My most recent trip to London was probably one of the most enjoyable and enlightening since I began traveling to Europe during the summers over 20 years ago. My previous trips had focused mostly on the Romance countries, France and Italy, which I also love and revere. But as a Washingtonian and somewhat of an American lover of history, visiting London had special significance.

One of the most notable features of the city from the perspective of an American is coming face to face with monuments and memorials to some of the great figures of world history. Visiting Charles Dickens’ grave in Westminster Abbey brought it all into focus. The Abbey is the final resting place for over 3,000 British notables and has played a central role in the investiture of Royals since 1066. Being this up close and personal to such a long and revered legacy was awe-inspiring, especially considering we live in a country in which the oldest monuments are less than 300 years old. Visiting the British Parliament was a real treat because you realize that this is the birthplace of the form of democracy that has made America so great.

But the other thing that really struck me about London was that it is truly the most cosmopolitan city I have ever visited. It is stocked full of people from all over the world – Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean and all over Europe, Russia and the Americas. The City, which is an incorporated district in the middle of London, is home to London’s financial center as well some of the world’s wealthiest people. Conspicuous spending is back, with every conceivable luxury boutique apparently doing a brisk business. I witnessed one Middle Eastern man spend almost 65,000 pounds on three handbags at a Bally store in the City. Residences there have become so decadent and opulent in recent years that the entire City is practically off-limits to common Londoners – a fact that is not in the least lost on them.

Shockingly, less than three miles away on the outskirts of London, there are big pockets of unbelievable poverty. Conditions for the poor in London appear to reflect a worsening class divide in Europe as a whole, which has seen its social safety net erode significantly in the face of the past decade’s economic turmoil. While London is unquestionably one of the