. London in particular is known for having a thriving population of Indian and other South Asian immigrants, and the largest community of them is in Southall, West London. Besides a large number of vegetarian and halal food stands and restaurants, there are Indian supermarkets, clothing stores, and jewelers. The neighborhood features two Hindu temples, ten Christian churches, three mosques, and ten Sikh temples, one of which is among the largest outside of India. It’s even possible to get by in Southall without speaking any English, as most street signs, tube stations, and storefronts feature multiple languages. Some establishments along the Broadway, Southall’s main thoroughfare, even accept rupees. Because of the neighborhood’s diverse South Asian population, the 2002 movie Bend It Like Beckham was filmed in the area.
Greek Precinct, Melbourne
This Australian city hosts the second-largest Greek population in the world. Located in the middle of Melbourne and centered on Lonsdale Street, the Greek Precinct hosts the Melbourne Antipodes Festival, which is held annually to coincide with Greek National Day on March 25. September features the annual Greek Film Festival, and at other times of the year, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and the Hellenic Museum of Melbourne provide locals and tourists with the chance to dance the Zorba and experience other aspects of Greek culture. During the day, the neighborhood is the civic center for Australians of Greek ancestry, and at night, it comes alive with late-night restaurants serving souvlaki and baklava to barhoppers.
These ethnic areas provide much more than just a chance to buy authentic curry or borscht in an unexpected place; they’re a little window into other cultures, and they show us how immigrants have settled and integrated into other countries. A visit to these vibrant districts is like two vacations in one.
