image: TitleProject Britain

Your Guide to
British Life, Culture and Customs

 
 
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British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales
The People of London
Woodlands Junior School is in the south-east corner of England

Many parts of London, such as Islington or Highgate, were once villages (small towns). Today, London is a growing city with a population of more than seven million. People have come from all parts of the world to live here. They have brought with them different ways of living and colourful festivals. London is a multicultural city, as it has been since the Roman times. Now about a quarter of the capital's inhabitants are members of the ethnic minorities.

Residents of London are known as "Londoners".

Pearly Kings
The Pearly Kings were the leaders of the Victorian street sellers. They got their name because they wore 'pearl' buttons on their hats as a sign of authority. Later they began to wear clothes covered all over in buttons.
The title of Pearly King is passsed down in the family, and there are Pearly Queens, Princes and Princesses too. They now spend their free time collecting for charity.

 

It is very rare to see men wearing bowler hats today.

The men in the photo are taking part in a birthday parade for one of the Queen's Guard regiments.

Chelsea Pensioners (Pictured left)
Old soldiers who live at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. They wear a scarlet uniform and black hat.
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Doormen (pictured right)
They stand outside London's exclusive hotels and shops wearing splendid uniforms, hailing taxis and opening doors for guests.

Foot Guards guard the Royal palaces. They wear a red jacket and tall hats called bearskins.

You can see them outside Buckingham Palace.

Find out more

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© Copyright - please read
All the materials on these pages are free for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from Mandy Barrow, Woodlands Junior School.

© Copyright 2011 Mandy Barrow
Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK