Henry Matthew’s- London Labour London Poor, this article pays close attention to detail and goes into depth analysis and research of London’s working class. Even though this article is old it contains useful information about London, along with The Oxford Street Tide by Virginia Woolf. Both of these articles address both sides of this debate and have positive negative points on the subject. In The Oxford Street Tide, Virginia Woolf explains the vibe that is given off in London but also that it is far too busy, crowded and cramped.
London has strengths in all areas including arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. According to Wikipedia, in July 2010 Greater London had an official population of 7,825,200, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. Currently, London may not be the biggest or the wealthiest city in the world however, this does not have any influence on the huge significance and importance it has on the world.
James Geary one quoted: ‘London always reminds me of a brain. It is similarly convoluted and circuitous. A lot of cities, especially American ones like New York and Chicago, are laid out in straight lines. Like the circuits on computer chips, there are a lot of right angles in cities like this. But London is a glorious mess. It evolved from a score or so of distinct villages that merged and meshed as their boundaries enlarged. As a result, London is a labyrinth, full of turnings and twistings just like a brain.’ James Geary describing London as a brain just emphasises the complexity of the city. It is not like any other city and has an endless amount of variety and available activities, institutes, museums and facilities.
Of course, London is not perfect and these problems need addressing and questions need to be answered. First off, I would like to mention the lack of growth in London. London was the world's largest city from about 1831 to 1925, but it is not anymore and has fallen behind major international cities such as New York, Shanghai, Mexico City and Tokyo, maybe London is falling behind the modern world.
One major problem I would like to address is the crime problem in London. Since 2008 gun and knife crime in London has been on the rise by 8.8 percent. London is not untouchable and many teenagers are scared of getting robbed, just walking home from school. This is not an ideal society and not a society that anyone wants to be associated with. These problems all lead from London’s famous gangs and these gangs lead to drugs. Since 2006 the usage and growth of crystal meth has gone up considerably and it is arguably the most dangerous drug.
However, to conclude my argument, the problem is not with London, but is instead with human nature. It is human nature that we get bored and that over time, we all want change. London does not have all life has to offer because no person wants to stay in the exact same place for every remaining second of their life. People need a change of scenery, setting, weather, even if it is just for a short period of time such as a vacation. People want to experience different cultures and societies for their own pleasure. Ladies and gentleman, thank you very much for your time.
