Comparing and Contrasting Washington D.C. & London

Washington D.C. and London are popular places to visit and to live. Both are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. These cities have varied histories and different museums, but they are similar in that the cost of housing in both is very high and can be a burden on their residents.

Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century (Inwood 56). Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s (“District of Columbia”). From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.

Additionally, the two cities offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries (“District of Columbia”), London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best (Inwood 68). This difference and advantage have much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections (Inwood 54). Overall, though, both cities have enough museums to entertain visitors and residents alike.

The cost of housing is high in both places, and in London, the cost of housing can be double that of Washington D.C. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in D.C. can easily cost $1,800 per month (Badger), and a similar “flat” in London may be double that amount (Rohwedder W10). Although some of each cities’ residents are wealthy, both have a significantly large population of people who cannot afford these very high costs and end up living paycheck to paycheck or even homeless. The poor and homeless struggle with finding affordable housing, and often they are unsuccessful. So, the cost of housing can be an issue for many residents of both cities.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories and art cultures, but they remain similar in their cost of living and the struggle this causes their residents.

• Original content from “Writing for Success” contributed by Saylor Academy is licensed under CC BY 3.0
• Original content contributed by Susan Wood