London is an international centre of culture in terms of arts, music, festivals, museums and much more. The diversity of cultures within London is so great that easy definition is impossible. The city is home to more than 300 nationalities that have over time moulded and shaped the city's culture into what it is today.

London hosts several festivals, fairs and carnivals throughout the year. The most famous is the Notting Hill Carnival , the world's second largest carnival. The carnival takes place over the August bank holiday weekend, and attracts almost 1 million people. It has a distinctly Afro-Caribbean flavour, and highlights include a competition between London's steelpan bands and a 3 mile street parade with dancing and music. There are also large parades held on St. George's Day (April 23) and St Patrick's Day (March 17). The Dance Umbrella is held every October, and features a variety of dance companies putting on displays across London. In addition there are many smaller fairs and parades, including the Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre, a fair held annually to promote animal rights.

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of such bands as The Clash, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, The Who, The Libertines, and Pink Floyd. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favourite venues being the Brixton Academy , the Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's cultural centre, has served as the base of a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music.

The city of London has also served as an inspiration for other cities in the world, most notabaly Mumbai (Bombay), whose infrastructure and transport system is modelled on London . There are streets in Mumbai which bear the same name as streets in London.